welovemarmite Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 I dont raise chicks but just wondered what you all did with your little boys if you don't mind me asking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 Kept 4 - got another suspect pekin that I'll also be keeping. That'll make 5. All in separate accomadation although some separate flocks free range happily together - except for father & son (Spongebob & Bingo). I adore my cockerels! I've bred successfully from all but my silkie & the suspect chick obviously. But others have had chicks from my silkies. One big boy had to go my sisters farm as he got naughty with me & even hubby. However he now lives on another farm & is spoilt rotten by 2 little boys who take him bowls of mashed potato, boiled rice etc. I also think he is a daddy now. I've only ever re homed one boy - who I knew was a boy from the beginning. So he went at 7 weeks old to a lovely friend. You have to be able to keep, know someone who will have them or be able to cull them. I can't go down the cull route - I just can't. So I keep mine for breeding mainly. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welovemarmite Posted June 7, 2010 Author Share Posted June 7, 2010 I was watching country file last night about the goats and cows and what they do with the little boys. It just got me wondering whether there were farmers who did that with chickens.... obviously though they would probably be picky about the breed... I really fancy some transylvanian naked necks, but reckon the only way i would be able to get one is to hatch it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 I really fancy some transylvanian naked necks, but reckon the only way i would be able to get one is to hatch it. I know of a couple of people who breed these if you get stuck Little boys? Sorry and I know this wont be popular but I cull most of mine as soon as I spot that they are boys. It doesnt sit that well with me but after seeing terrified cockerels sold at auction for as little as 20p I decided that I wont pass them on to a similar fate Only boys that I know I can find homes for (frizzles are popular..) and ones that I want for breeding or to show are kept I have a pen of table birds and obviously offspring from those has its fate set from the start Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welovemarmite Posted June 7, 2010 Author Share Posted June 7, 2010 That makes sense. and to be honest, if it has to be done it has to be done. (Although I reckon my hubbie would have to do that!!) As soon as we have more space I will get in touch about the naked necks. I know they are not everyones cup of tea but i think they are adorable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 We tend to hatch only dual purpose birds, so we know the fate of the boys before they are hatched. We give them a fantastic free range life and aim to cull by 18 weeks - sooner if it's a heavier breed or if the boys start any trouble. We have some 5 week old Sassos at the moment and they are all very very heavy and are a bit less active than other breeds we've hatched. These ones will end up being culled at 12 or 14 weeks because of their size. If we were hatching a non dual purpose breed, we'd cull as soon as we knew, unless we knew we could find a home for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-a-doodle-doo Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 I am lucky to of found two breeders I buy my eggs from who will take the boys back. We would love to keep one but have neighbours so it's not possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 Last time we re-homed the boys but this year we've hatched a couple of table birds so they're sorted. 2 of the cream legbars are boys so depending how big they get before they crow etc, they'll be culled or for the table too. A friend is taking back 2 of the pure breed cockerels, for showing/rehoming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bessandra Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 I both mine are girls but if not, they will probably be for the table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 I also dispatch mine, I feel it is my responsibility to deal with this as I hatched them in the first place. I did three weighty Maran cockerels last year, for the first time, it wasn't as bad as I thought. I felt better about it as I believe I gave them a good life and showed them nothing but respect. I couldn't pass on a cockerel to anyone else as I could not be sure of the treatment they would get, and the thought of cockerels at auction frightens the life out of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 Any boys that I hatch will be offered 'Free to a good home' on another site. Should no one take them up on it, then they will be culled. The eggs that my broody is sitting on now is a breed that I would like to keep - any future hatches will be dual purpose breeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meezers Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 Well this is my first time hatching chicks. I chose Salmon Faverolles as it's a breed I want , so could keep the girls ,they are dual purpose, so boys could be kept for the table, unless I can rehome them,and they can be sexed early on -supposedly- mine are over 2 weeks old now and I'm still not 100% sure I've one of each I've promised myself that if I hatch more chicks they will be dual purpose again, don't like the idea of culling the boys unless they can be eaten. I'm hoping and praying my silkie chick is a girl . She was added to the box as they only had 5 salmon fav eggs, wasn't 'til Muppet had been sat on it for a week I suddenly thought' what the heck am I going to do if it's a cockerel'? I know the Chinese eat silkies, but I don't fancy it ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honorandkit Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 I'm almost too frightened to ask...but how exactly do you dispatch them? After the article in the Daily Mail last week, and the response to the author's neck-wringing experience, I suddenly realise I have no idea what goes on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 There are various ways to despatch a chick some of which many people on the forum probably wouldnt like to read about so I will simply say that I have a humane despatcher for young chicks which breaks the neck instantly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honorandkit Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 That's as much as I need to know, thanks Tasha. Sorry for my complete lack of sensitivity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 That's as much as I need to know, thanks Tasha. Sorry for my complete lack of sensitivity. No its not a problem its just that as this is a forum mainly for people who keep chickens as pets and as we have children as members it can be hard sometimes for readers to see too much detail on this subject Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 Having got far too attached to boys I've had to later despatch it's now my policy to cull boys who are not for the table as soon as I know they're boys. However, like Redwing, I can find homes for anything Frizzly and have found homes for all my Frizzle boys (Pekins & Silkies) and even some for a breeder friend too! One Frizzle Silkie inparticular had at least six people offering him a home because he was rather gorgeous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welovemarmite Posted June 8, 2010 Author Share Posted June 8, 2010 i can see that, i nearly homed a silkie cockeral from a garden centre as he was lovely and i felt so sorry for him.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 That's as much as I need to know, thanks Tasha. Sorry for my complete lack of sensitivity. No its not a problem its just that as this is a forum mainly for people who keep chickens as pets and as we have children as members it can be hard sometimes for readers to see too much detail on this subject I agree. There is children on this.. Whos the youngest member do you think? Well im 13. But mature i know what ill be doing with cockerels.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 I think Holly was the youngest - 10 ... might be others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 lambbreath is 12 but isn't a regular like you Mollie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 Nice to know theres some younger people, haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 If I remember correctly the youngest is about 7 or 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 Gosh I rather hope the title of this thread doesn't have anything to do with the last few posts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
