Colorado

[Percheron chick]

It could be your feel good mission but it would never fly. Let's say they surrender the rooster and pay a $20 fee. How many coops are you going to need? How much will it cost in feed a month? What are you going to do with 100 roosters crowing all day? $2000 in fees isn't going to keep you afloat.
Have you ever tried to sell your artwork? Tattoo artist? Can you give up your insurance? Are you better suited for a different department? I know work is making things worse healthwise but have a plan before you cut the cord.

 

[lomine]

I've recently been thinking about starting up a project & I wanted to ask everyone for their input. As some of you know, I came to chickens after a bad car wreck & a tiny rooster adopting me a few months after it. Same people might also remember how my current day job is discriminating my disabilities from the car wreck. Well, over the course of last year, my work situation caused my TBI symptoms to regress hard. I was having moments where I could read, write, or understand people when they spoke to me. Things haven't been going well, to say the least. Last week, I finally had my super belated mid-year review with my supervisor & it was the kick in the pants that I needed to make a change.

My question is, do you think there's a reasonable need for a rooster "rescue"? I know people are always trying to sell them, but would it be good to have a place to give unwanted roosters that the people don't want to be eaten? It just feels like something is trying to tell me something by sending all these random male birds my way. Just wondering if there's an actual need for a bird rescue or if I need to think of something else to do.

I think there would be a lot of interest in a rooster rescue. I know there is one around the Denver area (I think it's Denver) but in order for them to take your rooster you also have to give them all your hens/pullets and agree to never have chickens again. I think that it pretty crazy considering how having backyard chickens usually means you aren't supporting companies that keep their birds in cages. Most backyard birds have great lives compared to that. But this rescue also doesn't believe it eating the eggs and gives them all back to the chickens. I think they are a bit out there (bit too extreme for me).

Anyway, back to you. I think it would be a great thing for you to do. I know from your posts how much joy and comfort you get from your birds. I'm sure any birds you took in would be very happy. However, I think you would have to consider some things beforehand and do a lot of planning. Two things come to mind right away. I'm sure you've already thought about housing. I think you would be best served setting up a bachelor pad away from your hens. But consider the max number you want to keep before building. I think you will also have to think about cost. I don't know how much it costs to feed a rooster for life. Maybe ask for a fee from anyone that wants to give up their rooster. I don't think it would be unreasonable to ask for $50-$100 from someone who is adamant about their rooster not getting eaten.

Or you could just sue your stupid employer for a big sum of money and use it to feed the roosters.

 

[uzisuzuki]

I'm not in any hurry to quit my job. I mean,I found out, 6 months after my new supervisor started, that he didn't know/never figured out/never asked me why I was always coming in at 9 instead of 8. He assumed I was just lazy & coming in late because of that. So, obviously he's never going to fire me even if he had a legit reason (I come in an hour late, skip lunch to minimise my cognitive fatigue from driving).

My goal this year is simply to research & find out if it's a feasible project to pursue, while finishing my art history degree. I'm not putting any deadline on anything & this is all abstract right now.

Money, feed, housing are my next list after deciding if it would be a worthwhile pursuit. I'm also looking to volunteer & talk to other rescues to see first hand how things go.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Uzi, I cannot say if it would be a viable venture or not. I will say I admire your grit. Many people simply give up but you have a real stick to it and move forward attitude. I think that is important in life. A good attitude and the grit to get through the challenges will take you a long way.

On a different subject....
I got an egg yesterday from my light brahma! They are not the best layers but sure are nice to look at and so mellow. I know it was hers since she is the only older one checking out the nest boxes and sporting a red comb.
I just cannot say enough about my gentle giants!
I did also get another pullet egg yesterday. Super glad the egg shortage is coming to an end here.

I am opting to stay home today! The temps are horrible and the roads not looking like something I want to drive on.

Be safe and stay warm everyone! Thinking hot cocoa may be in order today.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Uzi, most rescues stay afloat with a rich supporter or grants and the grants are getting slimmer. There is no money or living in having a rescue, you have to have the money first.
Is there a need? I suppose there is. Just like dog rescues for pitbulls and heelers.

It is cold up here, -7 and It looks like at least a foot of snow out there. Pretty though.....

 

[Percheron chick]

So glad I picked up 4 round bales and dumped them in the pasture. Don't feel guilty staying inside until it gets to a balmy 0.

Got 12 eggs yesterday.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I have to share a pic of my Dark Brahma. She has grown into such a pretty gal.


OH heck she does not show properly. Here is another one.



I got 2 eggs today!!! I hope everyone is doing well with these cold temps.

 

[manjari108]

Hello all!

Uzi, I think a rooster rescue is a very sweet thing. My city doesn't allow roos, and I'd be very sad to think if I ended up with one, it would be someone's dinner. (I'm also a vegetarian, ha!) That being said, I don't have lots of spare cash. I could see something around $50-$75 being a fee I could handle... I don't know how far that would provide for the bird though. I think it would be pretty easy to take on too many because it seems like you have a really big heart.

On another note, I got an egg with a pink "white". Google results were all different. Someone said it was because it was fertilized, but we don't have a rooster. Another said that it was blood inside from the bird being stressed. We don't have any big stressors that I know of. Someone else said that it was bacteria, which I think makes the most sense. I am careful in how I keep the eggs, I wash them with warm water and stick them in the fridge because I don't have enough counter space to keep them out. Does anyone here have experience with this? I scooped the pink one out of the bowl and just cooked the rest well. I think I'm going to follow my mom's practice of cracking them into a cup before mixing them all up from now on.

My EEs have yet to lay and they are 31 weeks old. I will probably do a freak out dance whooping and hollering when they finally do!

 

[COChix]

Hi,

Been a bit since I posted last. Thanks everyone about the kinds words on the lost roo to the predator. No predator got into the run, the roo's are sequestered in a corner of the run and have access to a smaller coop. So the grey one didn't escape through the run door or anything like that as they don't have access. I think he squeezed through s gap above the blue coop roofing (there was no chicken wire or cloth up there). Anyway we believe it was a coon....we have lots of coon activity but they have been leaving our birds alone. We have only lost two birds in three years, one was left out by accident and now this one. The coons don't try and raiding us they let our birds be typically.

On the egg front or lack of egg front, we have 14 birds in Englewood and most days we get are getting 2 eggs all green. In Boulder we have three layers and we have been getting 0 in the cold. Our birds are 4, 3 and two years now, no pullets. Have had to buy eggs .

Hope everyone is doing well.

 

[COChix]

I've recently been thinking about starting up a project & I wanted to ask everyone for their input. As some of you know, I came to chickens after a bad car wreck & a tiny rooster adopting me a few months after it. Same people might also remember how my current day job is discriminating my disabilities from the car wreck. Well, over the course of last year, my work situation caused my TBI symptoms to regress hard.

Have you thought about consulting an attorney? Might be time to take action to protect yourself.