OK...I definitely am heavy on the cockeral side of my last few hatches. They are wonderful little guys - purebred Wheaten Ameraucanas. I have tried to sell them on CL, and even here, for $5 each, with no takers. Well...that's not true. I did sell a couple @ 6 - 8 weeks ago that were from my first hatch this year. But I have @ 6 that would love a good home. So, yesterday my gate is open and this pleasant man drives up with his wife & teenage daughter. Wife doesn't speak English, and husband essentially translates what she is asking. They wanted eggs (I was out), and asked if I ever sell chickens. I said I do, but that all I have available right now are roosters. He says that's what they want. So I obviously assume he wants to eat them, and show him the non-show-quality 9-wk-old boys. He wants two, and will be back to buy them on Friday. I don't have an issue with them being eaten. I'm a farm girl, I know what livestock is "for". Obviously, I would rather they got a flock of their own and lived a long happy life, but I know that won't happen for all of them. My main question is... Do you ever check into how the cockerals will be taken care of until they go to "freezer camp"? Or am I just nutty? It isn't the possibility they will be eaten that concerns me, so much as how they will be cared for until that point. They have a pretty good life here. Would it be reasonable to ask what kind of set-up they have for them? I mean, they aren't ready to eat, yet...they are still pretty small. Not much bigger than a cornish game hen right now. Any thoughts, wisdom, suggestions?
Hmmm... Tough one! I don't think that it would be unreasonable to ask what kind of setup they have. I mean, around here, there are foriegn people that keep chickens in the kitchen cabinets, so I would definitely ask if you have any doubt! As far as checking up... I don't know. I usually do, but sometimes people never respond. And I only check on the ones that I know are going to be breeders or layers. I ask not to be told if they are being eaten. LOL... Hope this helps and that someone else will jump in!
I guess it depends on if you have any "special" roosters. I'd probably ask what they are doing with it, just so I could be sure that if it was being eaten, it was one I was okay with that. Or, if they want one for a pet, maybe I would give them one that i knew to be nicer or was a favorite.
I've come to the conclusion that I just wouldn't sell them. What you said is exactly the reason why. It's not the idea they'll be eaten. But how will they be killed? How much stress will they be under and how painful will it be? And what kind of crappy life are they going to have up until that point?? I'm just not going to hatch any out. Honestly-I don't trust most people to take decent care of an animal once it leaves my hands. So it won't leave.
We have a huge foreign student population here in southern Illinois and have sold lambs for sacrifice ( and for celebrations like easter), chickens, roos and ducks to them thru the years. I never batted an eye. My birds and animals up to that point had an above average existence and if you ever saw a ram for sacrifice with multiple knives being used, it was like artwork in motion. They highly respect their animals and kill them with skill and gratitude. I figure I could've taken my surplus animals to the local auction and got market value or less for them. If they come out to my farm I can haggle a little and both parties are satisfied. Once they know you have well raised, nice cockerals and surplus animals and chickens for sale, you will have repeat customers. If they want to put them in a cabinet and feed them scraps, they still probably have a better existence than battery raised hens.
Thanks for the replies. At least I don't feel totally odd for wanting to make sure their life after here isn't miserable. I have made a conscious effort not to form an attachment with these little guys. I already have my flock roo and 2 henchmen in case anything ever happens to papa, so I know I don't intend to keep the other boys forever. Watchdogps - I do think I will ask. I didn't want to, as I just assumed they would eat them, but perhaps they do just want a roo around for bug control and a lawn ornament. Probably a long shot, but one should never assume. flowerchild - You are tougher than I. I don't think I would want to sell them as a sacrifice. I'm a farm girl, but I'm a wimpy farm girl. Food, fine - wasted death, not so much. So...I suppose I will ask about it. I may feel a little dumb, but oh, well. They're mine. And I don't know these people, so what do I care if they think I'm dumb?!
Until I get the plucker built all of my surplus cock birds go to the swaps and it's nearly always the ethnic market that buys them. Except for a cage of birds that were only four months old I'm sure most of them ended up in the pot within a few days. The younger birds the fellow said he was gong to feed them out a while and we talked about how best to do that.
I kinda like to think of it this way: If these folks are buying roos to eat, surely they will make sure they are feed well and clean until they process them. I know all folks don't have the same standards on the cleanliness of their food, but I like to think they do.
