Two Too Many Roosters

[MontanaDolphin]

Wow! You really got the short end of the deal. Zeus is beautiful.

Thanks!!! I think so too! He's a gorgeous bird!

 

[NestingHillsSC]

While I have no problem eating chickens. I'm thinking, that I may make a separate smaller coop for the roosters. Mainly because the only chicks that I ordered straight run are special breeds that I want to propagate. So id like to have multiple roos for breeding. The layers I ordered are all pullets. Does anyone have an idea of what the hen to rooster ratio should be?

If your going to line breed and put them in breeder pens people go any where from 2-4 hens and a rooster. That's so the fertilization is the best. Plus you only want your best hens. Not sure what kind you are breeding and for what purpose.

I also have a community area for hens and roosters of all breeds together. Actually the more roosters you have together the better you are off.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I'll be processing 5 cockerels at 14 weeks old. I imagine they'll be some tender and one bird per person serving size. The reason for culling early is a need for space in the grow out coop. I've waited as long as 24 weeks to process a cockerel and found it was really just a waste of feed. There's continual good growth to around 18 weeks then it really tapers off so that's when I'll process the rest for roasters.