I have 5 roosters that are about 6 months old.
Live weight none will go 3 lbs.

In different times, I wouldn't be asking this question.

After butchering my biggest one and spending about an hour cleaning (I'm slow and rusty), I got at most 1# of meat. I did get some soup from the carcass

Although this may sound cruel, I'm tempted to just slaughter them and throw them away because they're not worth the effort

I hate the thought of being wasteful like this.
But, I did raise my chickens more for meat than eggs.

Any suggestions?

thanks

I hear ya. I got at least 7 unwanted boys..but all but one, are personable and halfway friendly..these guys are too good looking to just toss and all are very large and only about 8 months old so it looks like we will be lopping off heads soon..feed is not cheap nad cute is.

I saw someone put an ad in freecycle wanting a rooster as a pet. offer them up and see if you get any takers. We have 2 boys and I like the sound of the rooster, but they are pretty much useless eaters. I guess they'll go at some point, but for now I'll leave them alone. I got a batch of sexed chicks about 6 weeks ago and if any of them turn out to be male, into the pot it will go. I hate to tell you to just toss them, but that's what I would do since they aren't big enough to make it worth your while doing them up.

killem, skin them (much MUCH faster than plucking),gut and throw in a stew pot and simmer the meat off the bones,then can or freeze.lot faster than doin a proper butchering..

remember,"waste not, want not".. wouldnt wanna be cold and hungry one day down the road and think back on these roosters would ya??

i'm with hippie on this. save ya a lot of grief and will at least make some good chicken and noodles to make up for part of the cost of feed.

Thanks everyone
Although I've never skinned them, it sounds like it's a lot quicker.
On Saturday or Sunday, I'll give it a try.

The thought of tossing them never appealed to me

last year i orderd 25 chickens unsexed ended up whith 13 roosters we keped one and skined the others last fall butchered the last one it was to agressive. he dont lay eggs so he aint good for us

Last week I finished off the last 5 roosters. Except for the one who is my daughters pet.
I threw them over the hill.
Hated to do it and would not have in different times.
There wasn't enough weight live weight to make me want to bother with them
Lucky if they were 2 or 3 #s live