Shirl Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 How easy is it to rehome cockerels? I'm thinking of hatching some pekin eggs but obviously need to work out what I'll do with the inevitable males. If I post on the pekinbantam forum how easily am I likely to rehome them? These will be pet quality birds (unless I get eggs from show stock). Has anyone managed to do this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 If they're a really good standard then you shouldn't have a problem. If they are just pet quality the only place for them may be the table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted October 9, 2007 Author Share Posted October 9, 2007 Not much meat on a Pekin though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Not much meat on a quail either, but we still eat them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted October 9, 2007 Share Posted October 9, 2007 I've been lucky and had someone thats taken all my cockerels this year. One girl has taken most of them, I advertised and managed to sell one and even today had to 'send away' my lovely big Buff Orp, who I'd suspected was a boy for a few weeks now, and he confirmed it by crowing this morning at 28 weeks . I also have another eight 5 week old boys that will be looking for new homes when they're about 12 weeks The last hatch was my highest boy/girl ratio but you have to expect it, and if you get more girls its a bonus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Well done for asking questions first before breeding! It is very irrisponsible to breed livestock if you are not sure what you can do when things don't go your way... There are (as most people have suggested) a number of options. Firstly you could try and free to good home advert in the paper. Secondly a free to good home advert on this forum. Thirdly you could try asking a few freinds/family Fourthly you could try asking local farms if they would like them (not every farm would be interested pekns though) And finally you could "prepare it" for the table but as mentioned there is not much meat on a pekin... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 As the others have said - good on you for checking without just going ahead. This is one of the reasons that I don't do more hatching; you need to be sure that you can find homes or a place in the freezer for any resulting males. To do otherwise would be irresponsible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Ditto from me too - very responsible of you to think this through first. It is the reason I have never & will never hatch eggs, much as I would like to, until we are set up on a bigger property to raise our own dinners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 I would love to hatch some chicks but its hard work and i couldn't 'get rid' of the boys! Its all too easy to get carried away with the idea and putting some eggs under a broody hen, but a nightmare when they start crowing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted October 10, 2007 Author Share Posted October 10, 2007 I've bred dogs before so I know what a responsibility it is bringing any life into this world. With my dogs I always say that I will take the dog back whatever and whenever. I know I couldn't keep cockerals, well except the one I've got LOL Thanks everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 I've thought about it at length too, but have decided against it, for the time being anyway. It would be all to easy to rush into it without thinking it through fully. Apart from the "What will I do with the boys" question, there is a lot of expense, and then integrating the chicks into the established flock takes careful managing. Too risky..........for me at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 It isn't easy rehoming cockerels. We don't have that problem as we have plenty of room and no near neighbours - I didn't even consider hatching until we moved here. We are OK with preparing them as 'dinners' although it is so difficult when you've reared and watched the cockerel grow up. They are so beautiful. I have offered them on Practical Poultry forum but unless there is someone in your area who wants what you've got then it isn't always practical. I'm on here now because, if I wake up around 5.30, we have 7 cockerels all trying to crow the loudest - all about 50 yards from our bedroom window! They don't wake me..... but if I wake anyway then I can't go back to sleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 There's not really any point in offering them for rehoming on this forum, I'm afraid as the vast majority of Eglu owners live in towns or cities and you're not allowed to keep them in an urban environment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 I'm with everyone else, in as much as the children are desperate to let the chooks hatch some brought in eggs, but I have refused because of the issue of male chooks. karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
