What do you do with roosters?

[bakinghomesteader]

I guess I don't want to eat anything that could be a life. No offense taken.

 

[swedishfish]

Well I can eat the eggs if someone else cooks them, but I'm very picky when I cook any egg anyways.

 

[chickorama]

Kill 'em.

 

[shawnm2639]

Chickorama..lol short and sweet. I ended up with 11 roos and 8 hens my first time out. I have always been unlucky filpping pennies too. Anyway I have named the roos Chicken and dumplings, chicken soup, roasted chicken...etc. Just so I remind myself when the time comes....

 

[debakadeb]

I have about 30 baby chicks right now. I expect half of them to become dinner. I know that I can't do the processing myself but my husband and a friend have volunteered. The friend, of course, will have a share in the chickens that are processsed.

Last year was the first year for me to have chickens. I named each one and grew attached to them as pets. They will not be dinner for some time to come, if ever. I plan on them to live out their lives to their fullest. I don't mind the free-loading after they are finished laying. I look at them the same way I do my cats and dogs.

The new chicks this year were bought to provide dinner. I have decided that since I do eat chicken from the store, it only makes sense for me to raise my own which will taste better and probably be healthier to eat. So, my roosters will get processed along with the cornish that I purchased. I may choose never to do this again, or it could become a habit. I also have not named any of my new chickens. Somehow I think I will have a different relationship with the hens from what I have with last year's chicks. Although there are several that I find very engaging so maybe my mind will change

If you are going to incubate many eggs, you will need to decide what is best for you in the end. Best of luck making that decision.

 

[countrybum]

Quote:
This is exactly what I do. My cow was T-Bone. It is so funny how people put money out for chemical induced meat and eggs at the store, but hate to eat their own. I would rather eat my own than purchase from a super market. All the chemicals they stick in the meat and the poor chickens with the tubes down their throats.

Have the roosters process and put them in the freezer. As for eggs, if you collect everyday, you would never know the difference.

 

[swedishfish]

I had a dream that my dad went out to kill my chickens last night. He grabbed one of my hens because he was mad and I was screaming at him to kill one of my roosters. Then he grabbed the wrong rooster. I don't remember what happened after that...

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Some people ask me "Awww, how can you eat a bird you've known from its being a tiny chick?" But my thinking has changed to "Ewww, how can you put some bird in your mouth that you've never met & don't know where it's been?"

 

[countrybum]

I have to agree. I had a friend that worked and a chicken packing plant and he told me the chickens in the market are raised in very poor conditions. The walk, sleep and lay consently in their own feces. My chickens are kept in a clean pen, free range daily and are fed scratch and layer crumbles 2xs a day. I prefer my clean sanitary birds over the others any day.

 

[SportTees]

Quote:
This is exactly what I do. My cow was T-Bone. It is so funny how people put money out for chemical induced meat and eggs at the store, but hate to eat their own. I would rather eat my own than purchase from a super market. All the chemicals they stick in the meat and the poor chickens with the tubes down their throats.

Have the roosters process and put them in the freezer. As for eggs, if you collect everyday, you would never know the difference.

It has surprised me how it is kinda harder to eat your own after you have raised them like pets. After all the food outbreaks you have two choices eat your own or become vegetarian. I like meat to much - look there goes chicken and dumplings