Methods of keeping roosters... are any effective?

[Roo5]

No one is gonna put a Silkie in a fighting ring,atleast it’s very unlikely, there are birds people breed for that even thought it isn’t legal.
Op,
Worse case scenario is he’s eaten,unfortunately.However with him being a silkie someone’s kid will probably want him and they will take him in, do you know anyone locally or any family members who you know won’t harm him?When I sell roosters I usually dig deep and explain how the birds are personality wise.You can also always try the “These are pets so I would prefer for him not to be eaten” quote.

How do you know they're not going to someone who will put them in a cock fighting ring?

 

[mountainchickens]

No family members, and I don't think we have anybody locally... the one person we know who keeps chickens in an area where roos are allowed hates them. So that's pretty unfortunate. I'm very glad he's a Silkie mix though, and too shy and timid to put in a fighting ring anyways. We are thinking we're going to try the no-crow collar. There is a backup plan, one person in the area may want him if the collar doesn't work. But sadly, we don't have any close friends...
This rooster business can be pretty frustrating! We don't have a big enough flock for more than one rooster if the collar does work, but one of our little month-olds looks like she might be a he...

 

[MontanaChickDoc]

I have given away a lot of roosters on CL. I honestly don't care if they get eaten, I just hope it's done humanely and with dignity, and how can you know that? There is nowhere near me that processes privately owned birds and my husband has absolutely forbidden butchering on the premises-- and even if I could he wouldn't eat the meat, it freaks him out (city raised and all) and not sure the kids would either...not sure I could kill them myself anyway. The other option is to let them free range until the foxes get them...I dunno, it seems a spare rooster's fate in life is to be eaten by someone or something at some point. Yeah it would be great if they could all be pets but that's not practical. Good luck with the no-crow. When we've had company, I kept my roos in kennels until after 8am, with a blanket over them and they were quiet as mice. There are workarounds but it can be labor intensive so you have to ask yourself what you're up for.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

How do you know they're not going to someone who will put them in a cock fighting ring?

No cocker in their right mind would consider using a silkie for the purpose. They don't want to lose.

No family members, and I don't think we have anybody locally... the one person we know who keeps chickens in an area where roos are allowed hates them. So that's pretty unfortunate. I'm very glad he's a Silkie mix though, and too shy and timid to put in a fighting ring anyways. We are thinking we're going to try the no-crow collar. There is a backup plan, one person in the area may want him if the collar doesn't work. But sadly, we don't have any close friends...
This rooster business can be pretty frustrating! We don't have a big enough flock for more than one rooster if the collar does work, but one of our little month-olds looks like she might be a he...

The poultry paradox that new keepers must come to grips with is that most birds hatch at an average ratio of 50:50 boys and girls. Whether one buys sexed pullets (some hatcheries don't sex bantams because of the difficulty) or straight run, or hatch their own, one should either expect half boys and make the decision on what to do with them, or realize that someone somewhere is killing or eating as many boys as the number of pullets one buys.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

double post

 

[SueT]

We sold him a few days ago to a good home, however he wasn't doing well and was super stressed, plus absolutely terrified of their turkeys.

When a chicken is re-homed, of course it will be stressed and afraid at first. You have to give them time to adjust.
I adopted one such rooster, 7 month cockerel, actually. He was absolutely terrified at first, but he settled in and became part of the flock. It probably took about a month.

 

[fowlgebra]

I second selling and not giving him away. I recently posted two free young cockerels, not minding if someone ate them and received a message from a man who wanted them "all any other roosyers I may want to rehome". I asked if he was going to eat them and he said he used them as bait for fighting. I obviously said no way. I didn't know that was even a thing and was shocked he even admitted it. I immediately removed the post and will never ever post a free rooster again. I have no problem with humane evisceration and consumption but I will never let any of my unwanted boys to go that way.

 

[blackandtan]

I second selling and not giving him away. I recently posted two free young cockerels, not minding if someone ate them and received a message from a man who wanted them "all any other roosyers I may want to rehome". I asked if he was going to eat them and he said he used them as bait for fighting. I obviously said no way. I didn't know that was even a thing and was shocked he even admitted it. I immediately removed the post and will never ever post a free rooster again. I have no problem with humane evisceration and consumption but I will never let any of my unwanted boys to go that way.

Wow I can’t believe someone would straight up say that to you, I’m always surprised at how awful people can be...good luck to all of you with your spare roos!

 

[MontanaChickDoc]

I had one guy tell me he wanted them for target practice for bow hunting. I wasn't sure if he was kidding but of course I told him to get lost. Sometimes groups like 4H will want roosters for showing.

 

[Chickengene]

How do you know they're not going to someone who will put them in a cock fighting ring?

Are you willing to give up all your chickens over the far fetched thought one cockeral may end up in a cockfighting ring?