I had to get rid of my Roos :(

[akcskye]

I am so sad.

I live in the city, and recently, 2 of my 3 boys started showing feathers and other signs that they were roos.

None had crowed but Eric yet. He crowed on Christmas morning...so I still had had my doubts and was holding out hope they were girls, especially Goldie, as "she" was so pretty.

Well, today, hubby went outside to let Skye (our dog) pee, and he heard a lot of crowing in the run.

That was unusual, so I looked out, and there were Goldie and Eric pulling on each other, I thought they looked like they were mating...but it was odd.

So I go out to the run...and they were COVERED in blood and literally fighting to the death.

They were exhausted and would peck and scratch and then run off and then peck and scratch and run off again.

I immediately intervened...both were so tired, they didn't fight being held.

Andy, the other roo, was inside the hen house making a ruckous of all of it...and when Eric came into the hen house, he was going to start in on him.

I cleaned both of them up and knew the time had come to make a decision I hoped I wouldn't have to make...who to keep, who to give away.

Eric and Goldie are both at the Feed Store to be re-homed.

Now that they are seperate, you should see how Andy stands tall and proud over the ladies. It's a night and day difference.

This kills me. 2 of Billy's boys, gone.

We literally have no room to make extra coops, etc, and 1 roo in the city limits is legal, though we were hoping to sneak by with our 3 if they just crowed in the morning.

I'm so upset and distraught, I wanted to share this, just in case there were any ideas or anything we could have done before Goldie and Eric get re-homed.

Thanks.

 

[hoosierhen]

So sorry! I think you're doing the only thing you can under the circumstances. I hope they get wonderful homes, with their own ladies!

 

[Ma]

I feel so very bad for you, honestly. Please accept by sympathy.

I also believe that there is nothing you could have done, short of adding extra housing and yards, or at least 20 more hens.

Sometimes it is hard to accept that nature is run by its own laws. We would wish that we could superimpose our "human-ess" on them. However, your roos were only doing what was required of them by their DNA. In short, they were being roosters at their best. The best male wins, and the strongest genes are passed on.

I hope the boys find extra good homes! They will be much happier if they each can have their own harem, with no more competition.

It will hurt for awhile and you will miss them terribly. But, now your flock can be at peace and THAT will be better for all, including YOU.

Take care. HTH
Ma

 

[PurpleChicken]

I'm amazed young roos had a bloody fight. I have 20 (out of 60) roos that
have been crowing for a few weeks. They do the joust but never fight.

We can't keep the roos so I relate. Our roos become meat birds. That's
not easy when some of them are super cool birds.

 

[bantymum]

Yes, i hope you can feel better about this and try and look at the positive side.
Its hard when we get attached to our roos and cannot keep them all, I am going to go through this in a few weeks too.
I hope they find nice homes and hens.
Good luck

 

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

I just recently had to rehome a roo, too. Honestly, it was pretty sad for me.. and he didn't even really like me! He went to a great new home, full of hens. Hope he works out there.

But I had put it off and put it off.. dh didn't really want to do anything until spring (and I think he was trying to talk me into a seperate coop for just that one), but the fighting started. This particular guy was dbl the size of my flock roo, and I was afraid my little one would get hurt.

Yes, it stinks. And I wish we could keep them all. But unfortunately it just doesn't work out that way. About the best thing I can say is that you gave your guys a terrific home. They got to enjoy all sorts of wonderful things that lots of roos don't ever get to see or experience.

You gave them a great life.

Meghan

 

[Churkenduse]

I had 3 roos to re home. I got 1 a home but couldn't find a home for the other 2, I tried so hard but I was sick worrying about the neighbors, I was afraid I would have to give them all up if I had complaints so I had them culled, a friend did it, it was better than sending them to auctions where I knew they would have been cruely slaughtered. At least they went in gentle hands and they gave their lives for me.

Let's face it allot of people raise them for food, so why not do what nature really intended them for. I was sad but I did what was best.

,

 

[lizardz]

I'm facing the same problem - 3 roos and only 9 hens. I've been putting this off for quite some time (they are all about 9 months old) and amazingly the roos get along really well. I've never seen any fighting or sparring. Occassionally they will chase one another, but not usually. None of them are "outstanding" roos, not very friendly, not really good protectors for the hens (I'm at 9 from 14 thanks to the local bobcat), so there really is no reason to keep them, other than I love hearing them crow and seeing them. I don't think I can bring myself to eat them myself, so maybe I can find someone else who will. Although I am seriously thinking of holding on to them until Spring (when it gets warmer) and "rehoming" them in a nearby town that actually has feral chickens running around downtown and the parks. Grab them early in the morning, a quick drive down there, car door opens, roos shoved out, and a quick getaway. Beats the option my husband suggests of leaving them out for the bobcat.

Sorry it came to this for you. I think a lot of us go through it.

Liz

 

[PDXChickGirl]

I'm sorry. I had to rehome a roo a couple of months ago. It was so hard. I know you are really sad. But you absolutely did the best you could for your boys. It does get better with time (I know that is so cliche-ic). I felt better after sharing my woes to this board. Everyone is so supportive here. I'm thinking about you and hope you feel better soon!

 

[akcskye]

Thanks all.

My kids were at basketball practice when this all happened...so they were upset, too...though I'm glad they didn't see all of the bloodshed.

We went to the feed store today...they were both there in 2 seperate pens.

Eric knew me immediately and was purring/cooing and Goldie came over and let me pet him, too.

I was just SICK to leave them again.

People passing by were saying "awww...how cute...they've named them" and I would let them know they were my pets until yesterday, and those were their names.

Hopefully, the good words we put in will move someone to take them home...they are SO gorgeous and SO friendly to humans.