Venting about Roosters

[Trevorusn]

I know many folks cull flocks regularly, that is how it has always been and will be. I got my flock however for several reasons...eggs, tick control, breeding and, well, because poultry fascinates me. They add such a functional yet "decorative" element to a landscape, so for me butchering was never a consideration. However, I fully agree with letting a roo be a roo, thats why I always wanted some. I was the exception who went for the straight run to purposely get a roo or two and got all pullets instead. If you intend to get chickens, you really should have plans when it comes to the purpose for getting your flock and ideas on how to cover scenarios such as potential roos when you desire hens only, to not is rather short sighted and irresponsible. I am seeing CL getting ads from folks who after having chickens for three seasons don't want to deal with them in the winter and thus do a massive dump, mind boggling. I guess my point is unfortunately many who dive into this awesome field do so rashly and ignorantly, to sad or frustrating consequences for the backyard hobby as a whole.

 

[Trevorusn]

How old is yours? Mine are still young, but one matured faster, they're brothers.

Ruger is about 6-7 months old now, just starting to grow his spurs. Hoping to sire some young ones this spring from him, he is becoming quite the suave fella, and IMO he is almost the perfect cockerel/roo.

 

[Willowspirit]

I bought my first chicks from our local feed store. They were sexed and guaranteed. When I wanted bantams though I bought sexed chicks online.

I would like to try turkeys but they seem to come straight run and I really prefer hens.

My only hatch has resulted in probably four cockerels. I’m okay with them because I can have them but it makes me less interested in more hatching unless I do quail.

I have bobwhites which turned out to be three males and three females. I’m good with that.

But I agree that if you can’t have Roos skip the straight run or hatching. I don’t think it’s right to set yourself or them up.

 

[Willowspirit]

OT question. Can you raise turkeys in a chicken bachelor run? The run is about 42 x 150 feet = 6300 sq ft. I have 4 cockerels and thinking about three turkeys.

 

[JoeInPA]

I bought straight runs not knowing the first thing about chickens. I wound up with 4 roosters and 1 hen. Lol, what luck. I was able to re-home three of the roosters and I kept one.

Related story, my uncle had chickens for a fairly long time in a jurisdiction where he technically wasn't even allowed to have hens much less roosters. He did it for a pretty long time but eventually a neighbor complained. When the police came and saw the chickens my uncle told the cop "No those are dogs. There is no ordinance against dogs." The cop was totally caught off guard and left him alone.

Eventually he had to get rid of them but it was a pretty funny excuse that did buy him some time.

 

[FortCluck]

Ruger is about 6-7 months old now, just starting to grow his spurs. Hoping to sire some young ones this spring from him, he is becoming quite the suave fella, and IMO he is almost the perfect cockerel/roo.

Here's my BJG offspring I just hatched on Halloween. 2 have wattles at 16 days old

 

[Willowspirit]

I bought straight runs not knowing the first thing about chickens. I wound up with 4 roosters and 1 hen. Lol, what luck. I was able to re-home three of the roosters and I kept one.

Related story, my uncle had chickens for a fairly long time in a jurisdiction where he technically wasn't even allowed to have hens much less roosters. He did it for a pretty long time but eventually a neighbor complained. When the police came and saw the chickens my uncle told the cop "No those are dogs. There is no ordinance against dogs." The cop was totally caught off guard and left him alone.

Eventually he had to get rid of them but it was a pretty funny excuse that did buy him some time.

 

[FortCluck]

I bought straight runs not knowing the first thing about chickens. I wound up with 4 roosters and 1 hen. Lol, what luck. I was able to re-home three of the roosters and I kept one.

Related story, my uncle had chickens for a fairly long time in a jurisdiction where he technically wasn't even allowed to have hens much less roosters. He did it for a pretty long time but eventually a neighbor complained. When the police came and saw the chickens my uncle told the cop "No those are dogs. There is no ordinance against dogs." The cop was totally caught off guard and left him alone.

Eventually he had to get rid of them but it was a pretty funny excuse that did buy him some time.

im dead

 

[Aunt Angus]

When I first got chickens I let a lot of people sway how I felt because so many people were calling me mean because I wasn't considering them pets and we wanted to do meat chickens. So many people see livestock animals as pets when that was not their purpose on this earth. They're there to give us fuel to live. Whether it's eggs or meat...

I respectfully disagree. Animals were not, imo, put on Earth for our use. We are animals, too. But again, different perspectives are awesome things to behold.

 

[FortCluck]

I respectfully disagree. Animals were not, imo, put on Earth for our use. We are animals, too. But again, different perspectives are awesome things to behold.

We have different beliefs... I'm okay with that