Some country folk like a rooster running around for the farmlike appeal, you could put an ad out I suppose (put "Pet only" if you dont want it eaten). We actually have the same issue, we ended up with 6 roosters on our first chicken endeavor.....we still have them because noone will take them, and we won't kill them. We have a lot of wooded land, and the three large roosters roam the horse pastures and woods, foraging for bugs and grass, and actually lead very happy lives. We leave water out for them, provide a little feed, and they come in the barn at nite to roost for safety. The other three are in the coop with the hens. Please note that we have kept the large ones together their entire lives, so they get along, but if they were fighting something would have to be done. The small bantams in the coop also grew up together, so they get on as well. But again, this in ONLY because the get along so well with eachother and the hens...the moment aggression starts, we will find another solution... but the two rooster groups cannot mix without bloodshed. If they start to fight, you have no choice but to separate them permanently, or get rid of them. Make sure you get them used to being handled, because if you keep them or not, they will need to be people friendly and not aggressive.

Some country folk like a rooster running around for the farmlike appeal, you could put an ad out I suppose (put "Pet only" if you dont want it eaten). We actually have the same issue, we ended up with 6 roosters on our first chicken endeavor.....we still have them because noone will take them, and we won't kill them. We have a lot of wooded land, and the three large roosters roam the horse pastures and woods, foraging for bugs and grass, and actually lead very happy lives. We leave water out for them, provide a little feed, and they come in the barn at nite to roost for safety. The other three are in the coop with the hens. Please note that we have kept the large ones together their entire lives, so they get along, but if they were fighting something would have to be done. The small bantams in the coop also grew up together, so they get on as well. But again, this in ONLY because the get along so well with eachother and the hens...the moment aggression starts, we will find another solution... but the two rooster groups cannot mix without bloodshed. If they start to fight, you have no choice but to separate them permanently, or get rid of them. Make sure you get them used to being handled, because if you keep them or not, they will need to be people friendly and not aggressive.

You will likely have a hard time finding homes for extra cockerels, unless they are some rare and desirable breed. Do you object to them being eaten or is it just that you personally do not eat meat?

You may be able to find someone who would take them off your hands as soon as you can tell which ones are males. Someone who would free range them for a month or two and then pen and fatten them for the table. Don't expect to get much if anything for them though.

If you hatch sexlinks you would be able to tell at the hatch which are which... before you buy a lot of expensive food for them. Then either give them to someone who will raise them to eat or humanely euthanize the males.

Personally, I would find this last very difficult to do. Here we are glad to give the young cockerels a really good summer happily running about in the sunshine... and just as glad when they are served up for supper in the fall. I am careful not allow unwanted animals to be born here.

I know this sounds harsh, but if anyone has come up with a really good solution to the problem of unwanted cockerels, I have yet to hear it.

Try putting your hatching eggs big end up in an egg carton and looking long and hard for the ones with more rounded ends. You may be lucky enough to end up with more pullets than roos. (Pointy ends hatch more roos.)

I learned this tip on this forum a couple of years ago. The couple of times I've tried it, I've had more pullets than roos. Maybe it's just luck, but it works for me.

Well I had rotten luck with my hatches this year, way more roo's to pullets and the bad news keeps coming! birds I thought were girls are now suspected boys ugh! I think I probably got 35% girls!

If you figure out a good solution please let me know, I have some rare breeds and I'm finding even they are difficult to find homes for....I really don't want them to go to the meat bird pen but that will be their fate if I can't find them a good home. Like Maggie says, at least they are being well cared for and enjoying the summer for now.

-Sheila

Hello all,
I sell my roosters faster than hens. They are for eating purposes, all are orpingtons or orpington crosses. They are free range, no hormones, additives, or vacinations. I can't keep up with the orders. I sell them 10-15$ each as young adults. The free range taste is really uncomparable, you'll never want Supermarket chicken again! I don't want to start fighting but I think its wonderfull people still appreciate non-massed produced chicken. I take orders 10 weeks in advance.

I let my hens sit for one go around to keep the flock with enough young hens to produce enough to cover the cost of feed. Yeah, too many roos is always an issue. I used to butcher them off, but really don't like to do that if I can avoid it. I like your attitude, so many people just can't bear to take any action and end up with the whole flock suffering because of the extra males.

I have had reasonable luck with putting an add in the little advertising circular. I ask very little for cost and usually get only a couple dollars for one. It should be done as soon as you are completely certain it is a cockrell. You will get a few people who want them for pets, but I don't kid myself that all of them go for that. How I increase their chances of it, however, is to never sell or give away more than one at a time to any given interested party. Most folks won't drive out to the country for one bird to slaughter around here. Nor do I give them to anyone whom I suspect lives in the city or is totally clueless, because I know the animal will suffer for it.

It is more humane to put them down than that. I have also kept the number of an old gent who makes no bones about wanting all the extra roos I have to butcher. I've never had to call him.....but there is often someone around who will offer.

We also have an Amish auction fairly close. There are always roos in cages there.

At the feed store I work in we take unwanted roosters of any breed and put them in a free cage. More often than not they go as pets or farm roosters but some of them go as food.

I've seen live roosters for sale at our local flea market.
They are caged up, and sell quite quickly.

You may want to try that.

I sell my extra drakes that way, and have always come home with enough to feed the flock through spring.