I need emotional support...

[Suburban Sprouts]

I have two 5 week old cockerels who I love... They are so sweet and they were from my first hatch, so I am rather attached. Unfortunately, I can't have roosters where I live. I have found homes for both of them but just thinking about turning them over to someone else makes me tear up. I'm not used to caring for an animal and then letting it "go." In one case, I have friends who live way out in the country who would take one of my Roos and I could get to see him sometimes, but their flock is not well protected and they lose birds regularly, so I'm leaning towards giving him to a stranger who can provide better security.

All in all, this is WAY harder than I thought it would be...

Has anyone else had this difficulty? Does it ever get any easier?

I need a BYC therapist...

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

I have been a local chicken breeder/ seller/ trader for years, & I still hate to see some of the "spoiled ones" go, but when you deal in hundreds of birds, I guess it is easier. HEY....... the solution......... get hundreds of birds!

 

[Happy Chooks]

I'm sorry. But even if you give him to your friend and something happened, he'd have a good life while he was there.

Unfortunately there are more boys than homes. It's just the way it is. I do understand how you feel, I've lost birds to predators (9 8 week old chicks all at once) and I felt horrible. But it happens, it's part of chicken raising. It does get easier.

 

[1_FnkyFrm]

Do like I did when I used to breed dogs. Get the peeps phone number and address so you can go see them. I did this to make sure that they were getting a good home and to see how they were doing from time to time...

 

[MareeZoCool]

I know it's hard to let go. One thing that might help you is to raise a few more fluffy butts. No you won't forget your loved roos, but your heart will fill with love for more lil' chickens.

 

[lakeontariochicks]

Quote:
This is a great idea! When we had pups 1 1/2 years ago, I got phone numbers, addresses, and emails. All the new owners email me frequently with pics, and one family is coming out soon to see mom and dad.
I would definitely do this with my chicks too. I haven't had to give any roos up yet, but I have a batch of straight runs coming tomorrow, and am dreading the day when I am going to have to rehome some boys....

 

[dawg53]

I know exactly where you're coming from. Wait til you lose your favorite hen to a disease or a predator or something else.....very painful.

 

[Finn's Mom]

At 5 weeks they are still cute little love bugs. They won't all be so charming in 6 weeks or so and you might find it easier to let them go to a new home at that time.

I had a chick, Hiccup, that was showing all the attributes of a roo at 5 weeks and she is definitley a girly girl now. I guess my advice is just wait and see. Good luck!

 

[bock]

Please BE CAREFUL WHO YOU SELL THEM TO!!! I cannot stress that enough. I sold 3 9 week old roos to a guy for $9 a while ago. I could tell he was not a good person to sell them to by the way he asked no questions about them, he wanted all 3, he handled them roughly, he put them in a small box with no air holes, and he asked if we had anymore roosters for sale! If you try hard enough, I am sure you can find a good person to care for them!

 

[elmo]

Yes, I feel the same way you do. It broke my heart to have to give away Beaky our rooster, and it was just as hard to give away the seven little cockerels that hatched out of 14 chicks this spring. It was so hard, we're not going to be raising out any more next year from hatching eggs. Our flock is set.

You do your best to try to find a good home, but you can't control what happens to your chickens after you give them away.