What do you do with roosters?

[Emzyyy]

I ordered 16 chicks from Ideal and got 7 roosters plus the 2 I already had that get along perfectly they're like brothers. Well I got attached to all of them so I kept them all they're all in the same coop with 10 hens and get along almost perfectly the only rooster that seems to not get along with them gets picked on, when he starts something with another rooster they all go for him its like they "have each other's back" kinda thing, but I might get rid of some just so I can get some more hens.

 

[melissastraka]

I eat them...lol It is a hard decision but put them up on craigslist, someone will want them.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I think you always have to know what your plan is going to be for any unwanted roosters, no matter how/where you obtain your chicks. Especially if you're hatching them from eggs. You don't have a chance of getting a 50-50% split with the clutch, but rather each egg has a 50% chance of being a rooster. It's like flipping a dozen pennies, each coin has a 50% chance of landing on tails.

The Facts of Chicken Life are that most roos don't get to live out their lives as pets or husbands to hens. There simply is not room in the world to accomodate that many roosters. The hens are much more useful for making breakfasts for several years or more. The roosters are not needed in the same numbers as hens. Too many in one yard become bothersome to their keepers, annoy their neighbors, wear out the hens, and pick fights with each other.

You may be able to keep 2 or more in your yard and have them live peacefully with each other, or have room to make many separate pens & runs. But eventually, most chicken keepers have to make decisions about surplus roosters.

You may be fortunate to find positions for your roos as pets or flock husbands. But you cannot count on that happening every time. You can post ads on your Craigslist, FreeCycle, and feed store bulletin boards. You'll have to adopt a "don't ask/don't tell" policy because most folks will take your roos as dinner guests. Which is a much better destiny for a roo than being used for something really cruel, like training fighting dogs or cocks.

I've learned to process our excess roosters, and am really glad I have. Check out the posts on the Meat Birds forum to see what others are saying about that. It doesn't mean you don't love your birds, it just means you have found a good purpose for them.

You could be sad to have to dispatch such handsome animals for your family to eat, or you could be grateful to have your meat come in such attractive packaging.

 

[bakinghomesteader]

I have 4 roos out of 16 chickens. Can I let them free range while I keep the girls in the run? Will eggs still get fertilized that way? I don't want them to.

 

[pipermark]

I clip their wing and let them run between the pens and by my trailer. They eat the ticks and other bugs and serenade me to sleep and welcome me to each new day.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Why don't you want the roosters in with the hens? Do you have issues with eating fertilized eggs? They really don't look or taste any different than sterile ones. If you keep the roos out and the hens in those poor guys will probably wear themselves out trying to get over the fence or in the gate. It might make them ill-tempered enough to attempt to spur any people crossing their yard.

My roosters earn their keep by watching over their hens and fertilizing eggs that can be eaten or hatched. Otherwise, they earn their keep growing plump in a pen to be guests at the table. It would be a burden to my budget to keep freeloaders free-ranging away from the hens, and rather unkind to the roosters to barricade them away from their mates.

 

[NancyDz]

I give them to my feedstore, they sell them for a few bucks a piece. They never last long in there with all the traffic and farm/ranch people. I pretend they all go to a new home where they have hens and free range all they want

 

[bakinghomesteader]

Sunny side up--Thanks for the info. I didn't think about the frustration. lol. I think I will put them on craigs list.

I really don't want to eat fertilized eggs.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Quote:
I don't want to pry, and don't want to persuade you to do anything you've got convictions against. I know some folks are extremely careful to avoid ending any animal's life that they won't eat fertilized eggs and end the tiny bit of life potential in it.

But before you get rid of all your roos, you might want to search other threads about eating fertilized eggs. They really don't look or taste any different, and there is no risk of having them start to develop unless you put them in an incubator or under a constantly brooding hen.

Just my $.02, no offense meant!

 

[swedishfish]

I believe that in England the only type of eggs they are allowed to sell in stores are fertilized, because they are supposedly better for you! My grandma eats my chicken eggs and claims they've got a fresher taste too!