20yrs w/a coop. Sometimes the box of Spring Chicks (~40) from Sand Hill Preservation would be 10-15 boys. We'd keep them a couple of few months, save the gentlest and eat the rest. Chewy but good in soup.

One year I loaded 2 or 3 into the SUV nightly (x4) and drove to nearby State forest and let them loose. I figured better to live free for a short spell than the pending axe. Heard stories all summer long about roosters calling out in the deep woods :)

One can get attached to older hens but a great rooster over 5-8 years goes sorely missed.