Letting people have roosters, opinions please

[NYREDS]

If they're not Pit Games they certainly aren't wanted for fighting. While most males will fight your typical bird would last about 30 seconds against a real Game.
Someone who will take "any and all" roosters is a. crazy or b. hungry. Everybody like chicken-it tastes like chicken!!!

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I would have been fine letting the birds go, that is, before the "nasty" chat on the phone. After that, she would have not been getting free dinners from me, for sure! You asked a perfectly reasonable question and deserved a reasonable response.

If you are giving away free roosters, chances are one or two will be grabbed for pets, or bug-eaters, yard ornaments, or even breeding stock. The rest, the majority will be eaten. Unless you have game birds, chances are they are not for fighting, maybe bait birds, I don't know not my field.

People around here sell their extra roosters for about $5 a piece and like I said before, a few are bought for pets or free-range bug-eaters, but most are eaten. I do not believe there is anything wrong with that. If you are attached to a particular rooster, hang on to him and mark him as "Pet Only". Everything dies, and you do not want all the excess roosters, why not let someone use them for a good purpose and relieve you of the excess burden.

As for feeding the foxes, that's fine if that's what you do. People around here abandon gamebirds all the time. My only concern, and it may have just been coincidence, is the flock of gamebirds that was recently abandoned. Most of the roosters were struck by cars and the hens fell prey to predation, all but one which ended up in our coop. Well, I honestly think that the local fox had gotten use to preying on this unprotected flock and when the flock ran out they came hunting my birds. I know it may sound silly, but I didn't have ANY wild predation before then. I wouldn't dump sick birds as well, as they could end up spreading disease as they are drawn to local flocks.

LOL. But, after that chat on the phone, somebody else would be getting dinner on me, and not that lady. LOL

-Kim

 

[ella]

I know it may sound silly, but I didn't have ANY wild predation before then.

That's not silly at all Kim. Predators will hunt what they were fed as youngsters. If they're brought up on chicken they'll learn to hunt chickens.

Go with your gut southernsibe. Find someone else to take them.

 

[BradyMSU]

From the little I know about cockfighting, it's a high stakes form of gambling. The don't use just any roosters, but ones specifically bred for fighting just as we breed chickens for egg laying, meat, or show. So, unless these people are hillbillies, they probably won't be using your non-game roosters for fighting.

On the other hand, I can honestly tell you that if someone offered me free cockerels, I would be more than happy to take them up on the offer! Anyone living in southern Michigan who wants to give away YOUNG roosters, please private message me. They will be going directly from your home to meet my Amish neighbor who will process them for $2/bird. Given that I didn't have to pay for the cost to raise them and feed them, only having to pay for the cost of processing reduces the cost of non-factory farmed chickens by over 80%. That's a great deal!

I'm guessing the woman seemed irritated and defensive because you probably never mentioned to her that you didn't have a problem with her taking them for meat. We live in a world where a lot of people have become detached from nature and the source of their food. Sure, chickens make fine pets whether they are cute chicks the eat mealworms out of your hand, a hen who follows you around, or a rooster that cares for your flock. But at the end of the day, the reason chickens were domesticated and the reason most people keep them is to provide meat and eggs. Except for the rare breeder, roos are meant to become meat at a young age. The fact is that very few chickens, including hens, die from old age. If you're looking for a pet that doesn't feed you, a dog or a cat is usually a better choice. The pet benefit of chickens is secondary to the protein benefits.

Unless you told the woman in advance that you didn't have a problem with her butchering them, I'd give her the benefit of the doubt that she was being defensive because she feared you were confused animal rights activist who was keeping livestock. Expect that they will become meat for her family.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Unfortunately I've had to resort to the "Don't ask, don't tell" method of getting rid of roosters. If I have one that is especially sweet, I will find them a nice home. Otherwise I really don't mind if someone uses them for dinner. I know everyone has their own preferences though. I've actually been lucky and most of the roosters I have sold have ended up in wonderful homes. Some of the people who have bought them at fairs from me have actually come back years later to tell me how much they loved their roo!

The chances are EXTREMELY remote anyone would use these for cockfighting. I don't want to get this thread locked due to the mention of the outlawed sport, but you can rest easy they will 99% NOT be used for cockfighting. Chances are these people want them to eat. I've only come across a few weird situations where people wanted roosters for some strange purpose. However, bottom line, if you don't feel comfortable with this woman, do not give her the birds!

you might want to try putting up signs in your local feed store or even posting on craigslist. Sometimes I even go to local sales and see if anyone is interested there.

 

[coopist]

Quote:
Woah. "Hillbillies"? Maybe we should not rely on that stereotype?

More than one rural Appalachian posts on this board, and we're a knowledgeable group on the subject of poultry, I can assure you.

And, btw, non-game roos might be used for training purposes sometimes. The purpose there, as I understand it, would not be sport but, er, lethality practice... Not my field, but that's what I understand. Any gamers here are welcome to correct me if this is not a common practice, if the mods allow it.

However, I agree that the roo was probably wanted for food.