What to do with and unwanted Rooster
It’s very sad subject for many reasons but it is essential to have a plan when raising baby chicks. Some choices are better than others but it’s about what feels right to you and your situation.
Plan One:
Don't get any roosters!? It can be done.
When purchasing your chicks you can buy from someone who has guaranteed to 80% that they will be hens, if you are doing this or have, you will still need to ready bellow and have a plan if there is a rooster hiding in the pack.
Sex Linked
You can cross breed birds that are sexlinked. You can cross breed chickens so that the male and female chicks will be different colours, so if you buy or breed you will know which are which. This can create more problems then it solves.
Auto Linked
There are a few chicken breeds that naturally hatch with the male and female different colours although due to people breeding irresponsibly these chickens are very rare.
Buy Pullets over 6 weeks
Find a local breeder at Cheeky Chickens selling pulled or hens. This may cost more but it will save you head space, trying to come up with a plan on what to do with your unwanted rooster.
Plan Two:
Buy from someone who will take back Roosters
When you buy your chicks some breeders will take back the roosters, its something you can ask when buying your chicks, most will advertise that they do but it doesn’t hurt to ask them if they will.
Plan Three:
Eat Them.
You have three choices when it comes to eating your roosters, kill them yourself, find someone you can pay to do the ‘deed’ or take them to an abattoir.
It’s funny how only 50 years ago you kept backyard chickens not only of the eggs but of the meat. Growing and killing them for a meal was the reason we kept poultry.
IF you think you are up for harvesting your own meat, there are a few ways to do it but it is best to find someone who is more skilled to show you how to do it for your first time. Being disconnect with the killing process it is best to make it as smooth as possible not only for yourself but also for the animal you are taking a life from.
Plan Four:
Find someone who wants to process and eat them.
If you grow dual purpose or meat bird breeds you can put them up for sale for someone to eat. Many people are happy to take a free rooster to dispatch and eat. Free meat locally grown, what could be better than that!
Plan Five:
Grow them up and put them up for sale.
Sell them at Cheeky Chickens. If you have a high quality rooster from Pure heritage or show quality lines you can sell Him. This is an ideal situation as you are passing on a high quality breeding stock to other breeders who are look for fresh blood lines to add to their already high quality birds, this will solidifying the features of their stock.
Plan Six:
Breeding Trio
Find two pullets of the same breed but different bloodlines and sell them as a breeding trio. Adding one rooster to a flock of girls can be hard, But adding a Breeding trio to you flock is much easier. Your adding value to your sale.
Keeping poultry is a lovely way to connect yourself with nature but roosters are a big part of keeping chickens. Many rooster end up dumped at animal sanctuaries or left in the bush to die. Having a plan is the best way to ensue that when you do end up with a rooster you know what you are going to do with it.
Only breed with roosters if they are of high quality and are going over chickens of the same breed. Breed with intention as many amazing poultry gene pools have been lost due to lack of care from backyard breeders. BREED WITH INTENTION. Animal ownership is a great responsibility.