How Do I Screen Out Those Who Want to Eat them?

[ClareScifi]

Shayna,

What I mean by wanting to find a fluid English-speaker to take my roos is that at least my questions to him would be understood and not misinterpreted by him, and that would be soothing to me, getting answers to my questions that makes sense, whether or not I agree with the answers. I realize there are many good chicken owners who are not English speakers.

Pablo seemed quite sweet, but I'm afraid he's not well informed about raising chickens. Sort of loosey-goosey.

 

[chickmashnoon]

I would contact your local humane society or vet offices since they would be most likely to be able to find pet owners rather than livestock owners. Most people are going to view your roosters as poultry rather than pets, so maybe you should advertise them in areas where pet owners go. Perhaps put a posting up in a pet store or find a bird owners club in the area who you could advertise your roosters to. The english barrier does not mean he would be a bad owner, but find another spanish speaker that could translate your demands for a good home and visitation rights and get more feedback for what type of home you are looking for. I would ask the guy if you could see his set up before you go snooping around. If I caught someone tresspassing I'd happily hold them at gunpoint. It's far safer to just ask.

 

[ClareScifi]

That's great news, Melodie & ChickensAreSweet!

So how does that work? They stay in the separate pen together? How big should it be for the two of them?

Do they have to take turns with the hens, and if so, how often is necessary to keep them happy enough? I suppose I could let out one Roo and the 3 bigger hens at the same time? I am afraid any of the Roos might hurt the little Bantie Hen. So I suppose I should build 2 bachelor pens, a 2d one for my roo I've raised indoors because his Stepmama and brothers tried to peck him to death when he hatched. StepMama came up behind him and pecked him hard yesterday, and he jumped 3 feet in the air, so I don't think he can be in the run with her. The other two teenage hens seem to like him, and the Bantie makes big eyes at him. He's used to being alone, so I don't think a bachelor pen will bother him at all.

This is just wonderful! How I hate to give up any of my boys.

Now, if there crowing just doesn't bother the neighbors. That is the next big hurdle.

I do have a back-up place for the Roos if I can't find a good home nearby, but I'm not crazy about the idea. Too many predators there, and once again, too loosey-goosey for me. But no neighbors to complain about crowing, and the eggs my roos hatched from came from there, so in a sense, it is the roos' ancestral home... But they could end up in the freezer there-- perish the thought!!!

 

[ClareScifi]

Hi, Chickmashnoon,

By snooping around I didn't mean trespassing. I am just going to drive by the property and eyeball it from my car. Maybe I won't be able to tell much, but I have a feeling I'll get a sense of how well he takes care of his property. I may also stop and knock on the doors of a few neighbors and see what they think of his chickens.

He did say he has a dog. I think he said a Pit Bull! Now that scares me, though I have met sweet Pit Bulls, but they are so strong. One knocked me over in greeting once. He claims the pit bull protects his chickens and have never killed one. He said he also has cats and bunnies, so perhaps he is an animal lover. Maybe I can take my good buddy Leandro with me when I go over there. He could translate for me. Yes, that's a marvelous idea!

I did ask my vet on Saturday about prospective homes, but he said he knew of none, and he's the number 1 avian vet in the state, so if he doesn't know of anyone, odds are slim. He just recommended I check with Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, but I think it's at least 3 hours away. I will, though.

Thanks for all the good ideas. I appreciate your help and input.

 

[Shayna]

Quote:
I understand that, I'm saying that I would disqualify him based on your gut feeling that he doesn't know how to care for your chickens. If you aren't comfortable with it, you should move on. I only meant that I would still give the next inquiry a chance even if they spoke broken english because they still may make you more at ease than this man. I'm not sure that he misunderstood when he told you he had 50 chickens, that's an odd response if not clear on what was asked. You can tell a lot in talking to someone though, even with a language barrier.
I wish you the best in finding a good home for you boys, I hope my other suggestions on things to look for in someone who truly wants them as a pet will help you.

 

[ClareScifi]

I wonder if someone in my Rose Society or Dahlia Growers Club would want a pet rooster? Can a rooster get along okay without hens, or would that make him go mean? Gardeners might give a rooster a wonderful home with lots of great munchies. Especially vegetable gardeners.

Pet stores are a wonderful idea for placing posters.

Yes, thanks Shayna, for the great suggestions.

LOL, Melodie. I wonder who moved my posting to the appropriate forum?

 

[melodie_a]

The mods arevpretty quick with keeping things straight here so they must have moved it.

You do just keep them in a seperate pen. I didn't let mine in with the hens at all. They seemed to do better when seperated all the time. I do know that breeders will sometimes switch out roos in breeding pens so it must work to rotate them in and out also. If you aren't ever going to let them in with the girls i would try to seperate them so they couldn't see the hens. Mine were right beside the girls and they spent most of their day running back and forth trying to get over there when the girls were in the pen. I would hesitate to put the one submissive roo in a pen by himself. Most people say that they do better when the are not alone... Is there a way for you to put at least one girlfriend in with him? Maybe a calm submissive type to give him a snuggle buddy?

 

[abbey808]

I am in the same position. I have three roos and I love them all equally. I am torn between trying to figure out a way to keep them all, or trying to rehome them. Your gut feeling should tell you whether or not you should trust this person. I realize that people can easily say anything in order to get what they want, but I would be suspicious of someone who consistently gave me answers that didn't make sense or raised red flags.

I have already built a separate coop and run for two of the boys. The pullets already seem to have made their choice on which of the guys they prefer. I am praying that the other two boys will get along and be content in their bachelor pad. I'm trying to do whatever I can to keep these guys. I worry about giving them to strangers and not knowing what happens to them.

 

[ClareScifi]

Melodie,

A snuggle buddy is a good idea, but all of my hens, except super dominant Mama, run when they see the little rooster behind them. He loves to run after them, but they run away, and he gives up. I'm afraid he is feeling rejection, but I'm not sure he cares. He has been raised like an only child, and I believe he thinks I am his buddy chicken. I am afraid he may try to mate with me. I have heard that happens, so I'm trying to get the girls interested in him.

When he was tiny I tried to bring one in to stay with him in his box as a snuggle buddy. But she was not a happy camper and chirped in protest so loudly it gave both him and me a bad headache, so we took her back out to be with her Stepmama and siblings. He and I were both relieved! I could see him relax when she left. The other roos don't like him, because they view him as a threat, and his StepMama still hates him, for some reason. He is such a great little guy, too-- gentle and loving and full of fun. But he does get his hackles up when they provoke him, and sometimes he pecks at StepMama or the other roos first.

He has been outside with StepMama and the hen chicks, but I keep his roo brothers away from him because they are much bigger, and one time I put him in the run with them and one nearly killed him. I keep thinking they will all just adjust to each other because I let him outside when they are in the run, and he goes up to the holey plastic mesh of it and socializes, but they sort of ignore him, except for Mama, who always gets a bit riled up by his presence. It is kind of sad. But it doesn't really seem to bother him. He loves to chase after me and run and run.

I do think the hens might come to like him if he can ever catch them, but they are very quick at getting away, and there is no way in the world Mama hen will ever condescend to mate with him.

 

[ClareScifi]

Abbey,

I feel for you. It's haunting not to know what might become of our little boys if we give them away. Maybe I should find a farmer to marry who lives in the country where no neighbors would complain about 3 roosters. But then there might be predators! So many potential pitfalls.