Why do alot of people give away Roosters?

[Oven Ready]

So...when you have too many roosters what age is the best for turning them into stew?

We 'do' ours at five months - maybe it depends a little on the breed.

Once plucked and 'cleaned' they look exactly like a shop bought chicken - you'll have no trouble cooking them.

Will your DH be able to do the deed is the question? There are loads of helpful tips on 'the deed' if you do a search.

Good luck & good stewing (I prefer barbequeing)

eta - here's a link to a post with lots of links for 'doing the deed' Process your chickens​

 

[rancher hicks]

My Dels at four months didn't seem to have much meat on them. How does one tell?

 

[flowerfaerie1]

Quote:
I would also like to know what age. My polish crested, Amelie started crowing and is now Gaston. We aren't allowed to have roosters in the "city". I would like to cook him, but he's only 12 weeks and looks a bit scrawny. I want to keep him until I can fatten him up a bit, but he crows every morning at 5:50. In the mean time I'm waiting for the police to show up at my door and ask me if I have a permit for chickens...

 

[flowerfaerie1]

Quote:
We 'do' ours at five months - maybe it depends a little on the breed.

Once plucked and 'cleaned' they look exactly like a shop bought chicken - you'll have no trouble cooking them.

Will your DH be able to do the deed is the question? There are loads of helpful tips on 'the deed' if you do a search.

Good luck & good stewing (I prefer barbequeing)

eta - here's a link to a post with lots of links for 'doing the deed' Process your chickens

I didn't see this, which would have answered my previous post. I talked the girl at the farmer's market that sells me our chickens ready to eat. I asked her and she said that she would come to my home and teach my how to process my rooster. I don't care how many youtube videos I watch, sometimes I need face to face instruction! LOL

 

[ducks4you]

, amitist!
I sold mine, when I bought a clutch of 6 chicks and 5 were Roosters. I ate mine when I ordered 10 chicks and 3 were Roosters.
There are PLENTY of people who know how to butcher a chicken (humanely.) I believe that they are an excellent choice of animal to have, since it is much easier to find somebody who wants your Rooster, than to find somebody who wants your dog.
My neighbor is ready to take my hens in a HEARTBEAT, should I get tired of them.
It's really not a big problem.

(see my BYC page)

 

[Highlander]

How old is your chick? If you post a pic you should get some pretty good guesses as to whether it is a roo or not. It is not advisable to keep just one chicken so it would be best to either get it some company or find it another home.

 

[Oven Ready]

My Dels at four months didn't seem to have much meat on them. How does one tell?

We have Japanese Bantams, so not a lot of meat per bird anyways but there's only three of us so two birds some ribs and some fish from the pond makes a fine BBQ for us.

Our birds seem to grow very fast in the fourth month, turning from scrawny chicks into big heavy cockerels (relatively speaking). I guess this is the point where their hormones are really kicking in. The size difference between four and five months is visually noticable, as are the wattles and combs, and when you pick them up they feel solid and heavy. Oddly the older cockerels that are kept for breeding, including the main rooster who is about two years old now, are not so heavy and solid feeling. It's almost like the young boys know they have to muscle up in the hope of becoming top rooster but then the one way ticket to freezer camp puts paid to their ambitions.​

 

[bburn]

My DH will do the deed. He thinks he can do it without a problem. I just could not after raising them and getting to know them. I do know that we need to do it before the fighting breaks out. We got them May 8th this year and they were a couple of weeks old. We will keep one.....maybe two roo's.
I am already talking about a second coop and run...DH is not talking a second one yet. He is just ignoring me.

Thanks for the post!

 

[tennesseekorn]

I have a new guinea flock of 12 baby keets and they came with 6 roosters from the hatchery. This is my first experience with chickens. The roosters are getting bigger after the first week. I know 6 roosters is a lot and don't want to get in over my head. I'd rather ease into farm bird ownership. Can anyone give me advice on to get rid of the excess roosters now or later? I expect the roosters are about 2 weeks old and I don't know the breeds, I think the biggest rooster is a leghorn breed. I have only the 12 guineas, no chicken hens at all. Thanks!

 

[bburn]

You live on 28 acres it says.....so get three hens and find a home for all but one of the roo's. We are only on 3 acres....really wish we had 10 more acres. We have 29 chickens and four pigs! One pig for the market, one pig to breed later and two belong to the neighbors! With a few more acres I would add some minature cattle....but not yet until we can talk someone into selling a few acres!

Get yourself a few hens....they are great to watch grow!