what is a fair trade re: hens vs roosters

[Doc]

We have a couple of young roosters (20 wks) that we just cannot keep.

Is it a fair trade to ask for a couple of hens in exchange for the rooster? I've noticed this on a couple of list servs but wondered what folks do on this forum since it is pretty active.

[forphase1]

Around here hens are worth MUCH more than a rooster. In the swaps I've seen it usually takes 2-3 roosters to acquire 1 hen. Of course there are exceptions for a prized rooster or if someone is looking for something special. But often extra roosters can be found simply being given away, while hens always have a price tag. :-) Most of my circle though is production animals, not show animals...that market/dynamic may be different.

[Fat Man]

Unless they're show quality birds they're pretty much worthless around here too. Most folks give them away or put them in the pot.

[d'vash]

Eat them. Roosters are worthless here, most are given away as dog food.

[Bret]

I have six little ones a few months old. I cant tell them apart. A neighbor asked if he could by one of the roosters to go with his two little hens. I told him no, but that he could have one and that it would be worth more if I gave it too him. I hatched them for grand sons to see and after that they were destined for the frying pan on the box stove in the line shack.

[mistletoad]

I can't imagine giving up anything but spent hens for a rooster!

[Jennifer L.]

I would give a rooster away just to save on the feed bill!

[mekasmom]

Roosters are worth about 1/10 a hen unless they are cornish rock for meat. Roosters are pretty much considered worthless. You could just let them run in the yard, outside the pen if fighting is an issue. I do that when two roosters cannot get along, and I have the best one in the pen to fertilize eggs.

[ufo_chris]

I just had 3 butchered, there is a place here that does it for $1.85 each.

[ufo_chris]

Oh, over 1 yr old and cooked one in soup tasted really good!

[Pony]

I wouldn't feed them to the dog. Older roos are very tasty when you cook them slow and moist.