Feeling guilty about re-homing my rooster

[loftygoals]

I would like to thank everyone for the excellent advice. And to update you...you were all right. Fern is in heaven with 20 chickens (I've seen pictures), and the girls did figure it out and have their own little pecking order now. I appreciate all of the advice.

 

[Chickassan]

Yay! I love happy endings.

 

[Dhkoenig]

I am feeling SO guilty right now. I had to rehome a beautiful young roo (I guess considered a cockerel still because he is about 4.5 months old. One of my older hens was hiding from him - constantly off somewhere behind something because she was one of the ones he kept trying to mate, and let's face it, the hens don't seem to enjoy it! Ultimately in order to protect my flock I had to take him to a farm that takes them. He was always nice to me - never gave me a hard time. When I grabbed him to take him he seemed so pathetic and the whole way to the farm he made the saddest sound. Then when I handed him off to the nice lady who takes them in, I was petting his neck and he was closing his eyes like it felt nice. Driving off I felt sick with guilt. When I got home and still today (this was yesterday I rehomed him) the three pullets he came to me with as chicks, seem really off. It literally looks like they are looking for him.