Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

Sadly there is never enough room for the number of male fowl we always end up with. I had to kill 13 excess cockerels last week, a difficult exercise.
The reality is they cause little but problems - fighting, overbreeding the females to the point of serious injury, and eating you out of house and home.
You have to be tough to be a farmer, but maybe you will find someone interested in such tame birds. Best of luck!

 

[JanetMarie]

Pretty stringent sales conditions for a mixed bird....
....but would be good to know where you are located.
Curious, what are the 'approval' requirements?

Yes, I know. I want to be sure he is getting a good home is why stringent sales conditions.

Cass county Michigan is my location.

Would like a home where he can free range, house/coop/barn is cleaned daily of excess droppings. I've seen too many (one is too many) chicken keepers who think it's normal to keep their chicken coop/barn a smelly, poopy, filthy mess, and with trash laying around where the chickens forage. I will not let any animal go to a questionable home. It's not "just a chicken" to me.

He has been fed only organic and chemical free feed, and chemical free pasture. If he does not work out, he could be butchered for an organic meal.

ETA: The father is a very good boy. Good to hens, chicks, not aggressive to anyone (except the rooster who he fights through the fence with). Possibly the father's good temperment genetics have passed on.

 

[JanetMarie]

JM, your bird is very handsome! I hope you can find him a home. Have you posted signs, with photos, at your local feed stores? Sometimes that helps too.
Placing extra cockerels, even purebreds, is difficult, so good luck with him.
Mary

Thank you. No haven't posted signs anywhere. Realistically expecting to butcher him. Husband and I have butchered many extra cockerels. Just thought I'd give this one a chance for a home.

 

[Folly's place]

I'd try posting signs, and good luck. We all have to deal with the 'extra cockerels' story, and it's hard sometimes, but providing a meal for a family after having a good life, if short, is not a bad thing.
Mary

 

[JanetMarie]

I'd try posting signs, and good luck. We all have to deal with the 'extra cockerels' story, and it's hard sometimes, but providing a mean for a family after having a good life, if short, is not a bad thing.
Mary

Yes. They do get a better life than commercially raised chickens, even organic commercially raised.

 

[snowflake]

Thought that I had popped in earlier right before I got Married. Dang I guess I was busy with everything.

congratulations

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

Romance meets Reality.
There are always too many male birds, everyone only needs one.
But they are delicious.
I have 5 cockerels in my freezer right now.

i raised them since they were babies, i don’t want to kill them. they are so friendly and happy and it makes me sad to think they’ll die i don’t eat duck and don’t wanna give them to anyone who will. they are 6 months old and can live for 10+ more years and i want them to have a loving home their whole life.

 

[JanetMarie]

anyone want some male ducks (must go to a safe loving home, with other ducks or together.) they are very friendly. pekins, khaki campbells, and rouens. friendly with cats, do not get along with other birds (except chickens, ducks, and probably other types of waterfowl) walk good on harness and leash and when you take them we will give you a bag of their feed, their harnesses, leashes, and all the other duck supplies we have. they like to swim a lot and grew up with our pond so a home with a pond would be preferred, but not required. 6 months old and raised from (about) 3 days old. they like to meet new people and a couple of them will do tricks (jump or run) for corn treats. they don’t fight with other ducks because they grew up around them. (we take care of a flock of wild mallards) must have a safe place to keep them through winter (either in the house or a duck coop that they won’t get cold in). if you have any questions feel free to ask. no rehoming fee as long as you promise to keep them safe.

You could post on Craig's List (pet section and farm section) with pictures, and description. Make up a flyer to post at farm stores and pet stores. DO CHARGE A REHOMING FEE. A promise means nothing, people lie. Free poultry will more than likely end up in a BAD home, or end up being food.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi Snowflake, long time no see! Hope you and your family are doing well.

 

[SillyChicken]

Congratulations on your marriage!!

Unfortunately, once the stock leaves your care, people can do what they want with the stock. Not enough people farm or raise small flocks can generally feed or care for excess non productive stock and extra males, who do nothing but eat, breed, and harass the females are not productive enough. It isn't economical to keep them, let alone pay a lot of money for something they can get for free somewhere else. Good luck to both of you in selling your roo and drakes. I have a spare couple roo too, but they are going to get nice n fat and go to freezer camp. That way I know how will the lived and died.

Getting Angus Saturday!! can't wait.. unfortunately I have to travel again for work, a lot for the rest of the year... UGH!