A CALL OUT for responsible pet ownership! Unwanted roos, ducks, etc.

[kstaven]

We handle all our mistakes and unwanted the same way my ancestors did. In the stew pot or roasted.

Must say I did rehome one rooster. He was such a great example of the breed he really belonged in some ones breeding pool.

 

[buildingmyark]

Yall are so right about all of this. I just have a HUGE problem with getting attached to all of the chicks. I want to bond with them from the start and since the sex is unknown many times at the beginning I bond with not only the future hens, but also the future roos. Then they are all "my babies"! Uggghhh!!!

My bantam Cochin roos are the worst at pulling at my heartstrings since they are so adorable. I just can't imagine butchering one of them.

 

[BlossomSilkies]

I completely agree with responsible breeding/ownership of all animals and know where you are coming from with your original post. I eat meat from the grocery store, which admittedly has a lot of bad stuff in it and I have been switching over to organic. I also understand that many, many people raise and process and consume their own meat, and I also have absolutely no problem with that. Or hunting for that matter. In fact, I've eaten meat from a hunt and meat processed by a family who raised beef for that purpose.

However, for me, I cannot raise something, care for it, and then kill it and eat it. I don't know why, I just don't have it in me to do that. I wasn't raised in a family that did that, so I'm sure that has something to do with it.

I recently rehomed a rooster and a hen because they turned out to be a different breed than what they were advertised as and the rooster was turning out to be very aggressive and unpleasant. I wasn't asking for a "pet home" for them. I felt that once they were rehomed, if they were part of a farm, backyard flock, petting zoo, or dinner table, wasn't up to me once I let them go. I hope that doesn't seem irresponsible or heartless. However, may seem like the easy way out for sure. I don't know what I could have done differently with them, I know I couldn't kill them and cook them for dinner.

As far as acquiring new chickens for my flock, I don't take a chance on sex. I know I want 1 rooster and the rest hens. I don't buy unsexed chicks or hatching eggs. I do my best to not get another rooster. That said, I have an extra rooster right now. Was supposed to be a pullet, and I'm quite certain he is a rooster. The breeder is letting me exchange it for pullet. It was a case of a bad guess on sex by the breeder.

Just wanted to add another perspective to the discussion.

 

[Beekissed]

It sounds as if you have considered your chicken purchases quite carefully and this is excellent!

There will always be those who cannot kill their animals or bear the thought of others doing so and this is perfectly understandable. I know men who cannot hunt because they cannot kill an animal...this is certainly not a problem.

But...one has to wonder if chickens are a good pet for an individual if one cannot kill or bear them to be killed. Mostly a dog doesn't have to be killed at home if it is suffering and the vet will assist with that. Same with a cat or even a rat. Most vets just do not do chickens and they sometimes need the humanity of a mercy killing. Who will do it? This needs to be planned for if one just knows they simply cannot do it. This issue cannot be left until the moment or just left up in the air....it is part of responsible pet ownership, be it dog, horse or chicken.

I cannot raise something, care for it, and then kill it and eat it

I can certainly feel for this, as I care and love for my chickens as well. I think the problem arises when they are rehomed and their future is then uncertain. If someone cares enough to lovingly raise these birds, then rehomes them to an uncertain fate...how deeply did that love go? Sometimes it cannot be avoided, this I know and understand completely.

But it all comes back to the question one must ask themselves: Is this the best pet for me?​

 

[BlossomSilkies]

Quote:
I hadn't thought to mention killing something that is ill and suffering. I have had to have a very loved cat put down once. And I wouldn't hesitate to have my husband kill one of our chickens if there was no hope and it was suffering.

Quote:
Yes, definately, their future is uncertain when they are rehomed. That I cannot argue with. I did actually get 2 chickens from someone who needed to rehome them. So I have rehomed 2 and adopted 2 who needed to be rehomed. I guess that makes me even, ha ha

Quote:
I love having a backyard flock, so for me, yes.

 

[Beekissed]

It certainly sounds to me that you are indeed a responsible pet owner! I love to hear it!

I have been on this forum for some time now and always manage to bite my tongue and keep it from coming unloosened....well, some of the time I cannot...

This thread is about years of keeping quiet about this growing agony of hearing about folks who are patently unprepared to deal with chickens as pets. I'm so glad to have met quite a few on this post who have good stewardship of the animals entrusted to their care.

 

[BlossomSilkies]

It is most assuredly a thread that a lot have found of interest! You have 6 pages of replies!

 

[adgcountrygirl]

Quote:
If you ever give something to someone, you have no right to be angry that they did not do with it as you would have done with it. It is no longer your property or your concern. If you lend it or let someone borrow it, that is a different matter entirely, but even then, be prepared in the event that is not returned to you in the same condition you lended it. People are human and we all make mistakes. Some make them out of stupidity, some on accident and some on purpose. Just beware. (And I would have eaten them too!)

 

[patman75]

Now I see chickens and ducks getting "rescued"?

We used to eat those...no need to rescue your Sunday dinner.

I saw a chicken rescue commerical the other day and almost fell over. I'll rescue that bird to my freezer.

Recently I was faced will a chicken population delemia. I finally got a broody hen and wanted to hatch some eggs as a learning expierence for my daughter. But my winter coop space is maxed out and I don't have fertile eggs. So I wanted to hatch eggs but have no room for them.

Just so happened that my neighbor lost most of his flock to a predator. So I offered to him that I would hatch some eggs and he would get the chicks once they get a few weeks old. He wanted WLh so I found some eggs a WLH breeder on the BYC and ordered a dozen eggs. The extra roos will be processed.

Sounds like a good plan. Every chickens will have a home and a purpose.​

 

[Tres Amigas]

Beekissed -- this is one of the best posts I've ever read here on BYC. The viewpoint you presented was timely and you presented it in a very thoughtful, caring way. I hope those who allow themselves to get carried away until they have an unwanted dilemma will take note. Thank you for your willingness to challenge others to take seriously their stewardship of those animals in their care.