Donor Guilt

[UpstateChickenDaddy]

Perhaps I should just not have animals because attachment is real. I raised Henry from a 2 day old chick. I didn’t plan on him and curse the hatcheries for sending extras. I wanted only one roo because I only planned for six hens. Charles was the BO I planned on but by the time I could see Henry (Australorp) was a he, he was weeks old. I hoped every book and video was wrong but I was pessimistic. Once hormones kicked in Henry was unwilling to share with Charles. After the second minor bloody incident I decided Henry needed to go. Luckily, thanks to you folks on here, I found Craigslist and I had six offers in two days.

The man that took him is retired with his wife. They are raising their granddaughter because their daughter died in 2017. Henry will be with a flock of 20 girls and given his hormones that is awesome. I know it was needed. I know he will be in a good home. I know all of that but I feel so guilty. He was just being a rooster. How can I fault him for that? Choosing Charles over Henry seemed like splitting the baby.

Life goes on and this will pass. But I still feel so sad and I never imagined I would become so attached to chickens. Silly me. The look in his eyes made me feel even worse. This is why I could never be a real farmer. Anyway Henry, I hope you have a great time with all those hens. You’ll always be in my heart.

 

[sourland]

You did well, and Henry is actually a lucky rooster.

 

[FrostRanger]

He was just being a rooster and doing what they do, but you were also just doing your job of maintaining peace and order in your flock. It was nobody's fault that things had to be as they are and he is much better off in his new home. If you hadn't found him somewhere else, he would have most likely just kept getting into it with your other roo and one or both would have gotten severely injured or killed - cockfights are no joke. You did what needed to be done for everyone's good and there's nothing to be ashamed of in that