[Fleecewife]

Our cockerel and cock numbers have been gradually creeping up, as we wait for young ones to grow big enough to eat - they are Scots Greys so they grow very slowly.  We suddenly realised that we had six - particularly noticeable first thing in the morning when they let rip with all those cock-a-doodle-*#%&@-dos    Aaagh!   So this morning my OH went out with the gun - and now there's only one     It had to be the gun for some as they had taken to sleeping rough so couldn't be caught (maybe they had a little suspicion they were surplus to requirements  )
At first Napoleon, the original cock and sole survivor, did a lot of Ozzy-sounding crows, clearly waiting for an answer from all his rivals, but by lunchtime he was starting to realise he is back to being king of the dung heap again  and all is peaceful - no cock fights, no rapes, no bully-boys.

[SallyintNorth]

A grim but necessary occasional deed.  The girls will thank you!  And no doubt there'll be Coq au Vin on the menu for a few nights... 

[Fleecewife]

    No I couldn't face eating another cockerel.  A total waste I know and against all I believe in but this time they are not on the menu.   We usually bump them off in pairs and they make a tasty casserole, but 5 is just OTT. But I'm so pleased at the peace - they sort of creep up on me, gradually growing up and getting more of a nuisance, until I finally snap 
Napoleon the old boy is such a gentleman and looking magnificent in his full plumage right now.

[Mammyshaz]

This is something I must toughen to.  It is a necessity i think to keep a correct balance for the rest of the gang.
And a reason I'm hesitant in expanding our little flock with egg hatching until somebody competent can give me an experienced hand in this learning curve.
 

[manian]

we're working our way through our eaters at the moment
we do 2 at a time
got 4 hanging at the moment, OH is going todress them today while i'm at work

We'll start again at the weekend

[jaykay]

I had to put 9 in the freezer last back-end. I am eating my way through them gradually.
Yes, they creep up on me too, eventually the noise and hassling the girls gets too much, when they reach about 6 months, and I have to take action.
Haven't hatched any chicks this year as I did so many last year, so spared the problem for a year.

My problem this year is finding out who isn't laying anymore and dispatching them, I find culling old hens much harder and am tempted to just them them stay.......

[HelenVF]

We have to cull a cockerel soon as I am wanting my speckled sussex to free range and we can't until the 2 in the barn are gone.  One is going to a friend though so only 1 to cull. 

We have got a couple of old hens kicking around who aren't laying particularly well.  They are keeping my speckled sussex cockerel company though so they have had a reprive!

Helen

[in the hills]

I know that feeling. I love all the poultry but had to put some boys in the freezer last year    They were tasty though and made broth and everything so that I felt I hadnt wasted anything.  Just cant despatch the old girls .... they have to live out their lives here and tell myself they have earned their keep! 

I am such a wimp.

[jaykay]

That's how I feel - they've earned their keep. Trouble is the flock gets bigger and bigger and the eggs fewer and fewer. I'm going to have to take action.......maybe next year 

[in the hills]

Yes, our flock is expanding  Especially with a daughter who adores hens.... loves to hatch a few and seems to get given pullets by neighbours!

Good idea ..... I will leave that side of flock management until next year as well      A few may go from natural causes by then! 

[Fleecewife]

We let the old hens live out their lives here too.  Partly it can be difficult to know when they have totally stopped laying, but being free range they are not expensive to feed.  Eventually they shuffle off...in fact every now and then we find a geriatric dead under the perch in the morning, having died in her sleep, which has to be a nice way to go     I just love having them around and don't particularly care if they are not productive any more.
It's so peaceful today I can't understand why we didn't do the cockerels sooner - well I can.  It's because in spite of their faults they are so beautiful

[Mel Rice]

re culling old girls....I too was convinced last year that one hen was not laying (she was the only one to lay white eggs 'supposedly')  When I did get round to the kill she had plenty of eggs inside....oops!!!!

[in the hills]

Oh!!!  ..... Thats it!!!!

I shall plod along with my hens have a home for life policy   

Still have 6 cockerels    ........ but some are very small ones  . As long as theres no trouble they can stay but no room at the inn for any more, Im afraid.

[colliewoman]

We did 2 yesterday and I overslept this morning you don't always notice how loud they are till it stops

[Mammyshaz]

Our girls will live out their life here as gratitude for all the lovely eggs they have given us 
Cockerels are not permitted on the allotments, I will need to dispatch any hatched unless somebody is willing to take them ( unlikely outcome) which is why I cannot hatch eggs until I can do this confidently   
Thinking maybe sex linked chicks will be the best option until then