Can't rehome roosters...processing near Sacramento, CA?

[Stef in Davis CA]

Hello,
We have 3 roosters, 2mo. old, and I've been trying to find them new homes since we can't have them in the suburbs (Davis CA). If they don't get homes by early next week, we need to find a company or person who will butcher them for us...we are both super busy at work right now and don't have the energy to learn how to do the deed ourselves. Does anyone have suggestions for good places to take them to be killed and butchered? We live near Sacramento, CA. We found one place that charges $30 and we'll pay this I guess, unless we can find something cheaper. Thanks! (I'm too scared to give them away to random craigslist people because I don't know if they'll be treated humanely...). Wish I could have found them homes!

 

[saddina]

Put up a flyer at the feed store asking for someone to help you.

 

[simplyscrambled]

...and when you find out, post it here~!

I'm in a similar situation. I'm in Davis, and have 3 roos (although the banty would be nothing but a McNugget) and have a couple of feelers for possible homes, but will probably end up processing them, along with boy quails.

I've never done it before, and have a personal dilemma of doing the deed. I eat meat, therefore I should take responsibility and be in touch with my food source. But ...it's hard to picture myself doing it.

My roos are only 6 1/2 weeks old, so if I process it'll be beg. of Sept. when they're 12 weeks. I have a Welsummer, and a Blue Splash Maran, besides the runt (even for a banty, he's developing slower than all the others.)

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i have a friend who works for the university in Davis and took her unexpected roos to work for a higher education. Now, i don't know what that means. But here in Fair Oaks, you could drop your unwanted chickens off in the park in old town and they would be in good company.

 

[saddina]

Quote:
I'm pretty sure that means they were donated to the biology class for dissection, we used to do pig fetuses in mine.

 

[arooney]

I've heard that the animal science department takes them at UCDavis for fertilization. Also, someone told me that "The Farm House" in Woodland (http://www.y3c.org/) will take them to help teach responsibility to their clients. I haven't tried either place, but it may be worth a try.

 

[simplyscrambled]

I kind of doubt UCD will 'keep' them. Recently I was contacted by a grad student about quails 'rescued' from certain death when they were no longer needed for research. And when I was a student there, was when there was an outcry about finding homes from the barkless beagles that were destined to be put to sleep!

A friend here in town has had good luck finding homes for her excess roos through Craigslist from some folks in Capay Valley. Pics really help too, if you go that route.

 

[chooniecat]

Certainly you should NOT drop them off in a park. the feed store sign or craigslist is good idea even to just GIVE them to someone to process/eat themselves instead of wandering around a park fighting,hungry(unless someone feeds them chicken junk food(bread),annoying most people with their noise. GOOD LUCK!

 

[bigmike&nan]

Quote:
AMEN Chooniecat

We have three gorgeous bantam cochin roos we need to place now. Thank Goodness that one of the managers at our local Agway in New Egypt is really good at rehoming birds. Last time I dropped two of our guys off with him they were placed together on a large ranch not hours after I was there... Try the local feedstore, folks are always looking for hens and roosters...

Good luck, do the right thing

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Quote:
Old Town Fair Oaks is famous for their free-range chickens. They are protected and fed every day. Everyone traveling through that part of town knows to slow down and let the chicken crossing the road have the right of way. They perch on chairs and tables at the local cafes and get additional treats. Along with the massive amount of good healthy food placed out for them every single day, rain or shine, the local stores sell bags of scratch for the visitors to feed them.

Fair Oaks even throws an annual Chicken Festival honoring the famous chickens of Fair Oaks. So no, they are not fighting, hungry, or annoying people. They are honored citizens in this part of town.