Introduction
Well it happened again. You got a rooster from your straight run batch of chicks. Or maybe you have an aggressive bird. Possibly you have too many birds from a breeding project. Or maybe you want to get rid of birds to get some new ones. In any of these situations, I recommend rehoming instead of dispatching. However, if your bird has been proven injured beyond the point of hope or you can’t provide life-saving help, humane euthanasia may be your best route. Neither does this article apply to meat birds. However, if your bird is healthy, here are three reasons to rehome rather than dispatch.
#1 Someone else may enjoy your bird
Just because you have no use for your bird doesn’t mean someone wouldn’t. They may want them for breeding, flock management, or as a pet. I have a pair of bantams that one of my friends no longer wanted, and I love them!
#2 It gives the bird a second chance at life/better life
This point proves especially true if you are not able to give your bird proper care due to their behavior, e.g. your rooster or drake has to be seperate from the rest of your flock because of his aggression. This also applies if your bird has a non-fatal injury or disability. Someone else may be able to better care for it or give it more attention.
#3 It doesn’t leave a sense of guilt
This point doesn’t need much explanation, but for all the other bird-softies out there, you get it. Finding a good home for a bird is much more gratifying than dispatching them, especially if you aren’t going to eat the bird, or you were attached to them.
Ways to rehome
Rehoming can prove difficult especially with roosters. This website is a great tool to help you rehome your bird! Just go to the free rehoming forum:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/animals-in-need-of-free-re-homing.16182/
If you post in the rehoming forum, make sure that the title of your thread lists the birds information and your location. It also may help if you see if anyone in your state or country’s thread is looking for a new companion. Some other ways to find a good home are to post on social media, reach out to friends and 4-H clubs, or ask your local pet/feed store if you can post an ad for your bird. If you have a no-kill rescue or sanctuary near you, that is also a good option. When rehoming, be concise.Make sure that any ads for the bird clearly state the bird’s age, breed, name (if applicable), special conditions, etc. Make sure the new owner knows exactly what they are getting.
Responsibility
Responsibility is very important when keeping poultry. It reminds us to keep our poultry safe, healthy, and well-fed.
It’s also a good way to prevent needing to rehome. If you buy straight run chicks or hatch birds, have a back-up plan for any extra roosters. If you don’t have the resources to take care of an animal, don’t buy it and bite off more than you can chew. Always have an enclosure ready for an animal before you buy it. Be sure to do research before buying an animal. If you brought a bird home, it is your responsibility to properly care for it, or make sure it goes to a good home. Always check out a potential home before letting them have your bird. It’s pretty pointless if they just take the bird home and abuse or eat it. You can’t completely ensure that a bird will get a good home, and you don’t want to deter a possible taker. I would have a person who is interested in your bird
A. Send you picture of the birds new cage
B. Tell you what they plan to feed the bird
C. Tell you what they intend to use the bird for
Making responsible poultry-keeping choices can save a lot of time, money, and effort.If you are in the market for a bird, why not check to see if someone is rehoming before you buy one?
Closing
I hope this article encourages someone to give their bird a second chance at life! Please don’t take anything personally, I understand rehoming is not always possible, and I respect your choices. Thank you for reading! Please leave a rating or comment! If you have any corrections or recommendations please privately message me! God bless you and have a great day!
Well it happened again. You got a rooster from your straight run batch of chicks. Or maybe you have an aggressive bird. Possibly you have too many birds from a breeding project. Or maybe you want to get rid of birds to get some new ones. In any of these situations, I recommend rehoming instead of dispatching. However, if your bird has been proven injured beyond the point of hope or you can’t provide life-saving help, humane euthanasia may be your best route. Neither does this article apply to meat birds. However, if your bird is healthy, here are three reasons to rehome rather than dispatch.
#1 Someone else may enjoy your bird
Just because you have no use for your bird doesn’t mean someone wouldn’t. They may want them for breeding, flock management, or as a pet. I have a pair of bantams that one of my friends no longer wanted, and I love them!
#2 It gives the bird a second chance at life/better life
This point proves especially true if you are not able to give your bird proper care due to their behavior, e.g. your rooster or drake has to be seperate from the rest of your flock because of his aggression. This also applies if your bird has a non-fatal injury or disability. Someone else may be able to better care for it or give it more attention.
#3 It doesn’t leave a sense of guilt
This point doesn’t need much explanation, but for all the other bird-softies out there, you get it. Finding a good home for a bird is much more gratifying than dispatching them, especially if you aren’t going to eat the bird, or you were attached to them.
Ways to rehome
Rehoming can prove difficult especially with roosters. This website is a great tool to help you rehome your bird! Just go to the free rehoming forum:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/animals-in-need-of-free-re-homing.16182/
If you post in the rehoming forum, make sure that the title of your thread lists the birds information and your location. It also may help if you see if anyone in your state or country’s thread is looking for a new companion. Some other ways to find a good home are to post on social media, reach out to friends and 4-H clubs, or ask your local pet/feed store if you can post an ad for your bird. If you have a no-kill rescue or sanctuary near you, that is also a good option. When rehoming, be concise.Make sure that any ads for the bird clearly state the bird’s age, breed, name (if applicable), special conditions, etc. Make sure the new owner knows exactly what they are getting.
Responsibility
Responsibility is very important when keeping poultry. It reminds us to keep our poultry safe, healthy, and well-fed.
It’s also a good way to prevent needing to rehome. If you buy straight run chicks or hatch birds, have a back-up plan for any extra roosters. If you don’t have the resources to take care of an animal, don’t buy it and bite off more than you can chew. Always have an enclosure ready for an animal before you buy it. Be sure to do research before buying an animal. If you brought a bird home, it is your responsibility to properly care for it, or make sure it goes to a good home. Always check out a potential home before letting them have your bird. It’s pretty pointless if they just take the bird home and abuse or eat it. You can’t completely ensure that a bird will get a good home, and you don’t want to deter a possible taker. I would have a person who is interested in your bird
A. Send you picture of the birds new cage
B. Tell you what they plan to feed the bird
C. Tell you what they intend to use the bird for
Making responsible poultry-keeping choices can save a lot of time, money, and effort.If you are in the market for a bird, why not check to see if someone is rehoming before you buy one?
Closing
I hope this article encourages someone to give their bird a second chance at life! Please don’t take anything personally, I understand rehoming is not always possible, and I respect your choices. Thank you for reading! Please leave a rating or comment! If you have any corrections or recommendations please privately message me! God bless you and have a great day!
