The Poultry Keeper

RobMad · Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 206 Location: Cornwall

What are the best ways to get rid of unwanted cockerels from a hatch? I have been thinking about putting them in a local paper but will anyone want them?? Any advice welcome Smile

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3455 Location: Monmouthshire

Cull as soon as you realise they are cocks, or grow on for eating. there is a very small market for cockerels and it's rarely worth the cost of rearing them

RobMad · Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 206 Location: Cornwall

ok, is there a better way to cull because i wont be overs on culling them Sad

softie arent i!! Smile

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3455 Location: Monmouthshire

Well, I use Semark pliers to do the deed. Quick, clean, and certain. I got mine from Solway Feeders, but the Domestic Fowl trust also sell them.

Lisa · Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 8:19 pm Post subject:

What sort of age is that at (guess it depends on the breed?)

Sorry if anyone finds this gross, but what do you do with them afterwards? Am I right in assuming some at least aren't big enough to eat? Do they become pet food? Or are there any rules and regs for disposing of them?

Just curious - I do realise if you breed then there is always going to be the issue of what to do with the cockerels. And one day, I want to hatch some eggs...

mojo · Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 9:48 pm Post subject:

if you hatch eggs you MUST accept responsibility for the chicks.......if you cant cull dont hatch...............having said that it is a very special treat to see chicks you have raised running about....so you must choose..........sorry no other easy answer.....cull or stop raising eggs to chickens

Lisa · Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 10:01 pm Post subject:

I realise that Mojo - its was more a question about whether they get dispatched at day old / few weeks / eating size... (depending on when you can sex them, obviously) and if not eating size, what happens to them afterwards Confused

Just trying to understand all the options.

mojo · Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 10:18 pm Post subject:

sorry here goes.....chicks from autosex breeds cull at birth.........all the rest (unless fighters).......feed on a growers diet for eating ..........weigh them and when they are twice the weight you like cull........they end up the right weight then

Lisa · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 7:35 am Post subject:

On average how old are they when they get culled for the kitchen then (if growing on for eating)?

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7367 Location: isle of lewis

i tend to just wait till they are big enough i'm thinking about buy sasso hatching eggs ,as i just hatch for eggs and i'm getting to many ,i think it really does depend on breed the dorking scociety recomends waiting 2 years for white dorking but they are ment to be really good eatting
lisa according to defra regs even if you loose a chick you are ment to inform them and they come and take it away for incineration ,as it is illegal to bury livestock chickens included .if it was intended as food and prepared then it can go into the dustbin ,it's in the defra fallen stock scheme
suz

HelenP · Joined: 12 Mar 2006 Posts: 144 Location: GLOUCESTERSHIRE

That's interesting because I had wondered what you do with a dead chicken as at some point it's the one thing we can guarantee will happen!

mojo · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 9:24 am Post subject:

over here most unwanted birds go as animal food as most folks keep guard and hunting dogs .personally for a couple(mrs mojo and me) a nine month old bird is about the right size but we have a few new breeds in the incub to give us heavyer eating birds expect to grow on for 15 months

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3455 Location: Monmouthshire

You can bury pets in the garden. Unless you keep them commercially, hens are pets. Say no more, and don't ask.

Knobby · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 10:21 am Post subject:

CP · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 10:51 am Post subject:

Mine too!