8 Ways to Get Rid of Roosters on the Homestead
by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | June 6, 2023
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Roosters… do you find them cute? Annoying? Beautiful? A problem? Chickens have a 50/50 gender ratio, meaning that in general, fifty percent of a pair’s offspring will be males and fifty percent will be females. That poses a problem when most folks just want hens, and maybe only one rooster. Roosters can be friendly, cuddly, and great flock protectors, but that doesn’t mean that everyone wants a rooster. Sometimes roosters are not allowed in urban flocks and other times your homestead flock may already have one too many roosters. These 8 ways to get rid of roosters on the homestead should hopefully provide you with some ideas for getting rid of the extra boys in your flock!

Are Roosters Needed on the Homestead?

When I first started raising chickens, I started off with a ‘hens only’ flock. I wanted eggs and friendly chickens and had no need for a rooster. Then, one year I mail ordered chicks and they threw in 5 extra roosters plus the 1 cockerel that I had ordered for my 4-H Poultry Project that year. I decided that I would keep one rooster. Ever since that year I have always had one (sometimes two roosters) with my homestead flock.

Roosters can be a valuable asset to the homestead flock. Check out these benefits that roosters can provide for the homestead flock! And if you do have a rooster in your flock, make sure you read this guide on caring for a rooster (or roosters). Sometimes having multiple roosters as part of the homestead flock is beneficial, especially if you free-range your flock on a daily basis. Here are some tips for managing multiple roosters in the homestead flock!

However, sometimes you just have an over abundance of roosters that need to find new homes in order for your homestead flock to be peaceful and healthy. Finding a new home for roosters can be tricky, as most people either already have a rooster or don’t want one. But there are ways to get rid of extra roosters.

Here are some ideas for what to do with roosters that aren’t needed on your homestead!

#1. Keep ‘Em!

Of course, the simplest solution would just be to add a rooster to your flock! If you don’t already have a rooster, then this option is for you. Even if you already have one rooster, consider the possibility of keeping two roosters.

In my opinion, every homestead flock needs a good rooster! Some roosters are great protectors, all roosters fertilize eggs (if you want to get into incubating and hatching chicks), a lot of roosters will help keep the peace in your flock, and most roosters are generally docile or at least friendly.

I like to keep a rooster in my flock because of the dynamics it provides for the flock. The hens seem to like a having a rooster around, even if he is annoying at times. Besides, it’s what nature intended. It’s also nice to know that I could easily replenish my flock if I incubated some of the eggs or let a broody hen set on a clutch. Having a rooster in your flock is a great way to raise your flock like a modern pioneer!

However, even if you like roosters, there may still be some reasons why you should look into options for getting rid of them. Here are just a few things to consider when deciding if you should keep a rooster or not.

Should I Keep a Rooster?

• City Limits– If you homestead within city limits, city regulations may not allow roosters in your homestead flock.
• Hen Health– Roosters can be tough on hens, so you may not want to deal with torn feathers or having the right amount of hens per rooster. With that being said, only keep nice roosters. Some roosters are just naturally rough with the hens and more assertive. Assertive roosters do better in a free-range setting with other roosters and dominant hens.
• Other Roosters– Roosters who are not raised together (and even some who are) will fight for dominance over hens, so if you already have one rooster, keeping a second one may not work out.
• Rooster & Hen Ratio– There is a golden ratio for the number of roosters per hens in a flock. Generally a ratio of 1 rooster per 10 hens is ideal. Keeping more than one rooster may overwhelm your hens if the ratio is off.
• Crowing– A rooster will crow any time of the day, so if you don’t want the noise, don’t keep the rooster.

Are your hens getting beat up by your rooster? Try making them a chicken saddle using this Homemade Chicken Saddle Tutorial!

#2. Put Meat on the Table

The second easiest option for getting rid of extra roosters is to butcher them. This option works the best for young roosters (cockerels), who have not reached the ‘stag’ stage of growth. Young roosters won’t be as tough and you will have had less time to get attached to them.

If you decide you want to go with this option, make your decision right from the get go, before you get too attached. Know that you are raising the extra roosters for meat and not for as pets.

To butcher extra cockerels you will have to find someone who can do it for you or you will have to do it yourself. If you send the bird(s) away to be butchered, consider the butchering fees. If you decide to harvest the bird(s) on your homestead, you may need to invest in some proper butchering equipment to make the process go smoothly.

Here are some supplies you will need to home-butcher your own poultry:

• sharp knives
• quality knife sharpener
• kill cone
• hot water dip (large fryers or propane-burner systems work well)
• clean, cold running water
• trash bag & heavy duty trash bags
• large cooler
• packaging supplies
• chicken plucker (optional)

#3. Join a Social Network!

Poultry groups on various social networks are a great resource for trying to get rid of your extra roosters. One issue that arises is that some social networks have banned the selling of poultry. However, you can still offer birds for free or indicate that you would like compensation for re-homing the rooster. You can often get money for rare or exotic looking roosters.

When posting on a social network, keep these things in mind:

• be honest about the personality, age, and health of the rooster
• decide if you want to give away the rooster or charge a re-homing fee
• use quality photos, not blurry ones
• photos that include someone holding the rooster may help market him better
• post regularly, if needed, lower the price or offer a deal (2 roosters for the price of one or offer a rooster with a hen)

You could also look for poultry forums to join. Some forums are formed specifically for re-homing unwanted or extra roosters. Always be courteous of the social network group rules or forum rules. Look for groups and forums that allow the re-homing of chickens.

#4. Spread the Word

Get the word out that you have an extra rooster that needs a new home! Tell friends, family, co-workers, and acquaintances. You never know who may be in need of a rooster or someone may know of someone else who wants a rooster.

Participants in 4-H may be willing to take on a rooster or two for their 4-H project. Helping out a 4-Her would be a great way to give your un-wanted rooster a good home. Get involved with your local 4-H or FFA groups to build connections and potentially have resources for rehoming your extra roosters.

A friendly, healthy rooster is always easier to get rid of then a mean or unhealthy rooster. Be honest when sharing about your available rooster. Let the recipient know about behavior issues or health issues before they acquire the bird.

#5. Print Off a Return Label

This option is only available to homesteaders who bought from a reliable, quality breeder.

Some breeders may be willing to take back extra or un-wanted roosters that you purchased from them. If the rooster is good quality or has desirable characteristics, the breeder may want use him as part of the breeding program or as a back-up breeder.

Remember, you are the one who bought the bird, so don’t be pushy in trying to give it back to the breeder. Be polite and give the breeder the option to accept or decline the offer.

#6. Strike a Deal

Small animal swaps are a great way to get rid of un-wanted or extra roosters. You can bring the rooster to a swap and trade it for another item that you might need, such as straw, feed, or maybe even hens!

Be careful when attending small animal swaps though. Practice good bio-security and be aware of shady business or dishonest swaps. If you acquire any birds in exchange for the rooster, make sure you quarantine them for the appropriate amount of time before adding them to your flock. Again, be honest about the temperament, age, and health of the rooster you are trying to get rid of.

Look for local small animal swaps advertised at feed stores, grain elevators, in poultry magazines, or in your local newspaper. Social network groups may also advertise for local farm swaps or auctions.

#7. Start a Rooster Sanctuary

Are you raising chickens just for fun? Maybe you would consider starting a ‘rooster only’ flock. A coop full of roosters sounds like a disaster, but it is actually quit feasible. The main reason why roosters fight is because they want dominance over a flock of hens. The top rooster gets access to all the hens and is able to pass on his genes. When there are no hens present, there isn’t much to fight over.

As long as the roosters have plenty of space to prevent territorial fighting, they should be able to establish a pecking order and live in relative harmony with one another. Roosters who aren’t used for breeding don’t need as much protein as hens do and they don’t need supplemental calcium either. So feeding a flock of roosters would be cheaper than feeding a flock of hens.

Of course, a rooster flock wouldn’t give you much in return, since they don’t lay eggs. But they would still be entertaining to watch and you could probably collect some gorgeous roosters from people looking to get rid of their extra roosters.

#8. Show Him Off!

The final option is for homesteaders who are poultry enthusiasts or breeders who show or exhibit their chickens. Many poultry shows have a ‘sale’ corner in which the show participants can bring birds to sell.

If you bring your chickens to a show and have a few extra or un-wanted roosters, you could bring them to the show as well to try and sell them. Keep in mind that you will probably have to pay for a show coop and you may not end up selling the birds. Roosters that you bring to a show to sell must still look nice, be clean, and be disease and parasite free.

Selling extra roosters at a show works best for pure-bred roosters who are high quality for their breed. It helps if the rooster is as close to its breed standard as possible and does not have any defects or deformities.

Want to know how to make your rooster look his best? Check out my 5 Steps for Preparing a Show Chicken!

Roosters don’t have to be a nuisance, and you will find that there is usually somebody who is willing to take your rooster for you. Of course, re-homing a rooster will depend a lot on the temperament of the rooster. Knowing what breed you are going to get, acquiring good quality birds, and handling the chicks from a young age will make re-homing any roosters you get easier. With options like social network groups, attending small animal swaps, or attending poultry shows… you should be able to find a good home for any roosters that you don’t need as a part of your homestead flock!

Enjoy your roosters while you have them and good luck re-homing! Also, make sure you join our pioneer community to get more free tips and exclusive content to help you raise your flock like a pioneer!