what to do with the cockerels?

[emmafisher]

Hi, we are hen-keeping novices and were given 5 chicks to keep from 2 days. The problem we are facing is that we don’t want to keep cockerels, as we don’t want any more chicks and want to eat the eggs. Just wondered if anyone had any ideas of what to do with them. We suspect 2, maybe 3, are cockerels but as they are currently only 4 weeks old, it’s impossible to tell. Eating them is not an option!

 

[Cotton42]

Hi, we are hen-keeping novices and were given 5 chicks to keep from 2 days. The problem we are facing is that we don’t want to keep cockerels, as we don’t want any more chicks and want to eat the eggs. Just wondered if anyone had any ideas of what to do with them. We suspect 2, maybe 3, are cockerels but as they are currently only 4 weeks old, it’s impossible to tell. Eating them is not an option!

If eating them or keeping them aren't options then you're going to have to rehome them. Craigslist is a good place to do that. Personally I eat all my extra roos, they are yummers!

 

[Leavingegypt]

You can re-home them. FREE ad on Craigslist. I have been able to do that. I do keep a roo. I still eat my eggs and Festus protects the ladies, makes sure they eat and finds them treats. He's fabulous.

 

[CarolJ]

I used to stress out over having extra roos - until I found that rehoming them via Craigslist works every time for me. It's hard to find a buyer for them - but when you list them for free, they go quickly. Some people like roos to free range around their property for insect control. Some want a roo for their flock. But be aware that some folks get free roos in order to process them to provide food for their families. I'm fine with that. I wish I could do that myself. As a security measure, though, I never have people come to my house. I always meet them in a public parking lot somewhere. I have the chickens packed in a cardboard box (air holes, pine shavings in the bottom of the box, and a few slices of apple to provide food/moisture for the brief time they'll be in the box) - and then the person can take the entire box. I don't want to transfer chickens from one carrier to another in a parking lot where they might get loose. Don't want to be chasing roosters around a parking lot! LOL!

Good luck!

 

[redsoxs]

I agree with the above posts, if eating them is off the table so to speak, Craigslist is a good option. Again, keeping in mind they may be headed to the dinner table. Good luck to you!

 

[shmccarthy]

I just had to rehome 2 roosters because they were getting really aggressive and I got 7 emails within an hour of putting the ad up. I ended up findin someone who drove an hour out and met me at a tractor supply and I have him my 2 bantam roosters and the bantam hen I had. They even sent me pictures once the roosters and hen were all settled in. It was very easy

 

[BrendaJ]

Craigslist is a great option, Local poultry swaps or shows or even the buy-sell-trade on this site works well. Sometimes you can rehome them to people that want a roo but others want them as food.

 

[emmafisher]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply to me

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

If eating them or keeping them aren't options then you're going to have to rehome them. Craigslist is a good place to do that. Personally I eat all my extra roos, they are yummers!

x2 Yummy!!