Jeanette Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 Hi in May this year i purchased an but unfortunately was unable to get any chickens as we live in Guernsey. So we decided to hatch our own. We managed to hatch 5 chicks (4 welsummers and 1 amrock) Just my luck but 4 out of the 5 are cockerals. I have tried selling/giving them away to no avail. They are no fighting alot which is stressing the hen. It seems that culling is now my only option can anyone advise on what age this can/should be done. Ruby Welsummer George Welsummer Geoffery Welsummer Elvis Welsummer Cheaky Amrock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 sorry to hear that. You could take a look at this thread about raising birds for meat, or you could try pming Bronze or one of the others on there who whould know about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 hi there, do you have any local farms/farmers or visitor attractions (which incorporates chickens) who could take your cockerels on for you? I would have thought a farmer would take them on for you and even if they decided to have them for "the table" it would save you the job of doing it. Failing the above, you could row yourself over to Alderney during nightfall and put them in amongst the feral chickens that live there! (joke! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 That's really bad luck! I hope it doesn't put you off trying again. I can't offer any practical advice, just wanted to send you my sympathy. As already suggested, Bronze would be a good person to PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 Take them up to Bordeaux and let them loose amongst the wild ones there!!!!!!! ( my in-laws live there!) Louise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 19, 2008 Share Posted September 19, 2008 Is there a city farm or petting zoo nearby that might take them, or a breeder who might be looking for different bloodlines. Have you tried here? GUERNSEY ANIMAL AID Sue Vidamour, Tudor Lodge Deer Farm , FOREST , Guernsey , Channel Islands , GY9 0A Ph: 07781 101052 / 01481 257763 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 Is there a city farm or petting zoo nearby that might take them, or a breeder who might be looking for different bloodlines. Have you tried here? GUERNSEY ANIMAL AID Sue Vidamour, Tudor Lodge Deer Farm , FOREST , Guernsey , Channel Islands , GY9 0A Ph: 07781 101052 / 01481 257763 . Well found Eglutine I searched and searched for farms/attractions in Guernsey and didnt find that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 I would have thought as soon as you know they are boys- the smaller the easier to dispatch ,unless you want to eat them? I take it you realised you might have to do the deed when you hatched them...maybe try a utility bird like light sussex next time so they are good for the pot Maybe that lady will take them though, but she will probably give you an earful for hatchng them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 This is why l would never hatch my own because i could never kill them just seems to cruel to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 The thing is Tara, all POL chooks you buy will have lost their brothers the same way, it is no more cruel in this circumstance unless it isn't done properly. Not everyones cup of tea though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 Yer l know what your saying is right.Its not somthing l could do tho l tend to keep them.I hatched ducks l know there different.Its just somthing l hate l just could not take a life enough animals die.The boys are so hard l understand to rehome thats why l would not hatch eggs.l do have a broody hen and a friend did suggest putting some eggs under her but knowing my luck id end up with boys.Hope you find a good home for your boys and alot of these l just love my birds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 Well my answer tends to be when they start getting noisy at least this way they'll have had a nice life and you'll get a meal out of them. Beter than gassing chicks imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 how old are they now? If theyre fighting it does sound like theyve reached a basic level of maturity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 I'd do it sooner rather than later if they are fighting. If you can, get an experienced poultryman to show you how to do it properly. Please don't use humane dispatchers, they are not humane at all and the humane slaughter association has condemned them as being barbaric. John Seymour's book on self sufficiency has details on the proper way to do it, or maybe try practical poultry website/forum for further info. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeanette Posted April 19, 2010 Author Share Posted April 19, 2010 I would like to thank everyone for there advice and knowledge. In the end i culled 2 and gave away the others. Since then i have hatched several batches from rir, light sussex, red sussex and welsummers. Also in our local paper this week Guernsey Animal aid is closing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted April 19, 2010 Share Posted April 19, 2010 This thread is a billion yrs old Has it been moved to make people think about what they are doing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 19, 2010 Share Posted April 19, 2010 This thread is a billion yrs old Has it been moved to make people think about what they are doing? Original poster posted an update I would like to thank everyone for there advice and knowledge. In the end i culled 2 and gave away the others. Since then i have hatched several batches from rir, light sussex, red sussex and welsummers. Also in our local paper this week Guernsey Animal aid is closing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 This thread is a billion yrs old Has it been moved to make people think about what they are doing? When the thread was originally posted, in 2008, this section didn't exist. The OP resurrected it yesterday, it has been put into what is now the appropriate section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 It is easy to confuse me, I must have looked at the date on something else on the last post It *is* a very good thread to have in this section imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
