Re-homing Roosters Suggestions

[Fur-N-Fowl]

I take birds to the auction near here, and NEVER bring any birds home! I also wear other clothes and shoes, and wash everything when I get home. It helps to put signs on the cages describing your birds, and hang around to talk to interested shoppers.
Mary

That's a good point that I never mentioned in my post!

It is important not to wander straight in with your birds at home after being around/handling birds that are at auctions.

With auctions, unfortunately there is people that sell sick birds, sometimes it may not show physically in them though.

I'd also recommend wearing old clothing and shoes as @Folly's place says. You don't want to end up passing anything into your birds at home.

If you do go to an auction and something catches your eye, ask the auctioneers who the seller is. You may then be able to visit that breeders home and pick birds which you know haven't been in an auction environment and less chance of them picking something up. You can also then see the conditions they've been kept in.

Putting a little note/info on birds you are selling at the auction is a good idea too.

Good luck with getting them a new home

 

[cmom]

We have a great time at our Farm Swaps. We have been doing it for many years so people know about it and a lot of new chicken owners or people planning on getting chickens come to check it out.
https://ocala.craigslist.org/grd/d/dunnellon-dunnellon-tractor-supply-co/6914838486.html

 

[Helloworld]

I would just put them down.
Craigslist is not a bad place. A lot of people buy small batches of roos to eat. Others will buy large batches to fight. I sell my show Marans on there as well. I do not use Facebook. I take some to swaps couple times a year but thats more about handing out business cards and meeting new people. I raise finished sets, pullets, cockerels and straight run so I have a variety of ages to suit people’s level of experience and budget. So much fun!

 

[cmom]

I agree, I also have shoes that I wear only around my birds on my property. I have work clothes I wear when at home and other clothes and shoes when I go off the property. Also when I take birds to sell, I also put hay in the bottom of the cage so if I do end up taking any birds back home they haven't been exposed to other things. Most of the time I sell everything I take.

 

[cmom]

Here most people buy males for breeding. Once in awhile some will be sold to eat. Many birds are dual purpose.

 

[roosterhavoc]

When it comes to rehoming roosters I'm always afraid the person who takes them will put them in a fighting ring. Perhaps that's less of a problem outside the Southwest where misguided people consider it "sport". But it's really a worry for me.

I'd put a roo down before I'd risk that trauma.

Speaking of misguided. Why does everyone say this??? This is total BS. If they were going to do it they would use birds bred for that purpose not some backyard layer rooster. You’d have a better chance of someone strapping a jet pack on the rooster and taking a trip to the moon then using a fluffy layer breed for illegal means. Facts folks instead of spreading rumors.

 

[roosterhavoc]

I would just put them down.
Craigslist is not a bad place. A lot of people buy small batches of roos to eat. Others will buy large batches to fight.

Omg. Seriously. I’d bet you have zero proof of what you’re saying.

 

[cmom]

I do have a fellow that will buy all of my males. He does resell them. Most of my birds are not pets though I have had and have some special birds. I show my birds so I breed for perfection. I grow all of my chicks out to adulthood. I pick out the best and sell some. It helps with the feed costs. I have had as many as around 500 birds but currently around 300. I cut down on my hatching. I will end up with about 150 of which many will go into my general population coops and pens, and most will be potential show quality. I do watch as they are growing for potential breeders. I can't keep them all. I sell a lot of birds to people who are mainly wanting birds for eggs but they like a pretty bird and there is a difference between hatchery birds and birds from a breeder. There are many pretty birds available through hatcheries but they don't breed to perfection.

 

[quackersandfern]

Why do they need to be rehomed? Can you start a bachelor flock instead?

Have you tried contacting your local animal shelter?

 

[cmom]

I separate my males before they get too interested in the females and my young males go into bachelor coops and pens. They don't fight as long as there are no females. I have done some flock breeding in the past where I had 2 or 3 males in with some females. I have had it where the males have picked on one of the males and I remove the one being picked on. I pick out the best for breeding and sell the rest.