Suggestions for rehoming to a good home

[vanillachai]

Unfortunately, due to life events I may have to rehome most or all of my flock in a few months. I care about them very much and want them to at least go to loving homes if it does turn out that I can't keep them. Does anyone have suggestions for rehoming? Chickens are easily abused and I want to avoid letting them go to a bad home. I'm just not sure how to go about making sure of that. Is it okay to ask to drop them off myself and see their new living conditions? And to ask for photo updates for a while? Or is that too much? I've heard I shouldn't give them away for free since that encourages abusive/ill-intent owners to pick them up.

Thank you! Your thoughts and experiences are very appreciated.

 

[besorto]

I'd recommend asking for a small rehoming fee for each bird. A free bird is often seen as a disposable bird! Dropping them off yourself also sounds great. Asking for pictures updates isn't too much either. I still send pictures to the woman I adopted my cat from 3 years ago .

 

[bobbi-j]

I think asking for photo updates is a bit much, unless you're paying the new owner to take them... Once they leave your possession, they are no longer your birds, and you no longer have a say in what happens to them. You could ask for a small rehoming fee. It might work. Dropping them off yourself would give you an idea of what their new home would be like. If you don't like it, you're planning to drive off with your chickens? Good luck - I hope you can keep them, but if you can't, that you'll find the kind of place you're looking for.

 

[BantyChooks]

Do you have any friends that would take them? x2 on bobbi's post.

 

[sfgwife]

I kinda lol at the ......Once they leave your possession, they are no longer your birds, and you no longer have a say in what happens to them

Cause ABSOLUTELY yes! We have been lookin for goats and gah how many people put in the ad... not for meat or not to be eaten.... welp ok now the person knows what NOT to say to you. Lol! And sorry but if i am payin for an animal they are ours to do what we please with them. No we do not abuse ours but geez to try tell us what to do with em when we paid for them or even if they were free... newp newp newp.


And OP @vanillachai what bobbi said. You cannot dictate to someone else how the animal is to be treated or dealt with once they are no longer yours. And yes asking for pics is over the top. Even delivering them is a too much imo. I am not gonna let anyone come inspect our property to make sure it is within their standards because our acceptible standards for our livestock may not mean the same thing as yours. Again no we do not mistreat or abuse our animals but they are livestock not pets. We will even pay a small fee for excess roosters to bring home just to process... once the deal is done they are no longer your birds period and you have absolutely no say in anything about them. While i am sure you are not happy with my answer it is what it is... and how most people feel even if they wont say it.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

If you see these chickens as pets, I think it is perfectly fine to drop them off and ask for updates. I know I would, if I ever have to give away my chickens. Asking for a rehoming fee would definitely help to make sure they went to good homes, instead of becoming dinner. Also, make sure the people that take them will view them as pets, as most backyard farms will slaughter any extra roosters or hens that have stopped laying.

 

[pennyJo1960]

How about adding a local so we would know it we wanted the birds

 

[Teila]

I hope I can explain this the right way.

First up, I am so very sorry to hear that you may have to rehome your pets and sorry also that I agree that once you have made the decision to rehome them, they become the responsibility of their new owners, not your responsibility.

I too would be a little jaded if a previous owner wanted pictures of my chickens to show that I was taking care of them properly. Especially if the previous owner had made the decision to give said chickens up.

Is there no way you can keep them? We recently moved 1,400kms [870 miles] and because I was not leaving my gals, I flew them to our new home. If I could not take them with me, I was not going!

While I understand that not everyone is prepared to do that due to the cost and planning required etc, but I wonder, if before giving your flock away, you have explored all available options to keep them?

I definitely do not want to pry in to your personal affairs but if you are willing to explain further why you need to rehome them, someone may have an option you had not thought of to keep them?

If you do have to rehome them, for your own sanity, you will need to cut the cord! Worrying about whether they are being taken care of, are they happy, where are they now, have they been eaten etc will do you head in

 

[bobbi-j]

If you see these chickens as pets, I think it is perfectly fine to drop them off and ask for updates. I know I would, if I ever have to give away my chickens. Asking for a rehoming fee would definitely help to make sure they went to good homes, instead of becoming dinner. Also, make sure the people that take them will view them as pets, as most backyard farms will slaughter any extra roosters or hens that have stopped laying.

Of course a person can ask for pictures, updates, and to drop them off, but in a situation where one HAS TO get rid of their birds, such requirements would make it a lot harder.

I am a chicken keeper that processes extra cockerels and spent hens. That does not mean for a minute that they do not have a "good home". I think they live very good lives, up until one bad moment that lasts less than half a minute. Their end is swift and humane, which in my opinion, can be kinder than keeping them hanging on when they're old, crippled and possibly having digestive or reproductive issues.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Of course a person can ask for pictures, updates, and to drop them off, but in a situation where one HAS TO get rid of their birds, such requirements would make it a lot harder.

I am a chicken keeper that processes extra cockerels and spent hens. That does not mean for a minute that they do not have a "good home". I think they live very good lives, up until one bad moment that lasts less than half a minute. Their end is swift and humane, which in my opinion, can be kinder than keeping them hanging on when they're old, crippled and possibly having digestive or reproductive issues.

I don't know about the OP, but I, for one, would never re-home my pets to someone I think would eat them. Even if it meant I had to drive a long ways to find them a home.