Had to Euthanize my Roo

[xfactor973]

I'm sad to say I had to euthanize my roo last night. Even though I didn't like him much I was still really busted up about it. We purchased 6 chickens straight run last september and ended up with 2 roosters. I knew at some point I'd have to choose. After we picked the kinder more gentle rooster the other one was banished to the basement. I didn't know what to do with him. Anyways, he was fine for a long time but somewhere along the way he started getting a very bad pecking/aggressive habit. He started biting me whenever I came near him and would charge me all the time. I didn't do anything to him to provoke it, I found it really strange. So I tried desperately to find him a new home, posting on craigslist several times until I was flagged and removed, asking friends and neighbors, calling farms in the area, calling animal shelters, calling the SPCA, calling the 4H club, asking the breeder to take him back, posting on the COOP Philadelphia mailing list, on and on for months. Finally he started biting my wife in the face and we decided it was time to put him down. I setup a dry ice, c02 method and I think it was the hardest thing I've ever done. I couldn't bear to cut his head off because even though I didn't like him he was a pet and my wife loved him. We put him in the gas chamber and he struggled for air, suffocated and then made a loud gasp as the air finally left his body. It was horrible. I figured everyone here would understand. I just feel like I'm not sure I did the right thing. I don't understand why it's impossible to find a rooster a home. NOBODY and I mean NOBODY wanted him. This brought me to tears and I didn't even cry at my great grandparents funeral. I figured everyone here would understand. Telling anyone else you get the response, " but ... it's only a chicken man, who cares"

 

[perolane]

but ... it's only a chicken man, who cares"

You do....because you have a heart & compassion for one of God's creatures.

 

[TurkeyMountainChickens]

I'm very sorry... and I do understand.

It's hard, being the one responsible for ending a life. I think its the most difficult part of keeping chickens.

 

[wsdareme]

Because you raised him from a chick, and even though he was a rotten, stinkin', agressive roo, he was still your baby. You went above and beyond what I've EVER heard of anyone doing to try to find him a home. But, remember, aggressive roos can be dangerous to children and adults alike. You did the right thing. If you want to put a smile on your face, read this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=377818&p=1 You'll find a lot of similar stories and hopefully they'll make you feel better about what you had to do.

 

[dawg53]

xfactor. I know what you're going though, I've had to do it as well. Wait til you have to put down your favorite hen for one reason or another. THAT really hurts!

 

[xfactor973]

wsdareme: thanks for your kind response

That's a good point, my wife said the same thing about him being a danger to other people also. He was oddly aggressive from when he was little. Throwing the hens on the ground, pecking them, etc. I guess it was just his nature.

Dawg53: I can't imagine! Hopefully I don't have to worry about that for a long time.

Thanks Perolane and TurkeyMountainChickens. You guys are all awesome. I think writing this down has cheered me up some. It was good to get it out.

 

[chkn]

You can hand raise a rooster and he can still wind up mean. The mean ones will come looking for trouble. I've had them attack me in the coop and attack me when I'm trying to feed them. It's like coming home to some abusive alcoholic. They seem to hate your guts and there's nothing you can do about it. I wouldn't try and pawn one like that on anybody. What if the person who took it had small children? They can injure somebody. So you did the right thing. I put a sick rooster down with a pellet rifle shot right behind the comb and that worked better than anything. They thrash around after they're dead so it's always a bit ugly but it's just a reflex. You know how they say you cut off the head and the body goes running around headless? I've haven't actually seen this myself but a headless body...there's nothing deader than that! BTW, I've had real good luck with the RIR roosters, all the others have been mean.