How Much Do Roosters Cost

How Much Do Roosters Cost? Understanding the Expenses of Owning a Rooster and Tips for Finding Affordable Options

If you’re building up a coop for your hens, then you probably know that they need a rooster to make their flock complete. Purchasing a rooster may be more difficult than purchasing a hen because there are many things to account for like how aggressive they are, whether they have enough hens for them to hang out and mate with, and how many roosters there are in the coop you’re trying to prepare. All of this can make many farmers who are buying roosters for the first time quite confused.

However, even though it may be more difficult to buy the right rooster for your flock, it’s also worth mentioning that it’s also easier. There are a lot more things to consider when you’re trying to buy a hen than a rooster like how many eggs they will lay, what is their egg production quality, how much they’ll grow, and much more.

The fact that a hen will lay eggs is enough to make it cost more, not to mention that your coop will need way more hens than they will need roosters. But, that’s not to say that the rooster is a less important addition to the flock. They are of integral importance for the protection of the coop, and the exhibition, and most importantly, they fertilize the eggs that the hens lay which means you can use them to breed the chickens and get beautiful small chicks.

Quick Summary: Although a rooster is more affordable than a hen, it’s important to note that some rarer breeds of roosters will make it cost more. Sometimes, you won’t need to set away more than a dozen of dollars, but in some rare instances, a rare rooster breed can cost way above $1,000.

Some people purchase roosters for the sake of cockfighting which is banned in many countries and there are a lot of efforts to ban it everywhere. No matter what’s the reason, you must be wondering what’s the proper price to buy a rooster. In this article, we’ll delve into all details about purchasing a rooster. Read on and learn the price of a rooster for your coop.

A rooster is the male counterpart of a hen, a domestic fowl that lives on the farm. While there are some wild roosters in the jungles and other parts of the world, it’s important to note that roosters in the world have a domestic origin and will only be found in the wild if they escaped their flock.

Rooster is a grown-up, adult chicken, younger roosters that didn’t reach their sexual maturity are called cockerels. They’re smaller and less accepted into the flocks than roosters by the side of hens. A cockerel will become a rooster when they turn 1 year old, in other words, reach sexual maturity.

It’s also worth mentioning that roosters are larger compared to hens. They have prominent wattles and combs that are way larger and oftentimes have a beard that is significantly larger than that of a hen. Although telling rooster from a hen is easy once they reach adult age, with some breeds it’s more difficult to find the difference.

However, why have roosters in the first place? For those who don’t know, hens are perfectly capable of laying eggs without a rooster. That said, if you’re looking to buy a rooster exclusively to sell eggs or use them personally, you won’t need a rooster, because its job is to fertilize the eggs and ensure little chicks are laid in the eggs.

But in addition to that, having a rooster in your flock will boost the mood of the hens, and more importantly, the rooster will be in charge of protecting the flock from foxes, moles, and other predators that may live near your farm.

Roosters can ensure the safety of the entire flock, even of the younger chicks and other fowl that live with the chickens. Crowing a rooster can warn the hens of the predators that are nearby, and the hens will have a better chance of escaping them.

How Much Does a Rooster Cost?

How Much Does a Rooster Cost
Credit: @sweet_alabama_game_farm

Now, let’s answer the key question – how much does the rooster cost in the first place? On some occasions, young roosters may cost as little as $10. But, depending on several factors that will be mentioned below, it can cost up to $1,000-$1,500 per rooster.

More importantly, there are some rare rooster breeds that can cost from $1,000 to $2,500, although these are extremely rare breeds. Some rare mature breeds can start from $150 and not go above $500, but many factors affect that. When you consider other expenses like maintenance too, sometimes it simply doesn’t pay out to buy an extremely rare, expensive rooster.

Type Price
General Pricing $10-$1,500
Cockerels $15-$50
Dong Tao $1,200-$2,500
Onagadori $1,400-2,900
Modern Game $20-$50

How Much Does a Cockerel Cost?

How Much Do Roosters Cost - How Much Does a Cockerel Cost
Credit: @church_farm_oxford

Cockerels are young roosters that are older than a few weeks to 1 year when they mostly reach sexual maturity. They are also considered teenagers in the flock, which may often make them feel neglected and left behind.

Nevertheless, they will begin crowing at 12 weeks old, up to 16 weeks old. They are smaller compared to grown-up roosters, don’t have prominent feather colors and their crowing voice is often changing as it’s maturing.

It’s not always that people are looking to buy cockerels, but they may cost anywhere from $15 to $50. Usually, they are being bought for feeding, and not alive.

How Much Does Dong Tao Chicken Cost?

How Much Do Roosters Cost - How Much Does Dong Tao Chicken Cost
Credit: @jonfitton_photography

The Dong Tao rooster is one of the rarest roosters breeds originating from Vietnam. Many farmers set their eyes and hands on them because they can weigh up to 13-15 pounds which is great if you’re growing them for meat. They are known for their large legs which also makes them fast.

In some situations, it can cost from over $1,200 to $2,500, although it’s important to note that they’re usually sold in pairs.

Editor’s Notes: The reason why it’s so rare is that Dong Tao hens aren’t the most brooding and don’t make good mothers to hatched chicks.

Onagadori

How Much Do Roosters Cost - Onagadori
Credit: @yayo4099

Originating from Japan, Onagadori means “the honorable fowl.” They are extremely rare, so rare that the number of the existing specimen was kept in the archives in 1952 there were only 250 of them at some point. They are considered a National Treasure in Japan.

Although it’s less rare now, there are still efforts to make it more abundant, not just in Japan, but also in the rest of the world. They are known for their extraordinary beauty and the long, flappy tails that they have.

It can cost anywhere from $1,400 to nearly $3,000 depending on how purebred it is.

Modern Game

How Much Do Roosters Cost - Modern Game
Credit: @world_of_polands

Modern Game is considered some of the most elegant and majestic rooster breeds. They are full of themselves and look as if they’re flaunting their beauty as they walk the yard. They are known for their straight, tall posture and extremely long legs.

It is not quite used for breeding, even though it can be quite territorial. However, their best purpose is to act as the ornamental birds in the yard. The price of Modern Game can go from $20 to $50. However, the price easily fluctuates based on how old is the rooster.

They were urbanized in England but their population is declining compared to before.

Editor’s notes: The reason why they are declining in population is that their feathers and build aren’t suitable for colder climates such as that of England. They thrive the best in warm climate conditions.

How Much Does a Rooster for Cockfighting Cost?

The cost of a fighting rooster depends on their breed and also whether the rooster has been trained before. The starting price is around $50, but it can go up to $100 and more depending on the aforementioned factors.

The most commonly used cockfighting roosters are Dark Red Hatch, Claret, Pure Butcher, Silver Gray, and Pure Lemon. However, their price is much higher and can go anywhere from $200 to $600 for pairs or a trio.

Factors that Affect the Price of a Rooster

As you see depending on what breed the rooster is, the price will also be different. Below we presented some factors that affect the price of the rooster. Make sure to read them all to ensure you are well-introduced to the industry and market.

Source

Source makes one of the most important factors. Buying a rooster from a local breeder or a farmer is much different than purchasing from a professional one online. Aside from the higher price when buying online and from certified breeders, there are also regulatory costs as well as shipping.

Editor’s Notes: The shipping fee will usually be an additional $10-$20 depending on where the rooster is being shipped.

Age

The older the rooster the price will drop lower. Every rooster is expected to live anywhere from 6 to 8 years. That being said, a young adult rooster from a common breed will cost anywhere from $100 to $500, and even more, if the breed is rare.

On the other hand, if you’re buying a cockerel you can expect to pay from $10 to $20.

Editor’s Notes: Many farmers are not looking to buy older roosters but they can be found from $10 to $50. Older roosters are more likely to get sick and prefer to be in isolation if they feel like another rooster has defeated them, or that they can’t care for the hens when it comes to protecting them from the predators.

Breed

Purebred roosters are always the most favored, whether it’s for breeding purposes or cockfighting. The more purebred they are, the more valuable on the market they will be as they will be more authentic and have a more varied color display than those that are crossbreds.

Editor’s Notes: If you’re looking to buy a rooster that is a hybrid rooster or even so crossbred that it’s not even registered, you can expect to pay less than $100.

Other Expenses Associated with Roosters

Buying and getting your rooster shipped to you is just the beginning. Caring for your rooster won’t be too expensive, but it’s still important to know how the side expenses compare to those of hens as well.

If you have more than one rooster, it’s important to note that a single rooster will eat around 2 pounds of feed per week. You can also add the supplements roosters need as part of their regular eating habits. In total, that should equal between $10 to $20 depending on which supplements you use.

Another expense is also the coop. Coop is as big as your flock is, so you should also consider how many hens you have. The starting price for the coop can go from $500 and climb up as the flock is growing. A medium-sized flock can fit in a flock that is usually $1,000 to $1,500.

However, if you’re hosting a large flock, you will want to build the biggest and fanciest coop, and that will cost more than $2,000 if you include all the fancy features. A fancy coop will have proper bedding, feeders, boxes, a waterer, and other items.

Editor’s Notes: There are also other expenses you need to consider like water and wooden coop repairs. Medical bills in case your rooster gets sick should also be considered once they enter older age.

Where to Buy a Rooster?

As mentioned earlier in the article, the best way to buy a rooster is by buying locally, from other farmers, as well as at the local livestock markets. Those roosters will also have a more approachable price but less documentation.

Buying from a certified breeder comes with more documentation and administrative requirements. You will know whether your rooster is purebred and just how rare it is, but not only will it be more expensive, but you’ll likely have to pay for shipping, especially if the seller is from another state.

Some online marketplaces where you can buy a rooster include gumtree.com and purelypoultry.com.

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