When is it time to get rid of my rooster?

[hopp2it]

New chicken owner here with 6 hens and 1 rooster. He was supposed to be a "she" but he had other plans. Anyway, we don't want more chicks. He and one hen are 17 weeks (both rhode island reds), the next oldest hen is 15 weeks (golden comet), and the rest are 13 weeks (various breeds). He's been crowing often but hasn't gotten aggressive to myself, my husband, or our kids. I keep telling my husband its time to make him into dinner. He says it's too early, that he has time still. Opinions??

 

[ladyrsanti]

You'll only get more chickens if you let them hatch the eggs. If he's not aggressive and you're allowed to keep roosters where you are, then why get rid of him?

Oh yeah and

 

[hopp2it]

Oohhhh I did not know that!! So it doesn't matter if he tries to mate with them at all? We live in farm country in Maryland. From my front stoop, I can hear horses, cows, alpacas, donkeys, and other chickens. No problem where I am keeping a rooster until he annoys someone!

 

[BeulahBreezes]

Just be sure to collect the eggs everyday......

 

[hopp2it]

How long would be the longest we could leave them there? For example, if we go on vacation and our neighbor can't get over to collect for a few days.

 

[ladyrsanti]

You'd be fine for a few days as far as hatching goes. The incubation period is 20+ days.

 

[cravenchx]

We were gone for a week and I think my 2 neighbors
who agreed to help each other raced to the coop
to get the eggs. LOL. I did have you go broody, but
she was headed that way before we left. And my
girls were 1 year old. I would worry more about
food and water for them.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

Fertilized eggs are perfectly fine to eat as long as a hen has not started brooding them. I wouldn't eat any eggs more than a few days old if you have been gone - you wouldn't be sure if one of the hens had sat on them and tried to hatch them out.

 

[hopp2it]

We have a pretty good system set up that gives them several days worth of food in the run (if they aren't let out into the yard) and plenty of water.

Thanks!!!

 

[cravenchx]

oh and