How Much Does a Rooster Cost?
Roosters can be raised for a variety of reasons, but the main purpose of raising one is to fertilize the hens. Remember, a hen can lay an egg without a rooster; it’s the rooster that will fertilize the egg, offering you more future chickens.
Roosters are typically not as expensive as hens, but the purebred types can be more expensive depending on the breed and the breeder you purchase them from.
How much does a rooster cost?
Overall, depending on the type of rooster that you want, the costs can be as little as $10 to as much as $1,500. Most people, however, will generally spend $20 to $100.
According to Burke’s Backyard, good Old English Game birds can cost anywhere from $50 to $100 for a top quality rooster. Some exhibition birds cost as much as $800.
RedFoxFowl.com, a game fowl breeder located in North Central Alabama, breeds Pure Lemon Hatch, Dark Red Hatch, Silver/Regular Greys, Pure Butcher, Claret and Roundhead varieties. The game fowls cost $250 to $300 for pullets, while pairs and trios cost $500 to $600.
At Rocky Top Game Farm, a chicken breeder located in Mississippi stated that different young and mature stags, pullets and trios can cost $300 to $1,300. Crossed varieties can cost $150 to $250.
Factors that affect the price:
Age
Buying a mature rooster naturally means paying a higher price. A fully-grown, quality Old English game rooster, for example, can cost hundreds of dollars, while a chick of the same breed and gender can cost less than $10.
Breed
Pure breeds can be expensive since they are typically used for exhibition/shows and have high standards for color and shape. In comparison, hybrid roosters may cost less due to bigger production.
Source
Roosters obtained directly from breeder farms may cost lower than buying them online, especially if the shipping costs are high.
What is going to be included in the price?
A reputable breeder should include a health guarantee and a shipping crate if it’s going to be shipped.
What are the extra costs?
Chicken feed, to put it in simple terms, will cost about $0.30 to $0.50 per pound when purchased at a local feed store. The average rooster will eat about 1.5 to two pounds of feed per week.
Depending on your setup, you need to think about the initial expenses such as a coop, lamps, bulbs, feeder, beeding and perches. If you’re starting from scratch, the Countryside Daily recommends budgeting close to $600 to build a safe coop.
Shipping is often a separate expense, and depending on the distance being traveled and how it’s shipped, the prices can be anywhere between $20 to $100. Many breeders ship live poultry through United States Postal Service Priority Shipping.
Tips to know:
Some breeders may require a breed specific minimum order. This is to ensure that they can safely ship the roosters. Minimum order quantities allow these breeders to broadly guarantee live arrival.
If buying a rooster at a farm, ask the breeder about the rooster breed as well as the health condition of the bird.
Make sure to ask the breeder if it has memberships in organizations that ensure the safety of chickens from different bird diseases.
Due to the noises roosters make, some cities do have strict ordinances. Be sure to check your local laws before buying one. If you are allowed to have one, make sure you know what the restrictions are.
Questions to ask a breeder
What breeds do you have presently available?
Do you have a minimum order quantity?
What is your general pricing strategy?
How do you ship the live roosters?
What is the smallest number of roosters you can ship?
What are the risks in shipping live birds?
How long does it take for my order to arrive?
How do you calculate the shipping price?
Is the cost of shipping included in the price?
What is your policy on cancellation and refunds?
What types of payments do you accept?
How can I save money?
Some online suppliers occasionally hold a sale. Taking advantage of roosters on sale on top of the quantity discounts offered can give you the best possible sale price.
Buy in bulk. Some breeders offer significant discounts to high volume buyers.
Find online dealers that offer free shipping.
Buy the rooster as a chick. Look for a hatchery or a nearby source with an abundance of chicks in the spring.
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Average Reported Cost: $5
How much did you spend?
- patrick mastriano (Cape Coral, Florida) paid $ and said:
Would like to raise chicken eggs to eat.
Was it worth it? Yes
- Justin Torres (Miami, Florida) paid $10 and said:
American game rooster
Was it worth it? Yes
