[mab]

Well my broody has raised 5 cockerel chicks (hatched around 10th april), and I'm wondering when I'll have to do the deed - I don't think 5 cocks and 2 hens will work out.


They're not fighting yet, but is there an optimal age to dispatch them?



I've been looking at past posts for methods of humane slaughter but I'm a bit dubious about trying a method I've only seen described... or on U tube.

[chrismahon]

Bad luck Mab. We shoot ours in the head with a .22 air pistol (6 ft lbs) from 20 weeks old, removing the trouble makers as they start fighting. At 26 weeks our remainders were so developed that the pellets wouldn't penetrate the skull, so that was too late. We have a wall mounted despatcher but it's not instant apparently -the head remains alive for up to 20 seconds. So we have stopped using that.

[jaykay]

I pull their necks at around 6 months, by which time they've just started fighting and annoying everyone so I don't feel so bad about it, and they're a good size to eat.

[Bodger]

It depends on the breed, but I'd despatch them when they are worth eating. If you split the cocks from the pullets, you'll be amazed at just how long the cocks will live together quite amicably.
Think back to when most of the chicken we ate came from the surplus cocks produced from the RIRxLS cross used to produce laying hens. ( Thats if you're that old of course ) The farmers kept the males until about six months of age and then sold them oven ready from the farm gate. The old time farmers coped with keeping lots of cocks together and nothings changed, so we should and can still be able to do the same. 
 
I keep gamefowl and they can prove to be a problem but keeping 'backyard' breeds together until killing weight has never been an issue. Just as hens develop a pecking order, so do young cockerels if kept together from the start.

[hughesy]

I totally agree. We've kept groups of cockerels together until they're big enough to eat several times. As long as they've grown up together from chicks they seem to get along fine. These days though I usually cull them as soon as I can sex them.

[Victorian Farmer]

yes i keep all together and send them to be done it costs me half if i put 20 in i get 10 back done then no cost local woman sorts .IFF more people done this it would help the novices.

[mab]

Ahh, I've got some time then. They do seem to get on OK ATM. I like the idea of waiting 'til they start to become annoying 'cos I won't feel so bad about removing a troublemaker  . Might try to find someone local who can show me how to do 'em...


They can't half eat though - I can see why folks say it's not cost effective to raise them for meat - I reckon they've eaten a sack of mixed corn already.


They're cream legbars BTW (at least that's what I was told the eggs were, though they don't look like the pic's yet). That's why I'm sure they're all cocks as they're a breed you can tell at hatching - that and their attempts at crowing (I did have a hen chick too, but she fell in a water butt about 3 weeks ago and I didn't find her in time  ).


I'm not set up to separate them from the pullets though, as they're all in the same coop/ run and free ranging over a couple of acres. Can't easily separate them without confining them.


Thx


mab

[HesterF]

At the opposite end of the scale, what's the oldest that's worth eating? My cockerel is annoying me at the moment - has started stalking me and jumping up at me from behind - and he's not breeding stock anyway (although he's beautiful - just odd colours). He's last year's hatch - will he still be tender?

I've also got a young Marans cockerel - about 6 weeks at the moment - who I think will have to go. Is it ever worth advertising odd cockerels or should I just prepare myself mentally to eat him?

H

[Eastling]

Hester


 I think last years will be a bit tough, but i'm sure one of the local animal parks will take them for the large cats, wolves or reptiles, If you don't want to eat them

[Bodger]

A slow cooker can work wonders.

[lachlanandmarcus]

yes i keep all together and send them to be done it costs me half if i put 20 in i get 10 back done then no cost local woman sorts .IFF more people done this it would help the novices.

I agree, if only there was someone near me!!

[AndynJ]

Anyone want to go halves on their cockerals we will prepare them,
Dawlish area of Devon
Oh if anyone has got any rain can we have some please our 26000 litre water tanks are dry again.