welp I did it. I culled my beautiful roosters.

[Sunny Side Up]

It's just Reality for Roosters. The ideal ratio for a mixed flock is 1:10-12. And many flocks don't have any roosters at all. So there are "job positions" as breeders, pets, or flock husbands for a mere 10% of all roosters hatched. The rest have their purpose on a plate. And really, there are far worse things that could happen to a chicken than to be well-fed & cared for, albeit briefly, and then meet a quick & humane end, and go on to provide nourishment for a grateful human family.

 

[SeaShell741]

I had seven roosters with my first big batch of chickens that I bought one spring....I couldn't keep them all either, they drove us all crazy. I ended up trading them at our local mill for a couple of pullets this past fall. I know that their fate is probably someones plate, and I'm ok with that, I just don't think I could have done the deed myself. Good job!

 

[stirkle]

one down and one to go... I felt so bad luring my babies to their death with food!

but... its done now... plucked and hanging...

 

[oesdog]

Good job you guys.

I am such a failure when it came to meat birds. I had all the thoughts of how and when it should get done. I trowled the net for information on killing and hanging and all that stuff. I prepared myself and -
Then I looked at them I had 4 roosters two Marans one lovely Ruby red speckled sussex and a rare breed cream legbar.
When it came to it I just couldn;t do it and I really did chicken out. I was the one shouting at my poor DH not to hurt my babies!!!!! After we had so discused the advantages of growing your own meat and all that kind of stuff!!!!!!

In the end my darlings got lovely new homes. The brothers Duck and Big Red ( The maran and the Sussex) Went to a local farm for breeding - there is a lovely lady there who wont kill any of her birds!!!! They just sell eggs!!!! The other two Blue and Omlet ( Legbar and maran) Went to a poultry/waterfowel petting zoo!!!!!!!

I have such great respect for those who can go through with the whole job -

I just couldn;t and I know now I never will be able to kill my own birds. Though I have killed and processed wild Pheasent and I have processed and cooked one of our own birds who died in an accident. Good for you!!!!!!

Oesdog

 

[stirkle]

Yea right now I feel awful... sure its for the best as no one will buy roosters and they will just end up killing eachother or a hen but... he could have had a nice life... ahh well

 

[chickens4jojo]

Good Job! It is still hard for me to do, too. Was skinning a lot easier than plucking them? How did you do that part if you don't mind me asking???

 

[bypack]

I live in Lenoir, NC. The furniture industry has moved to China.

So I offer the extra roosters to those who will slaughter and need the meat.
They have families and with the economy the way it is, I feel every
little bit helps.

 

[oesdog]

Quote:
It was bad really cause we had agreed to do meat birds and piggys and goats etc. Now we are not doing anything because I am too soft!!!!

- I wish I had your strength instead I wussed out.

Yes the guys got a new home and I was lucky with that but most folk don;t want them.

You did good never think otherwise - that is what they are for really!!!!!!!! I failed to produce the meat birds I had so wanted to do, I failed them really because that is what I grew them up to become!!!! IT WAS NOT A SUCCESS STORY!!!!!!

Oesdog

 

[stirkle]

hmm I wouldn't say that is what they are there for... in your case yes because that is how you had reared them but my roosters fate is a consequence of their gender...

But its only natural to feel bad for killing a living being, would be soulless if I felt nothing...