Chicken Sanctuaries?

[Iva S.]

I have 5 five week old chicks and it’s looking like I have 3 roosters. Does anyone know where I can give them away? I live in central Texas, so if anyone knows of places around there, that’s be great.

 

[Hufflefluff]

Unless if you can't stand the thought of them being eaten, I think Craigslist is the way to go. I'm sure you could get people to pick them up for free, or who would be willing to pay a little for decent sized roos. If, however, you want them to live long lives, that's going to be quite a bit harder. If you got them from a local feed store, they might take them back (I live in Colorado, and most of our feed stores will take back roosters with proof of purchase, either for free or for 5 ish dollars.) I know that there are a few bird sanctuaries that will take roosters; you could look up bird sanctuaries near you and then send a few emails seeing if they could take them. Along that line, you could also talk to local pounds or animal shelters, but most probably won't want them, especially if you live in a very urban area. Best of luck with whatever you decide to go with, and I hope it works out.

(Also, 5 weeks is still a little early to be sure of sex- what makes you think the 3 are roos?)

 

[Iva S.]

Unless if you can't stand the thought of them being eaten, I think Craigslist is the way to go. I'm sure you could get people to pick them up for free, or who would be willing to pay a little for decent sized roos. If, however, you want them to live long lives, that's going to be quite a bit harder. If you got them from a local feed store, they might take them back (I live in Colorado, and most of our feed stores will take back roosters with proof of purchase, either for free or for 5 ish dollars.) I know that there are a few bird sanctuaries that will take roosters; you could look up bird sanctuaries near you and then send a few emails seeing if they could take them. Along that line, you could also talk to local pounds or animal shelters, but most probably won't want them, especially if you live in a very urban area. Best of luck with whatever you decide to go with, and I hope it works out.

(Also, 5 weeks is still a little early to be sure of sex- what makes you think the 3 are roos?)

I didn’t buy them, I hatched them from the chickens I already have, so the returning them option is out. As for their sex, I know I’ve got at least 2 roos, but on https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicks’-gender.1215580/#post-19398261 that thread, I asked back when they were 4 weeks old.

 

[Folly's place]

Please don't hatch eggs unless you have a plan for all the cockerels that arrive! Very very few cockerels get to stay as flock roosters, and most extras are meant for someone's freezer. Feeding a family after having a nice, if short, life, is not a bad end, IMO.
Handsome cockerels of interesting or popular breeds can be salable and fine homes in other flocks sometimes.
Post signs with cute photos at the feed stores, craigslist, or if there's a local small livestock auction, maybe take them there.
You could build a 'bachelor coop' for them if you can't let them go, but then don't hatch more eggs!
Mary

 

[MrsMistyReal]

Can I ask why? You seem in a rush.

 

[Folly's place]

I agree, five weeks old is very young. No worries yet with behavior, at least I hope not! Will you be keeping one as a replacement cock bird? Or do all the cockerels need to go? They will be more salable when older and better looking too. In spring, there's more interest from more people in getting chickens, and so they will be more salable.
Mary

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Even if you did find a chicken sanctuary, they might not be able to take them due to having too many roosters already.

Instead of giving them away, you might want to try this: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/rooster-flocks.72998/

 

[Iva S.]

I really wish I could keep the roosters, but I wouldn’t be able to keep arooster flock, as one of my neighbors cannot stand just the one rooster we already have. Therefore, all of the cockerels need to go :/ I’m in no rush to get rid of them because I still do not know for sure who is what gender in my chicks. However, I’ve been trying to find a solution to this for a while and needed ya’ll’s help. Unfortunately, they are not a particularly fancy breed. They’re White Leghorns, so people may not find them as an attractive addition to their flock. I hatched the chicks because my current flock is only 2 chickens big (the chicks’ parents) and I thought it would be neat to have raised chickens from egg to adult. (I tried to answer everyone’s questions and concerns)

 

[bobbi-j]

I really wish I could keep the roosters, but I wouldn’t be able to keep arooster flock, as one of my neighbors cannot stand just the one rooster we already have. Therefore, all of the cockerels need to go :/ I’m in no rush to get rid of them because I still do not know for sure who is what gender in my chicks. However, I’ve been trying to find a solution to this for a while and needed ya’ll’s help. Unfortunately, they are not a particularly fancy breed. They’re White Leghorns, so people may not find them as an attractive addition to their flock. I hatched the chicks because my current flock is only 2 chickens big (the chicks’ parents) and I thought it would be neat to have raised chickens from egg to adult. (I tried to answer everyone’s questions and concerns)

It is fun to raise chicks from your own flock. Unfortunately, excess cockerels can be a problem if one doesn't have a plan in place. If you aren't of a mind to process them yourselves (that's what we do - put them in the freezer, but I know it's not for everyone), you could advertise them on Craigslist or your local shopper paper. Or, see if there is a small animal auction near you.

Personally, I would rather raise them up myself, knowing they've had a good life that ended quickly in one bad moment. You don't know how the next person is going to treat them. If they'll have proper shelter, food or water, or if that person would kill it quickly and humanely if they decided to butcher it. I do understand that you may not be able to keep them to butchering size if you have a neighbor that would be unhappy with them. Although, you could process them just when they start to crow. If you decided to go that route.

 

[oldrooster]

Ditto on the other posters suggestions, plus this should have been planned on before you incubated the eggs, because logically you knew you were going to get some of either gender. By the title I laughed and thought is this person wanting to take the chicken to church? didn't realize you meant re-homing them.....