Had to make the hardest decision of my life today!

[stormylady]

Ive been trying to find homes for my Extra Roosters and some of the roo chicks that was just 8 weeks old with no luck, so today I took them to the zoo for feeder chicks. it made me so sick. almost makes me not want to order or hatch anymore chicks. The boys (my sons) said i did the right thing because in reality I could not keep 10 Roosters in my back yard, They were very hard on the hens hurting them and plucking out there back feathers. And managed to kill one. Not out of shear meaness but just everyone constantly trying to mount the girls. Anyway just had to tell someone about the grief in my heart over having to do something so hard. I hope i never have to do anything that heart wrenching again, Thanks for listening, Sandy

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

for you.


Tomorrow when you see how happy your girls are, you will be glad. Your roos lived a good life and are now benefitting others.


I process my extra - it is hard emotionally, but I know they lived a good life; I enjoy them growing-up even knowing that I will be "killing" them. Because I hatch them, I do not feel as bad when I actually eat them.....sounds weird, but they would not have hatched and lived at all had I not incubated them. (same for any roo you order)

edited to clear up my rambling

 

[they'reHISchickens]

If this was the hardest thing you have ever had to do and you have raised 3 sons,and numerous pets, I'd say you have lived a very blest life.
The hungry creatures of the zoo thank you. They too have to eat.

 

[featherbaby]

Oh Sandy,

I'm so sorry you had to make such a hard choice. You know you did the right thing so your hens could survive and thrive, but it just felt awful. I've had to make similar decisions in the past and all I could do was keep reminding myself that when you choose the "lesser of the evils" you still choose an "evil". In other words, neither choice was going to work out ideally. You had to choose the best thing for the rest of your flock. Don't let this discourage you from hatching in the future. I don't know why you didn't get volunteers to take them, but that's no indicator of future events. Do you have a "Craig's List" in your area? It's an online Want-Ads free service. I've bought and sold lots of things on it. Also, find a local chicken swap that you can take your excess stock to. There is usually one each month in most areas. This is your best bet for selling them.

Be encouraged. Better days are to come. Now go find something high-calorie, decadent, delicious and chocolate to eat.

Sandi

 

[Dixiedoodle]

I had to get rid of my roo for the same reason--too rough w/ the girls and killed one--I blame myself for waiting too long. It was soooo hard to finally make the decision.....

BUT two weeks later---- my girls are laying like crazy. They are much calmer,I don't have to hear them scream every two minutes because they are being grabbed by the roo, they look better.. Still bald but they don't have torn feathers hanging on their backs all the time.. They are all flocking together---which NEVER happened before.. Each day, I am amazed at the improvements in their bodies and their attitudes.. I must admit--it's the best thing I have done for my flock.

 

[EweSheep]

You did the RIGHT thing! Your girls will THANK you! And the critters at the zoo will thank you too!

 

[boxermom]

Stormylady, I am sorry you had to go thru that. Your pain is understood. I had to process 6 out of my 8 roos last Sat. I had planned to have help, but my help couldn't make it at the last minute. DH was out of town working, so DD 11 and I went at it. I told her I would try one to see how it went. I can't remember the last time I cried so hard and prayed so loud. It was terrible, but I had to do it. I too lost a hen last week because of all the roos. I chalked it up to a "1st" for me. It will also be a "last". I will not winter over so many roos again. 4 of them were a mistake, but now I know what to look for. I will continue to process our birds, but my wonderful DH will do "the deed."

Now, my hen house is calm and quiet. My hens are comfortable and are not afraid to eat or get off the roost. Today was everyone's first day outside since November. They had a wonderful day and The 2 roos I kept, watched them carefully and enjoyed the sunshine too. I'm sure glad it is done.

 

[Chic Chick]

I'm glad you found a way to make those roosters useful if you weren't going to eat them.
It sounds like those roosters are from your very first chicks. When you own chickens you have to eventually face the hard reality of culling but it gets easier every year. Hang in there!
There is a reason why every help book, forum etc says to keep 1 rooster to 10 hens or more. An unstressed hen lays better.
Think of it as: There's sex and then there's gang rape...

 

[stormylady]

Thankyou everyone for the kind words, they are very apprieated, I didn't realize how many of us have to make this decision, Im sure it was the right thing to do, but will take some time to get over I'm sure. When I went out this evening to check on everyone it was so quite with the 3 Roos I kept not a single one was crowing and chasing the girls around everyone was cooing and resting peacably, that was very reasuring. I Kept Honeycomb (light Brahma) Zues (huge Blue Orpington) and Oliver (Salmon Faverole Cockeral).
These 3 boys are very good with the girls so hopefully every thing will work out I have 34 girls right now. thanks again everyone, youve been very kind and I feel for all that had to make a decision like this one.

 

[stormylady]

Quote:
Chic Chick, yes they were from my very first batch of chicks and of course I fell in love with them, I did keep my baby boy, Honeycomb my light brahma boy he is so gentle and quite and all the girls love him I also kept Zues a blue orpington Roo that took over as head Roo from honeycomb, and my oliver my Salmon Fav. Boy he is the youngest but very gentle and quiet, as a matter of fact there has been no fighting since the others have gone away and very little crowing just in the morning for a couple of mins. and as every one said the girls seem more at peace however i have seen them (girls) setting up a new pecking order now. Honeycomb has gotten his pimp of the barnyard walk back and that is good to see, he was so miserable for a long time constantly hiding from all the boys after they beat him up. And like I said he gets all the girls they follow hm around like a god or something, he feeds them all the goodies and always courts them before he mounts them and they don't scream or haller now . It was so hard to let the others go, but in the long run everyone else is so happy and carefree it is all going to be fine now, And your right live and learn, sometimes it takes me a while to get things but I got it now, Thankyou !!
Thanks to everyone again for the caring and support it really helps alot.