How to cull a rooster when you don't want too?

[nuthatched]

They are your responsibility.
Pull yourself up by your bra/bootstraps and just do it.
You do it quickly and humanely.
Or look for someone who will and agree that they keep the meat.

 

[nuthatched]

The first one is always the hardest, my mom would always scream on the first one then she was fine.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I’m not sure if the answer but I do feel for you because I am in the same situation myself. I have three cockerels currently and they crow all the time and are stressing the girls out so I know they have to go but two of them are the sons of my deceased rooster and very friendly and one is just adorable (and all are named) so it makes it hard. I’ve thought about rehoming them but we have Mareks on our property so I can’t or if I did, I’d have to disclose which makes it a lot harder and I know someone else would likely just eat them anyway. SO. I am making myself do it. I had been putting it off a while but am finally doing it tomorrow (it rained today). It just sucks. So I know how you feel.

 

[ShrekDawg]

The first one is always the hardest, my mom would always scream on the first one then she was fine.

I’m not sure my mom will ever be fine. She freaks out every time even when I’ve had to kill sick birds. And she thinks “serial killers start on animals”

 

[Ridgerunner]

See if there is an animal rescue or a zoo near you that will take him. They often take food for their critters. I can't think of anything else that hasn't been mentioned.

 

[deidreg]

I know the day will come when I'll have to face a similar dilemma. Here's how I think about it:

I give my chickens a good life keeping them fed, safe, and happy. When the time arrives and I can't do it (for whatever reason), I will do my best to find them a good home. If I cannot, I'll cull them, even though it will be very difficult. I see it as a better alternative to putting them in a bad situation.

It helps that I think about my chickens as a hobby vs. pets. I'm fond of them, give them names, and enjoy their company. But I don't view them like family (as I do with my cats).

I know chicken keepers have different relationships with their flock and, as long as they're treated well, owners are entitled to relate however they choose.

Hope this helps.

 

[EmmaRainboe]

I had the same emotional hurdle that blocked me from killing my rooster, I felt selfish for wanting to take away a perfectly healthy life that wanted to live. The emotional hurdle is the hardest to jump. I luckily found a place last second. The people here on BYC are incredible and were lifting me up to help me jump that large hurdle. I didn't need to, but I was standing on top of it. I made it up, but didn't need to jump to the other side. I hope they can lift you up like they did me, even if you do need to jump to the otherside. Best of luck.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Actually I just did think of something. If you can find a chat thread for Australia or your part of Australia in the "Where am I! Where are you!" section of this forum you can maybe chat with your neighbors and see if any of them want him. You may have Craigslist or the Australian equivalent, basically a buy, sell, trade network for your area.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

I’m not sure if the answer but I do feel for you because I am in the same situation myself. I have three cockerels currently and they crow all the time and are stressing the girls out so I know they have to go but two of them are the sons of my deceased rooster and very friendly and one is just adorable (and all are named) so it makes it hard. I’ve thought about rehoming them but we have Mareks on our property so I can’t or if I did, I’d have to disclose which makes it a lot harder and I know someone else would likely just eat them anyway. SO. I am making myself do it. I had been putting it off a while but am finally doing it tomorrow (it rained today). It just sucks. So I know how you feel.

A shame about Mareks in your flock and having to cull friendly adorable roosters too would make it even more hard for you to do the job .. but if the girls are getting stressed by too many roosters something has to be done. Seperate boys or cull.

 

[ShrekDawg]

A shame about Mareks in your flock and having to cull friendly adorable roosters too would make it even more hard for you to do the job .. but if the girls are getting stressed by too many roosters something has to be done. Seperate boys or cull.

Yeah, it sucks! I thought about a bachelor coop but that wouldn’t solve the crowing all day and in the middle of the night.