[kimtwig]

Hi All
I know you are going to say do them yourself but I can't  We have ended up with around 12 Cockerels that are now started to scream the place down  and they are going to need dispatching and getting ready for the freezer . We are in Clacton in Essex (Nr Colchester ) and would be grateful for any ideas We have tried all the local processing plants and Butchers etc but no help  ... Thank's in advance 

[joyfull]

try any local farms or look out for any other breeders as you drive around.
This is one of the downsides of having young chicks I'm afraid.

[orchardlady]

You could try a local gamekeeper. He will probably be willing to dispatch them for you and teach you how to do it along the way. As mentioned it is one of the downsides of hatching, those sweet little bundles of fluff turn into stroppy cockerels.

Orchardlady.

[kimtwig]

Hi
Thank's for the replies . We have e mailed all the local poultry clubs and been in touch with a few of the local game keepers but as yet no luck ..

[Surferchick]

Are there any local smallholders that run courses?

They may dispatch etc for you as part of the course if you let them keep a few??

Might be worth a try 

[Aunt Sally]

Beegal (a member here) rehomes poultry including cockerels.  You delever them to him with enough food to keep them going for a while and he tries to find them a home or someone to grow them on for meat.

[kimtwig]

Hi
I would not mind them going free of charge to good homes but because we have already grown them on to near mature if they are going for meat I would rather they were in my freezer .
If anyone wants any L/F Orpington Cockerels they are more than welcome to get in touch.

[Casey76]

How old are they kimtwig?

It's just that orpingtons are fairly slow growing, and despite the abundance of feathers, they are not usually ready for the table until at least 26 weeks.  So if they have just started to crow, there might be very little meat on their bones just yet, unfortunately.

Can I ask why you can't do them yourself?  If it is squeamishness, then I really recommend you find a course and at least learn how to dispatch as this is something that every chicken owner should know how to do in case of emergency.

If it is just lack of knowledge, then again I recommend a course, but you don't have to go one one.  I taught myself, and I learned how to pluck and dress from books.  Don't be too worried that you will make a mess of it, because it is almost guaranteed that you will make a hash of it now and again, unfortunately, as it is all part of the learning process.

After two years of hatching, I have the dispatching down to a fine art, and I use a broomstick (or other suitable stick, as available).

[joyfull]

Like Casey I am self taught and use a wall mounted dispatcher. There is lots of information on how to pluck and gut on the internet so it is easy to have a lap top at the side of you until you know how to do it   

[kimtwig]

The birds are all between 20 weeks and 8 months . We used to have a local pheasant breeder that used to do the cocks for us but he has now closed down .. I have never been one for harming any animal and because of this my local vet has been doing a roaring trade through me and this is why I need to find another man that can .. Sorry but I just can't bring myself to do it 

[finleyfreyaseth]

take a big deep breath and do it,