So I'm pretty much considered the rooster lady...
I take in roosters (not anymore though) and I've helped people rehome their roosters, mainly to those who don't want their birds eaten, because they just love them so much!
Somehow, I manage to find wonderful homes for the majority of the roosters with no issues - once in a blue, I have a pain in the rear who just won't sell, but that's not very often!
Here are a few tips:
1. When rehoming roosters, sometimes it's easier to rehome the rooster WITH matching hen(s). Tell the new potential owners they must take him or none at all. Usually people will keep the hens with the matching rooster if they are a match. IF you do not have matching hens, you can always find his particular mate that he loves and tell their story. People tend to avoid separating a "Romeo and a Juliet" I've rehomed a lot of bird pairs to people who think it is so sweet and would just love a handsome pair running around their yard!
2. Tell their story... about them and about their personality. I usually tell how friendly they are, that they're healthy and just many other small details. Be truthful. If he crows his heart out, let people know. If he never crows, let people know! People tend to be more interested when you tell his story. They want to know the birds is right for THEIR flock of girls (hopefully).
(Also, tell people his breed and about it, the history does not hurt either! Let them know what they will add to their offspring - darker eggs, blue eggs, green, purple, let them know the truth!)
3. Now Bachelor Pairs do very well too. I usually tell people how a pair of roosters will have double the power on look-out for the girls and always ensure fertility. People tend to really like having a pair of roosters around their girls, especially people who have nothing but hens!
4. POST A PICTURE! And lots of them!
5. If you don't want to butcher your bird, but don't care if someone else does, POST that. I usually say, If you want to eat him, DON'T tell me, but these are only on roosters who are a pain in my rear lol I don't do it with my favorites!
And sometimes...
6. I do the sob story "Please purchase him, because I don't want to butcher him!" (it's true though, the Mr. gets fed up with a few certain roos LOL)
This way, I have homed many many wonderful roosters to good homes. Mainly grandmothers with a flock of birds they want to show to their children
This way, I have rehomed amany roosters from $5 up to $15, sometimes free (I'm mainly seeking homes for my birds, not trying to make a profit off them!)
As for hens, I do the same...
1. Post Pictures
2. Tell a story about them; tell people how they are pets! List their history, etc. etc. etc. What color eggs they lay, etc.
This way, I have managed to rehome hens anywhere between $10 up to $25 (these are for adults) BUT I also am not shy to tell people how much time, care and love I put into these birds and that they are worth it. Again, I make no profit LOL
At the very least, you could sucker me into taking your birds for you LOL thank goodness I live far away from most of you guys or I'd be filled to the ears with unwanted birds
And of course, I just can never eat someone's pet or give them to any joe blow LOL So I guess pray you find someone like me who LOVES LOVES LOVES roosters!!
I hope this helps people avoid having to sell their birds for just meat
I take in roosters (not anymore though) and I've helped people rehome their roosters, mainly to those who don't want their birds eaten, because they just love them so much!
Somehow, I manage to find wonderful homes for the majority of the roosters with no issues - once in a blue, I have a pain in the rear who just won't sell, but that's not very often!
Here are a few tips:
1. When rehoming roosters, sometimes it's easier to rehome the rooster WITH matching hen(s). Tell the new potential owners they must take him or none at all. Usually people will keep the hens with the matching rooster if they are a match. IF you do not have matching hens, you can always find his particular mate that he loves and tell their story. People tend to avoid separating a "Romeo and a Juliet" I've rehomed a lot of bird pairs to people who think it is so sweet and would just love a handsome pair running around their yard!
2. Tell their story... about them and about their personality. I usually tell how friendly they are, that they're healthy and just many other small details. Be truthful. If he crows his heart out, let people know. If he never crows, let people know! People tend to be more interested when you tell his story. They want to know the birds is right for THEIR flock of girls (hopefully).
(Also, tell people his breed and about it, the history does not hurt either! Let them know what they will add to their offspring - darker eggs, blue eggs, green, purple, let them know the truth!)
3. Now Bachelor Pairs do very well too. I usually tell people how a pair of roosters will have double the power on look-out for the girls and always ensure fertility. People tend to really like having a pair of roosters around their girls, especially people who have nothing but hens!
4. POST A PICTURE! And lots of them!
5. If you don't want to butcher your bird, but don't care if someone else does, POST that. I usually say, If you want to eat him, DON'T tell me, but these are only on roosters who are a pain in my rear lol I don't do it with my favorites!
And sometimes...
6. I do the sob story "Please purchase him, because I don't want to butcher him!" (it's true though, the Mr. gets fed up with a few certain roos LOL)
This way, I have homed many many wonderful roosters to good homes. Mainly grandmothers with a flock of birds they want to show to their children
As for hens, I do the same...
1. Post Pictures
2. Tell a story about them; tell people how they are pets! List their history, etc. etc. etc. What color eggs they lay, etc.
This way, I have managed to rehome hens anywhere between $10 up to $25 (these are for adults) BUT I also am not shy to tell people how much time, care and love I put into these birds and that they are worth it. Again, I make no profit LOL
At the very least, you could sucker me into taking your birds for you LOL thank goodness I live far away from most of you guys or I'd be filled to the ears with unwanted birds
I hope this helps people avoid having to sell their birds for just meat
