What do you do with a roo you cant get rid of?

[McKenley5]

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Interesting...that helps explain the situation we have right now. I bought 5 chicks, one bantam...the guy (my kids call him "Chicken Man") told me they were all girls...now it seems that the little bantam is a rooster. Of course, with 3 kids (who are all pet-lovers) all the chickens have names and I am not sure they would eat it if I cooked it, I am still debating what to do. None of them are laying eggs and "he" hasn't pulled their feathers or anything like that...so for now, we will just wait and see.

So far, the only "rooster" behavior I have noticed is that he likes to chase my children in the yard and he does make some low crowing noises. I am still praying that it could turn out to be a hen with masculine tendencies afterall...

 

[sourland]

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Ordering from a hatchery is no guarantee that you won't get the occasional roo, as many, many people on here can tell you. My roo showed up in an "all pullet" order. Fortunately, I am out in the country and have no restrictions, etc. He turned out to be the best thing for the flock. He's not aggressive toward people, and he's very good with the hens. (Wears out their feathers, but that's another story). There are 26 hens in with him, and he still over-breeds some of them (his favorites).

I love to hear him crow, and he really is a great bird--beautiful and good-natured. I'm not sorry at all that I got him.

Actually, as much as 10% of a sexed order can be incorrect.

Funny that no pullets slip into a cockerel order don't you think?

 

[kuntrygirl]

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So true I bet.

 

[KDK1]

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ThinkingChickens speaks the truth... I sat an old, but working, fridge out by the road with a "free=works great" sign on it. It sat there for 10 days, no takers. Put '$25." on it and someone stole it that very night. Worked for me!

 

[Newchick2this]

there are no guarantees you won't get a rooster I ordered from a hatchery and asked for all hens and got three roosters in the bunch and am having the same trouble parting with them but must. My daughter has offered to do the dirty deed but wanted to find good homes first not having much success good luck. So don't feel bad there are others just like you out there and everyone has there own opinion

 

[Casey3043]

Actually, as much as 10% of a sexed order can be incorrect. hide Funny that no pullets slip into a cockerel order don't you think?

Yes, that is interesting! I think the "sexers" or whatever you call them, just put the FOR SURE pullets in one bin, the FOR SURE cockerels in another, and the MAYBE/MAYBE NOTS in the pullet bin as well.

My hatchery order was for 20 pullets, I received 22 chicks. One was DOA and one died the first day. So I ended up with 19 pullets and one little roo. And as I said before, he's been great.

 

[karlamaria]

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This is a wise suggestion and I've often wondered just why people do this. Or if they have no intention of eating them, cannot face killing them, etc., then why put yourself through all the drama?

Advertise that roo for someone to use for their hungry children or even raw feeding of their dogs...someone out there will want him.

Some of us do pick just females or we are told there females and then bam one is a roo. Not always accurate .

 

[muffinmom]

All hatchaholics know the waiting game of hoping for more pullets than roos. But hatching is SO addicting! I guess it is worth the 50-50 risk, plus people are more likely to take baby chicks off your hands, and you get more skilled at guessing the sex at a younger age as time goes on.

 

[teach1rusl]

I could never buy straight run chicks because of your dilemma OP. I've had a 5% roo rate (was a bantam) from ordering sexed pullets, and a 50% roo rate when DH bought from a TS straight run bin (bantam).
As others have suggested, advertise your roo for free for meat or pet. The "for meat" option may appeal to many folks. There are much worse fates out there than ending up on someone's dining table.

 

[urbanolive]

SO TRUE, nobody wanted our "free roos" on CL. Changed the price to $15 bucks and I had many, many replies !

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