What to do with my roos......

[sparrowsnest]

Last year, I bought 8 pullets from TSC and ended up with 3 pullets and 5 cockerels...sigh. Later that year, one boy went to a 4-h kid and we bought 11 more pullets from McMurry. We weren't ready to cull, but we've had 13 chicks hatch over the winter. The oldest 5 are in the coop in a 'play pen' and I suspect 2 are roos. We have 8 in the basement about 6 weeks old that are growing out of the brooder. It was just too cold to keep them outside when they hatched. This is what I see as my options-1-build another playpen in the coop 2-build a new area/shelter for just the roos until we cull or 3-integrate and watch the feathers fly. Our plan is to only keep one rooster. We figure the young ones will be ready to cull in May/ June and we want to process them all at once. Thanks for any advice!

 

[keesmom]

I'd put all the cockerels in one pen. There should be less fighting and the pullets will have peace. Pick out your favorite and freeze the rest.

 

[sparrowsnest]

If I do that, how do you think integrating the younger cockerels with the older ones will go? Should I make the pens totally separate or can I have them just separated by a fence? Thanks!

 

[aart]

Either I'm just confused, or it's not clear at all, over what ages and genders you have.... so can't fathom an answer.

Integrating different ages/sizes is usually the first consideration.
Sounds like you need multiple coops/runs to juggle this out into one cohesive flock.

 

[TalkALittle]

It sounds like:
4 roosters and 14 hens in the coop.
2 cockerals and 3 pullets in a playpen.
8 chicks of unknown sex in the brooder.

Did I get it right?

 

[sparrowsnest]

You did! As you can see, 'chicken math' has struck with a vengeance! lol. I went ahead and integrated the teenagers with the big guys/gals. A few pecks, but it has gone better than expected. The young ones are happy to be out of the brooder and have some room to stretch! Thanks!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Young roosters make great faux bobwhite quail pie. Combine peas, carrots, parsley, and those little green bushes, (broccoli I think they're called) all partially precooked cooked in chicken broth. put into a pie shell add tender young roosters and cream of chicken soup, salt, pepper, and garlic to taste. Paint top of pie pastry with melted butter, pierce pie pastry to let out steam, bake at 300 to 350 degrees until the little roosters inside are 170 degrees allow to cool then serve with a good chilled white wine.

Now remember your table manners. If the lights go out during dinner don't reach for the last piece of quail pie with your bare fingers. You'll pull back a bloody hand with a half-dozen forks stick in it.