What do you do?

[-pat m]

I have a nice mixed flock of Orpington’s and layers (active flock 40 ish) they are very natural and I am on my second set of chicks that are coming to maturity, and the realisation that the three cockerels will be trying to get to the top of the pecking order is looming. I found one pleasuring himself with one of the hens. I have dealt with this before and I have tried to re-home 4 previously two went to good homes but unfortunately two had to leave the flock. And end up on the table. I really don’t like to go through the process but it is part of the cycle that I have embarked on. I posted on our freecycle site these new three cockerels (very beautiful) I think I have another few days before one starts on my main cockerel (who is lovely and placid and would never win but who cared for some chicks after a fox/dog attack so has a lifetime pass on our patch and will join the 6 retired hens when the time comes)
I hope to re-home the young three; if not I will do what I have to do but my question is what do others out there do?

Regards
Pat

[MaureenHall]

Well I haven't done it yet, but my target this year is to hatch some eggs, keep the hens to join my laying birds and have the cockerals as table birds. Whether I can actually bring myself to do this is another matter! I've bought chicken to eat once since I first got my girls a year (nearly) ago

[Hilary B]

I never had any problem eating home grown cockerels. The first ones were acquired from someone who couldn't 'do the deed' but could accept someone else taking them to eat, on condition I took them well before 'death day'. I took 6 8 week old cockerel chicks, reared them to 20 weeks, and got an experienced neighbour to show me what needed doing. After that it was easy.

[lynda66]

if they don't have homes then one becomes sunday lunch, the other becomes a curry, and i may do the 3rd as a stir fry ...... basically if you can't keep em and no one wants them, theres not really any other options, at least they have had a nice life up till death day .

[-pat m]

Well that is comforting,
When I go down and feed them all it seems like I should try something else but to re-home a few is always a bonus.
I thinks some of my issue is that they are beautiful Orpington’s I have no real problems with my other chickens for meat it just seems such a waste of a magnificent bird!
Time to stop thinking too much!
Thanks again for your comments

Pat

[Nicos]

With my neighbours permission ( noise level) we are considering keeping our two cockerels - I had arranged for them to go back to the person who gave them to us to keep-and then do the deed. Problem is I think we've kept them too long and they've sort of fitted into the family

Now- we're going down the line of chicks too!
So there will certainly be some boys.

At the moment I'm thinking of asking one of the local farmers wives to see them off for us- and give her one as a thank you. They cost at £10-£12 here to buy a free range bird, so I'm hoping that would be a fair exchange for the deed . ( she doesn't bat an eye when dispensing of unwanted newly born kittens)

If you're not happy doing it yourself- do you know of any local farmers who might help you out???

[-pat m]

Well the day has been put off for another few months (untill the meat birds are ready!) the three boy's have gone to a new home!

Pat