chuckmum6 Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 I'm thinking about hatching out my own eggs in the spring, when my girls go broody again. What do you do with your boys, last year I kept one and gave one away via the Market place on here. I won't hatch unless I can be sure to rehome the boys, so any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 mine are for the pot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted February 15, 2011 Author Share Posted February 15, 2011 Mine would be banties, so a bit tiny for dinner, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meezers Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 I hatched 2 boys last year, a Faverolles and a Silkie. I chose Faverolles as I wanted the option of keeping the boys for the pot if I couldn't rehome them. I don't eat meat myself, but I feel OK about giving a chook a good life and humane dispatch if it will be eaten by OH. I tried to rehome the faverolles, but no interest whatsoever, so he became dinner.The Silkie egg was put in to make up to a half dozen as they had only 5 fav eggs,too late I realise I'm going to be stuck if it hatches and it's a boy- didn't fancy culling or eating Silkie ! luckily I still have him, he doesn't crow too early or too loud ( fingers crossed) and I'm hoping to use him to hatch some more eggs under Muppet this year - BUT they won't be anything that wouldn't suit the pot, so no legbar or silkie crosses . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 Mine would be banties, so a bit tiny for dinner, I think. You'd be surprised at how much meat there is on one - at around 6 months they make a huge roast for one (my husband has a very hearty appetite) or a normal roast for two - with the carcase for stock or soup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 16, 2011 Share Posted February 16, 2011 I agree, my Wyandotte bantams are big enough for a decent roast for two Last year I culled my males as soon as I realised they were boys I'm afraid I kept the four males with the most show potential and of those one was passed on to a breeder in NI to improve their inbred stock over there, one didnt make the grade and was rehomed to live with some ex batts and the other two are my current show cockerels and will be kept for breeding this year Its hard to cull unwanted males especially if they are young but with the numbers I hatch its just not practical to try to constantly be looking for new homes for them and to me its better that I cull than let them face an uncertain future in the sales pen. If you hatch one or two then its different and homes can usually be found with a bit of a search Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 I always try and find homes but it is hard to do. Luckily I found a lady looking for a CLB cockerel, a friend took the frizzle and helped re-home one with some ex-batts, and another friend took Mr Dino I do think banties would be small and I'm planning on crossing a frizzle pekin with a silkie (amongst others) so not sure if that turns out to be a boy! I raised 2 for the table last year, so hopefully do some more this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 I er make sure I have a home before I hatch (my beautiful barnie went to a home) but normally I hatch in the knowledge that things will eaten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 The rule we made here was that they are all girls until they crow. Luckily only one did that and he was duly roasted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue-DiamondChick07 Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 The rule we made here was that they are all girls until they crow. Luckily only one did that and he was duly roasted. Bet he regretted that not funny really is it, sorry I try to find homes, and luckily thats worked for me so far, but best prepare for some culling at some stage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Well, I was nicknamed The Butcher of Basingstoke for some time after that! Horrible at the time, but he did taste nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted February 19, 2011 Author Share Posted February 19, 2011 I have seen lots of adverts on 'preloved' that offer to take unwanted birds, I am dubious about what would happen to them, as I don't want them to come to a sticky end. Does any one have any knowledge of a reputable place, where I might be able to rehome any little boys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Childrens farm parks would be a good place to start. Also Beegal on the practical Poultry forum will take and rehome cockerels (he is one of the few good guys who offer this) The trouble is that these often become inundated with requests of people wanting to rehome boys and if you look in the back of Practical Poultry there are also a load of cockerels wanting homes in there too Sadly I think the best bet is to try to line up something before you hatch but be prepared to cull if you need to or find someone who can do it for you I only ever try to rehome cockerels that are very good quality and may be of some use to someone else. cross breed cockerels are near on impossible to rehome Unless I knew the background of any people offering to take cockerels I wouldnt trust that as an option personally, I guess that they may try to rehome them for you but as few people would pay to look after cockerels with no payback I would imagine that there is only one fate for them and personally I would rather do that at home and know it was done humanely The time you really see the effect of home hatching is at some auctions where much pampered pet cockerels get sold for twenty or fifty pence and then carted off upside down six at a time to certain death for their meat, the person who hatched those probably breathed a sigh of relief that they didnt have to cull them sorry to sound harsh but if people choose to hatch eggs then they need to take resposibility for the culling if they cant find homes - the blunt point is that cockerels make noise and dont produce eggs so few people want them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Good post Redwing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 Sadly I think the best bet is to try to line up something before you hatch but be prepared to cull if you need to or find someone who can do it. sorry to sound harsh but if people choose to hatch eggs then they need to take resposibility for the culling if they cant find homes - the blunt point is that cockerels make noise and dont produce eggs so few people want them I do agree, which is why I am investigating any alternative to culling if I can avoid it, and doing so before I even have a wiff of a broody. I thought I would see what routes other people have used and ask for advice. If needs be I would cull, but it is a shame if an alternative could be found. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_21 Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 hi i know a bloke in nottinghamshire he takes in unwanted animals he as got a 500 acre farm he is absolutely amazing he works on behalf of the rspca rescueing poultry animals and other farm animals when i took a few of my cockerals to him i just couldn't beleave my eyes i have never seen so many chickens in my life he even had an ostrich and a few emus but he did tell me he did have a dangers pet licence tho so he was covered but i would recommend takeing any unwanted animals to him if you want to get in contact with him then please pm me and i shell pass on his telephone number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 Thank you, this sounds like a plan, I have pm'd you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 Bit unfair. I would suspect he does it as a charitable work and to deliberately hatch out males knowing that this man couldn't let an animal or bird down is a bit off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 Hate to sound harsh but I don't think it is fair to hatch for fun and dump unwanted males onto a rescue centre. They have to pay for feed etc for rescued animals and to pass them animals that are surplus requirements as a result of hobby hatching is not right. It's no different than breeding puppies for fun, keeping 1 and taking the to the RSPCA to sort out. This rescue presumably relies on donations to survive. I wouldn't be happy if money that I donated went towards looking after these males bred unnecessarily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 I agree totally with the last two posts. I feel that one shouldn't embark upon hatching unless one has a clear plan for any males, ie culling, raising for the table, or a firm offer of a decent home before you start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 It depends what breed they are. I rear Marans for the table, and some crossbreed boys if I know they're going to be a decent size. I've reared Orps for the table but culling a bird that's the best part of a year old and a member of the family broke my heart so large, heavy, slow to mature boys are now culled early, six weeks ish, and disposed of. Same goes for bantams, and I've culled Pekins at four weeks. I can count on one hand with fingers to spare the number of cockerels I've found homes for. Even rare as hens teeth cockerels have been culled, it's a misconception to think there'll be a home waiting for good examples of rare breeds because there's not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share Posted February 22, 2011 I do take your point on board, and as I said at the start of this post I am indeed trying to sort out homes BEFORE I hatch. I have no intention of 'using' this man and indeed have had a conversation to see if he would be interested in any boys - he is in the pure breeds only. So I feel I am being absolutely responsible in trying to to find potential homes for any males that I may or may not hatch in the coming months. The post has certainly helped me to realise that I will only hatch pure breeds. I am also aware that culling is also an option, but again I would like to secure homes for my boys rather than kill them, hence my post. I would also only be setting 4 eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Can I just say at least chuckmum6 is being responsible enough to look for homes before hatching, which is more than some people!! Its not deliberately hatching out males, and yes hatching is fun but its also a good way of increasing your flock, as long as its done responsibly etc... I have taken some cockerels to a 'rescue' man, a few years ago, and had spoken to 2 people before hatching. Yes, people may try and take advantage of these places but in this case, when we took the boys to him and bought some girls, he was really pleased with having the boys off me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted February 23, 2011 Author Share Posted February 23, 2011 Can I just say at least chuckmum6 is being responsible enough to look for homes before hatching, which is more than some people!! Its not deliberately hatching out males, and yes hatching is fun but its also a good way of increasing your flock, as long as its done responsibly etc... I have taken some cockerels to a 'rescue' man, a few years ago, and had spoken to 2 people before hatching. Yes, people may try and take advantage of these places but in this case, when we took the boys to him and bought some girls, he was really pleased with having the boys off me Thank you lwescott !!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Birdie on preloved took my 2 boys, she keeps them until she can find them another home. (I don't think they could believe their luck as they were going in with 24 light sussex pols.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
