Aloha from Hawaii!
I grew up in San Jose - we had rabbits and other birds and beasties, but never chickens while I lived there. What part of SJ do you live in?
I read your story with interest. I really feel for your family and this decision you must make... Here's my story on this topic:
When my husband rescued a little peepster from the parking lot at a local market, we assumed the teeny-tiny baby was female. The baby chick cuddled inside my shirt (in a cloth), then I fed and nurtured it and the baby lived and grew! Our cat & Rottweiler were fine w/ little Chicken Laulau, since we'd raised adorable fancy Bantams before... Then he grew to be a handsome young rooster.
But my beloved "baby" is a Jungle Fowl (Google that), likely of local fighting chicken stock - our neighborhood was notoriusly bad for that, even though it's illegal, of course.
His crowing was adorable, at first, too. Even *more* adorable, Chicken Laulau would fly across our yard to land on my outstretched arm. I really loved that part. I'd just put my arm out and he'd zoom across the yard and fly up to it. Our neighbors (the ones that *fight* chickens) thought I was a crazy person! They offered to cut of his comb, called him ugly, but I defended him. Especially cute is the way he attacks any rubber slipper (or sandal) that he sees. Or so I thought...
I hate to say this, but my beloved boy did become very mean to me. Not to my husband, but to me, an easy target. He would chase me across the yard whenever we let him out, then he would mercilessly attack me. I literally have a nasty finger-length scar on my face from him getting me from below my eyelid to my chin during an attack. I am so lucky my husband didn't kill him on pure reflex that day! I pleaded for his life as the blood gushed down my face. <Sigh.> I have *many scars* and have lost a lot of blood, thanks to Chicken Laulau.
He also attacks our Rottweiler, given the chance. Just think about that! Luckily, the rooster hasn't cornered the dog too often, because she could kill him with one bite. What kind of crazy chicken attacks a Rottweiler? Chicken Laulau was raised with that dog, and the dog was raised with dozens of (friendly) little Bantams before him.
Still, I love him too much to get rid of him - and besides, what would I do with a hand-raised "pet" fighting chicken? I couldn't just dump him at a park or at a trash transfer station like other people do. He'd attack the next unsuspecting person and they'd kill him on the spot. Sure my neighbors would take him, but they fight chickens, plus they eat their backyard stock. Not an option.
However, I work from home and am in telemarketing sales. It was a tough question to dance around from potential customers, "Is that a ROOSTER I hear?"
We've come to to a temporary solution. We moved and had to find a temporary home for Chicken Laulau until we can create a safe environment at our new home. Luckily, our very nice neighbor (who raises laying hens and, yes, fighting chickens(!) is keeping him until then.
Poor Chicken Laulau is on a very different diet now, and he sure misses the cherries and grapes and rice and and pasta "worm" treats that I fed him. I know he feels like he's in jail, since his living quarters are quite different than what he's used to...
However, I love him and am committed to him. He's 3 years old now. As soon as we can make something safe for a habitat, we'll be flying him over to the island we live on now. YES, that is how much my husband loves me, to let me fly my crazy killer chicken here to our new home. THAT means my husband has to fly to go get him. Nuts, huh? I can hear my clients already, "Is that a ROOSTER?"
By the way, Chicken Laulau is excellent for security. He makes noise when car doors open and close, when he hears noises. We like that part. But the crowing! He crows all hours! However, given our old neighborhood, there were chickens all over that neighborhood. When one would crow, they'd *all* crow. How about this: We'd wake up in the middle of the night and turn on say a bathroom light or even open the fridge - he'd crow. You get the idea.
Why couldn't we have found a little *female* chick???
I should've gotten fancy pigeons.
My husband says this: "It's all fun and games until someone gets their eye pecked out."
I don't envy your position at all. All the best of luck to you!
(Edited for spelling.-KC)
