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

[Miss Lydia]

Excellent read, thanks for posting. Should be posted in every feed store and home in our country!

 

[humpbacks1962]

Well, many of us did not intend to have roos. Who we got them from did not intend to lie to us either. If you can't kill the animal and can't have him crowing in your yard, I see nothing wrong with making efforts to rehome them. Once they are in a new place, whatever the new owners do is none of our choice or business.

I rehomed one recently to a farm owner who told me they were a "no-kill" farm. All I can do is trust. But in the end, I made an honest effort to rehome the bird. My conscience is clean.

 

[phasian]

Quote:
Couldn't agree more. As a "poultry educator" I often feel rather discouraged at the number of thoughtless (and often gutless) people that I encounter who have taken no time to consider that farming/animal stewardship (even on a micro-scale) is not for the faint of heart. The number of misguided, sometimes neurotic, and needy people who come to me wringing their hands about what to do with unwanted birds, health issues, etc. is rather overwhelming at times. For every responsible poultry owner that does their research prior to getting birds, I would guess conservatively there are at least 5 more that have no clue.....

Yes, you can't know every thing from just research. For those that are willing to go forward, take well-considered action and learn from their mistakes, I applaud you. As someone with a zoology background I still learn new things constantly and am not afraid to make a mistake as long as it benefits my flock in the long haul.

Thanks for taking the time to express the importance of having a plan.

(Hansolo- I consider myself a responsible bird breeder. I will take outside birds in. I do inspect them well, quarantine them & have them inspected. My best Silkie rooster came from a city dweller that couldn't keep him. He has never shown any signs of ill health. Farmers have historically not farmed in a vacuum. If I find a pullet I sold is a late bloomer and develops into a cockerel I replace the bird or refund their money and rehome the rooster.)

 

[southerndesert]

Quote:
Couldn't agree more. As a "poultry educator" I often feel rather discouraged at the number of thoughtless (and often gutless) people that I encounter who have taken no time to consider that farming/animal stewardship (even on a micro-scale) is not for the faint of heart. The number of misguided, sometimes neurotic, and needy people who come to me wringing their hands about what to do with unwanted birds, health issues, etc. is rather overwhelming at times. For every responsible poultry owner that does their research prior to getting birds, I would guess conservatively there are at least 5 more that have no clue.....

Yes, you can't know every thing from just research. For those that are willing to go forward, take well-considered action and learn from their mistakes, I applaud you. As someone with a zoology background I still learn new things constantly and am not afraid to make a mistake as long as it benefits my flock in the long haul.

Thanks for taking the time to express the importance of having a plan.

(Hansolo- I consider myself a responsible bird breeder. I will take outside birds in. I do inspect them well, quarantine them & have them inspected. My best Silkie rooster came from a city dweller that couldn't keep him. He has never shown any signs of ill health. Farmers have historically not farmed in a vacuum. If I find a pullet I sold is a late bloomer and develops into a cockerel I replace the bird or refund their money and rehome the rooster.)

Yup another good honest non-ruffling to the point post!

 

[Glenmar]

I often wondered sbout this too. Folks saying they are hatching 50 chicks. For what? If you are not eating them, you only need 4 or so hens for a dozen eggs a week.
What is everyone doing with all those chickens?

 

[hansolo]

cool! Thumbs up.
I am going to read your blog.
All in all keeping chickens are so much fun and as we learn from our mistakes, there comes the great joy.

Quote:

 

[Beekissed]

I must admit that I find this thread refreshing and surprising....I hadn't known there were so many people out there who felt this way! I am now glad I posted it as I had big reservations about doing so. I rarely create a thread unless it is something I am asking, to impart info that I have or am learning, or to show a project in regards to chickening.

I am simply delighted to meet you all!!!

 

[Lucysmom002]

I love my chickens, they are my pets. The eggs are a bonus is all. I have 29 and whether they lay or not or get old or have a handicap, they will live their life out here forever. I didn't hatch them, I bought them. They have a pretty good home if you ask me

 

[Lucysmom002]

It's the same with every animal. I have a horse (mare). She is beautiful and well bred. I got lucky when I bought her. Everyone asks me why I don't breed her. Why? Because she has a uterus?

 

[phasian]

Quote:

Thanks hansolo! Please say 'hi' to the Bay Area. I am orignally from San Francisco/Sausalito. Like so many of us that farm, computer time is a commodity at times. Trying to get a blog post about flock integration up.

I have a lot of chickens- just shy of 100. I don't eat them, but they are not all producing eggs all the time. Some are too young, some are brooding/moulting, quite a few are ornamental breeds that don't crank out eggs, some are fellas. For me, I try to have a variety of breeds as I am trying to get first hand knowledge of as many breeds as possible. I have raised/bred 70 so far. Since I am in training to be an APA judge and because I teach classes on poultry/consult, it behooves my to have a wide and steep learning curve. I do have a plan for birds that I choose not to keep....