Lots of cockerels 🐓

[HappyClucker7]

I understand that for some people it is difficult to harvest a livestock. On the other hand we should understand that farming has never been for those who are weak at heart. There's no type of farming in which some type of killing is not involved. You become a florist and you will have to kill.

Yes, I understand that killing is involved in any kind of farming. But if you hand raise an animal, and watch it grow, and the animal comes to trust you and like you, you can't just chop it's head off.
Also, you can't compare this to flowers. A rooster is a living, breathing being that has feelings just like any other animal. You wouldn't kill a dog just because you don't want it. It's the same with a rooster.

 

[LizzzyJo]

Dispatching for food or illness or harmony on the farm is part of the deal for most people. If anyone can get away with selling or giving away roosters more power to them. But it is hard and gets harder each time you do it to find homes for them. Many people wish to keep chickens but don’t have the luxury of buying sexed pullets.
“Having chickens means killing chickens” is something I’ve heard many times.

 

[Kabootar]

Yes, I understand that killing is involved in any kind of farming. But if you hand raise an animal, and watch it grow, and the animal comes to trust you and like you, you can't just chop it's head off.
Also, you can't compare this to flowers. A rooster is a living, breathing being that has feelings just like any other animal. You wouldn't kill a dog just because you don't want it. It's the same with a rooster.

I perfectly understand what you mean. I have some a few select roosters who are pet. They are just a handful of four hundred or so chickens that I have. All the roosters that I have are for breeding. All culls and barnyard mixes are caponized. The good thing of keeping too many chickens is that you don't get attached to many.

Also when we are farming as a hobby then we can escape many cruel aspects of these professions, but when your livelihood depend on farming, then you have to do what you have to do. That's the way it is.

 

[HappyClucker7]

I perfectly understand what you mean. I have some a few select roosters who are pet. They are just a handful of four hundred or so chickens that I have. All the roosters that I have are for breeding. All culls and barnyard mixes are caponized. The good thing of keeping too many chickens is that you don't get attached to many.

Also when we are farming as a hobby then we can escape many cruel aspects of these professions, but when your livelihood depend on farming, then you have to do what you have to do. That's the way it is.

I totally understand that when you are farming, culling is necessary for you to make a profit and be able to live off of your harvests. But, I don't think the OP intended to make a profit from these birds, nor did they intend to eventually cull them. So, I don't think killing them is the appropriate way to go in this situation. I believe another effort should be made to rehome them.

 

[hysop]

Isn't it strange to put time, effort and your hard earned money in raising a farm animal and then giving it up to fill someone else's dog's tummy? It's such a disrespect to our own dedication that we put in raising our animals. I am sorry but I can't appreciate this "solution".

Some people see dogs as more than just pets. They see dogs as family so it’s not like you’re just throwing the bird to a wild rabid dog, you’re feeding your loyal companion who loves you and protects you.

I didn’t mean giving it away for free, I meant putting it up for sale as raw dog food, organs and all and if someone is willing to pay the price then process it for them. But if no one wants them then the OP can cull and bury if they have no wish in eating them. I feel it’s more wasteful to cull and bury than to sell as raw meat for dogs.

 

[hysop]

Another note, if you bury then they will make good compost. Just make sure the compost can’t be ransacked by predators and pests while it decomposes.

My husband buried his two dogs that got ran over and killed when he was a kid, and he planted a palm tree under each dog. And let me tell you, those trees are beautiful now 20+ years later.

So, that is one option I would do if you go the route of culling and burying.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yes, I understand that killing is involved in any kind of farming. But if you hand raise an animal, and watch it grow, and the animal comes to trust you and like you, you can't just chop it's head off.
Also, you can't compare this to flowers. A rooster is a living, breathing being that has feelings just like any other animal. You wouldn't kill a dog just because you don't want it. It's the same with a rooster.

Why can’t you? Plenty of people get them specifically for that purpose and there is nothing wrong with it. I get that some people can’t and mine are pets too but don’t try to shame someone for their own personal choices or force your beliefs on them. Everyone does what works for them.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I totally understand that when you are farming, culling is necessary for you to make a profit and be able to live off of your harvests. But, I don't think the OP intended to make a profit from these birds, nor did they intend to eventually cull them. So, I don't think killing them is the appropriate way to go in this situation. I believe another effort should be made to rehome them.

In this case this is probably true but they said they’ve had no luck rehoming so far. I don’t think they are giving up just yet but they also probably can’t risk complaints from neighbors and having all the birds taken away

 

[Panicbuttongb]

Why can't we eat them? Or maybe gift them to a friend or family who likes home grown chicken?

I would like to but no one wants them. I have Bantams, we could eat them but neighbours will have an issue while we mature that many Roos. I do keep one or two and last year I rehomed but sadly no availability with anyone. Tried a couple of farms as well.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Some people see dogs as more than just pets. They see dogs as family so it’s not like you’re just throwing the bird to a wild rabid dog, you’re feeding your loyal companion who loves you and protects you.

I didn’t mean giving it away for free, I meant putting it up for sale as raw dog food, organs and all and if someone is willing to pay the price then process it for them. But if no one wants them then the OP can cull and bury if they have no wish in eating them. I feel it’s more wasteful to cull and bury than to sell as raw meat for dogs.

Exactly. It’s not disrespectful to me because dogs need to eat too and I actually think it’s very respectful to both the dog and the chicken providing the dog with such a high quality meal.