Sad Day...Cockerel In Need Of A Home

[Ryback530]

Does anyone know where I can post to try and rehome a 5 week old cockerel Barred Rock? Unfortunately I live in the city and roosters are prohibited. I would rather not have to surrender him to the county because they will just put him down. Any input would be much appreciated. Located in Sacramento CA

 

[danceswithronin]

I think I will just turn it loose and let it take its chances. If I Surrender it to the county not only will they charge me a lot of money to put it down but they will put it down. Everybody thinks every bird in California is infected with Newcastle disease

Don't release it, animal abandonment is a crime in most states for one thing, and feral livestock is bad for the environment. Just kill it if you aren't willing to put in the time to rehome it. It is easy enough to just rehome for free on Craigslist or Facebook though.

Besides that, it is cruel to just let a domesticated animal loose to be a stray and fend for itself, most of them starve to death or die in bad circumstances. It isn't fair to the animal, it doesn't deserve to suffer a lingering death and terror just because it isn't the right gender.

 

[wyoDreamer]

To just "LET IT LOOSE" is very irresponsible. Then it becomes someone else's problem to deal with. If you cannot find it a home, then butcher it and eat it.

 

[Acre4Me]

Sorry about the unexpected male chick - I've had this happen too from "sexed" female chicks.

just fyi, there are quarantines in place in southern CA. I'm not sure how far it extends or if any changes have taken place as the Newcastle disease has spread outside of CA. But moving poultry and eggs has some restrictions in CA.

here is a link: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/Newcastle_Disease_Info.html

 

[moniquem]

Craigslist and you don't always have the right to say what happens to the little guy in his new home.

I think I will just turn it loose and let it take its chances.

Please don't do this....it would be better if you just dispatched him yourself.

 

[jolenesdad]

If you were going to release it, you just are sentencing it to die anyway. It’s a domesticated animal, especially after being raised in your brooder for weeks. It has had no animal teach it how to survive in the wild. It’s 100% more humane to turn it in to be dispatched or give it away to be eaten if that’s what your resigning yourself to do is just put it out on the street.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but chicken keeping is tough realities sometimes. All of your hens that you bought sexed just mean that a boy chick for about every hen was euthanized at a day old for you to be able to get that sexed female.

Try Craigslist I have never had a problem. Stress that you have hand raised this bird and a family in the country will likely take it.

 

[HenHouse4Life]

Did you post this on your state's thread also? Maybe you can find someone local on there to take him.
Good luck!

 

[danceswithronin]

Craigslist and you don't always have the right to say what happens to the little guy in his new home.



Please don't do this....it would be better if you just dispatched him yourself.

I put my last cockerel up on Craigslist for free, saying I hoped he would go to a pet home but that I wouldn't be adverse to someone eating him if they wanted to. Rehomed him in two days to a guy who put him with a rooster-less layer flock.

 

[Animalfisherwoman]

Many pounds will take surrendered animals for free if you say you just found it in your yard. That, or drop it off at the pound after hours if you don't want to deal with paperwork at all.

 

[CaramelKittey]

I wish I could take him but I’m all the way out in NJ!

Maybe you can get a nice farm in the country and get a ton of chickens! That’s what my parents did! (Different reasons though)

Sorry about your rooster.