I killed my rooster and I feel bad

[gtaus]

But I keep feeling guilty, like I could take him to the vet instead.

I know some people treat their chickens as pets, and a vet visit might be something to consider. Where I live, the vets don't know much about chickens, and it would cost you $$$ for nothing. I would never consider taking any of my chickens to a vet. For the price of one vet visit, I could replace my entire backyard flock 3X over! Not kidding.

I would much rather harvest an injured chicken myself. If a bird is sick, however, I will not butcher and eat it.

I don’t know what’s wrong with me.

Having the ability and skill to process your own chickens is a great advantage. Many people have the opposite problem of yours and they cannot get themselves to butcher their chickens.

Obviously, I don't know all the small details between you and your mother, but it sounds like you did the right thing to me. Assuming, of course, that the rooster was yours and not your mothers....

 

[EmmaDonovan]

I’m 24.
But I keep feeling guilty, like I could take him to the vet instead. It’s not like he’s the burst bird I’ve ever butchered, I don’t know what’s wrong with me.

There's nothing wrong with you. What you're feeling is normal. It's not supposed to be easy to take a life, including an animal life. We're more connected to some lives than others so it hurts a little more, even when you've done the right thing, which you have.

This wasn't the first bird you've butchered but it's different every time because each life is different. It's okay to grieve. Grief is weird and the grieving process is different each time you go through it, even when you think you're familiar with it and know what to expect.

Don't feel bad at all about what you're experiencing. Allow yourself to move through it, whatever course it takes. Hang in there. It gets better with time.

Having said all that, it is possible there's something else going on in your life right now and the culling of this rooster brought those feelings to the forefront?

Hugs to you, in any case.

 

[Sinadrea]

I have a rooster who likes to chase me at home. I also have a baby. If he ever tries to attack her I will have to kill him too. I will also feel bad about this because he was my favorite baby and hen before I found out he was a Roo! Your mom will forgive you, sooner if she eat chickens...

I don't know the severity of your favorite Roo's injury but maybe if no other issues try giving the chicken some more time to heal. I tried isolating a hen who was limping and had her away from other chickens for a week. We took her to our doc and found out her injury was a sprain. Luckily, the doc didn't charge us for the service. Don't feel bad though. I don't know how to harvest a chicken.

 

[Paz]

I know some people treat their chickens as pets, and a vet visit might be something to consider. Where I live, the vets don't know much about chickens, and it would cost you $$$ for nothing. I would never consider taking any of my chickens to a vet. For the price of one vet visit, I could replace my entire backyard flock 3X over! Not kidding.

I would much rather harvest an injured chicken myself. If a bird is sick, however, I will not butcher and eat it.



Having the ability and skill to process your own chickens is a great advantage. Many people have the opposite problem of yours and they cannot get themselves to butcher their chickens.

Obviously, I don't know all the small details between you and your mother, but it sounds like you did the right thing to me. Assuming, of course, that the rooster was yours and not your mothers....

Oh yes, he was mine. I don’t think I would ever do it again to a nice rooster like he was, even if he’s injured. I feel way too bad.

 

[FunClucks]

Oh yes, he was mine. I don’t think I would ever do it again to a nice rooster like he was, even if he’s injured. I feel way too bad.

Everyone's chicken keeping journey is different. Now you know this about yourself, and next time you will make different choices. Beating yourself up about it helps no one. Try to let go of the guilt. You did what you thought best, and gave your rooster a wonderful life first. If a chicken is injured, in great pain, or unlikely to recover, dispatching that chicken is often the kindest thing you can do. It is not the quantity but the quality of life that is most important, especially when it comes to chickens. Quantity of life is often not in our control, but quality of life we have influence over. Sounds like you did a great job giving him a good life. Think of him fondly, respect his sacrifice by using/eating every bit of the carcass, and go spend some quality time with the rest of your chickens.

I have a roo I still really miss. He was a great roo for many months, and then he turned human aggressive. We tried all the things to get him to be safe around people again, but none of them worked. I couldn't trust him around my young children and could not have him attacking them, so into the pot he went. I cried the whole time I processed him, and I still miss him. But I miss him from when he was nice. I couldn't bring my nice roo back, but I gave him the best life I could while he was with us, and I treasure the hens he produced.

I had another roo whose legs gave out - they just stopped working and he couldn't stand any more. I couldn't help him and he wasn't healing, so I dispatched him to put him out of his misery. Sometimes a quick dispatch is the kindest choice. I feel bad for him that he didn't get to live very long, but I didn't cause his injury and I couldn't fix it. All I could do is prevent him from suffering, so that's what I did.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Your mother's feelings are her own and you are not responsible for them. You know you did what you thought best for your rooster. You don't need to feel guilty about your mom's feelings.

Having said that, though, perhaps she is taking it hard because she didn't have time to process the loss of the rooster ahead of time. It was a surprise to her. Perhaps in the future it would go easier on both of you if you included her in such decisions. It would help prepare her, if you get where I'm coming from. I'm sure she doesn't think you are a monster but she may think you were a little hasty. Talking to her may help resolve your differences.

Good luck to both of you going forward.

 

[gtaus]

Oh yes, he was mine. I don’t think I would ever do it again to a nice rooster like he was, even if he’s injured. I feel way too bad.

We all are entitled to our feelings. In my case, I would feel bad if I let an injured chicken suffer if there was no realistic hope of recovery. But I grew up butchering meat rabbits at a young age, so maybe my feelings were tempered by that experience. I don't have a problem culling a sick chicken or harvesting meat birds. If I had and injured chicken that I could not treat, I would rather harvest it to feed the family then let it suffer. I would not feel bad about that at all.

Have you considered getting meat chickens that must be harvested around that 10 week old period? Knowing that you are raising chickens for an early harvest may help you get over your bad feelings about butchering a chicken. I have lots of respect for the chicken's life I take for their meat, but I don't feel bad about it. I think because I started with meat chickens and had to butcher them myself at 10 weeks, it has prepared me better to butcher a laying hen or rooster if/when the time comes. Having said that, I know it is more difficult to take the life of a bird that you may have cared for many years.

 

[Paz]

We all are entitled to our feelings. In my case, I would feel bad if I let an injured chicken suffer if there was no realistic hope of recovery. But I grew up butchering meat rabbits at a young age, so maybe my feelings were tempered by that experience. I don't have a problem culling a sick chicken or harvesting meat birds. If I had and injured chicken that I could not treat, I would rather harvest it to feed the family then let it suffer. I would not feel bad about that at all.

Have you considered getting meat chickens that must be harvested around that 10 week old period? Knowing that you are raising chickens for an early harvest may help you get over your bad feelings about butchering a chicken. I have lots of respect for the chicken's life I take for their meat, but I don't feel bad about it. I think because I started with meat chickens and had to butcher them myself at 10 weeks, it has prepared me better to butcher a laying hen or rooster if/when the time comes. Having said that, I know it is more difficult to take the life of a bird that you may have cared for many years.

That’s the thing, it’s never happened to me before, I’ve butchered a bunch of pigeons and some roosters already, but I guess, I didn’t really like them. I mean, the previous roosters were actually getting on my nerves… this guy was simply a perfect one.

 

[aart]

That’s the thing, it’s never happened to me before, I’ve butchered a bunch of pigeons and some roosters already, but I guess, I didn’t really like them. I mean, the previous roosters were actually getting on my nerves… this guy was simply a perfect one.

Yep, I had no trouble with slaughtering extra cockerels, who were causing trouble themselves. The first older hen was a different feeling.

 

[Sic]

So I had the best cock for the past two years, but yesterday he was limping, and today too, and I decided I would butcher him.
I feel really bad! And I’m scared my mother will find out and think I’m a monster. I don’t think I can face her

Well maybe you made a rash decision...a day or two of limping would implore me to investigate the possible cause, i.e. injury etc. before even considering butchering a good rooster. You went quick to the knife. Just my honest opinion.