What to do with Roos?

[littlelizzy123]

I am getting some Welsummer, Australorp, Maran, Wyandotte, and Easter Egger chicks (one of each) this week from a local breeder, and in my city we cannot have Roos. I am wondering what to do with them if one of my supposed pullets turns from a Henrietta to a Henry. It's very hard to give them away around here, as everyone else around here has to follow the hens only rule. I have no qualms about slaughtering them for meat, as I feel terrible about culling and wasting them for no reason. So I guess my question is, if I can't find a home for them and they start to crow, when is the earliest I can slaughter them if I have to? I'd rather find them a home, but if I can't, I want to be prepared.

 

[distincthead]

I suppose the earliest one could slaughter them would be at a weight you'd consider acceptable for your efforts. I'd wait until around 8 weeks, maybe longer if no one is starting to crow. They wont be very big, but they wont get you in trouble with the city either.

 

[aart]

I'd let them grow to crowing size before butchering, get the most meat that way.
Get your slaughter equip ready to go.

 

[donrae]

Is the breeder selling the chicks as pullets? If so, do they have a return policy?

Depends on when a rooster starts to crow, some are way early to get a usable carcass. Any time after 4 months you'll have enough for a meal, if you don't have a very large family

Someplace else to look is any local wildlife rehab place, zoo, things like that. Anyone that keep or rehabs carnivores and/or omnivores needs meat on a pretty regular basis.

 

[littlelizzy123]

Thanks for the input guys!

The breeder does not have a return policy, which I understand. They do give the disclaimer that there "could" be a rooster in there, and mistakes happen. I wouldn't want a rooster coming back to my flock from goodness knows where with goodness knows what disease ready to infect all my chickens either. I also don't blame them from not wanting to take the time to quarantine him either, knowing they can't sell him to anyone else.

I also had a friend suggest the local 4H clubs as a way to pawn off my crowers if they start a little too early. Either the stock pot or giving them away will work. Luckily, it's just my husband and I to feed...

 

[olderoo]

Put an ad in the local Hispanic papers, restaurants, bodegas, etc. that reads:

"Gallos en vivos - GRATIS!"

Your rooster will soon have a nice, multicultural home.

 

[RoKdHen]

That helped me too thanks.

 

[3KillerBs]

I tried to sell my packing peanuts locally without any success, so when they started to crow and squabble I put them into my freezer.

For my family of 6 a crowing-age, red rooster put into the crockpot overnight makes a nice pot of chicken and dumplings or chicken and rice the next day.

 

[littlelizzy123]

I tried to sell my packing peanuts locally without any success, so when they started to crow and squabble I put them into my freezer.

For my family of 6 a crowing-age, red rooster put into the crockpot overnight makes a nice pot of chicken and dumplings or chicken and rice the next day.

How old were they when they started getting out of hand?

 

[3KillerBs]

How old were they when they started getting out of hand?

About 4 1/2 months.