What do you do with a roo (when you're not allowed to have one)?

[TheOvoOffice]

I have my first six chickens and live in an urban area (Washington, DC). Although I bought all six chicks sexed from My Pet Chicken, I am anxious that 2 of my six might turn out to be roos. They are about to turn 7 weeks old so it's a little early, and from what I am reading on this very helpful forum, one of the two breeds are kind of notoriously difficult to tell until later (it's a Light Brahma, and her comb is coming in quite red, she has developed no back feathers yet, and her tail feathers are just beginning to grow). The other is a Speckled Sussex who has very pointy tail feathers.

So, what do I do if one (or both!) turn out to be a roo?! I started reaching out to some area farms but so far no one is interested. If I have a roo, I need to remove it RIGHT AWAY (as in, the moment I hear a crow, that animal has to be taken away or I kind of put my whole chicken situation in jeopardy). Does anyone have suggestions on how to rehome a roo? I wouldn't be able to kill them because I love them too much, but I also understand that if it goes to a farm for meat, that will have to be ok. (Bonus points if you have any suggestions for the DC area!!!)

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Hello and welcome to BYC!
You could try listing on Craigslist, or Facebook. And here's a link where you can find your state thread and maybe get some advice from peeps in your area.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/find-your-states-thread.270925/

Good luck too and I hope you end up with all hens!

 

[TheOvoOffice]

Awesome! Thanks, Fields Mountain Farm! That's super helpful and I post there!

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Awesome! Thanks, Fields Mountain Farm! That's super helpful and I post there!

You are very welcome!

 

[CJreef]

I too hope that you have all hens. We live in PA and our local feed mill will accept roosters for rehoming. You may want to reach out to feed mills in Maryland or Virginia where there would be many farms and/or rural families who would need/want a roo. Brahmas are delightful and a Brahma roo would no doubt make a gentle pet, unlike many other breeds. Best of luck.

 

[MissChick@dee]

It might be worth the google search to look for Rooster Rescue programs in your area. Chickens in the urban backyard is kind of a trend right now. I’m sure there’s others in the same boat where you live. Good luck

 

[TheOvoOffice]

Oh wow! I hadn't thought of Rooster Rescue as an option! A Googling I Go! Thank you!

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

If you are not allowed to keep cockerels/cocks where you live don’t try to keep them! It won’t work. Either rehome or process accidental/excess males.

 

[TheOvoOffice]

Oh I definitely won't try to keep it if it's a roo - no matter how attached I may be (already!) doing so would put my whole flock at risk and it's just not worth it! I feel like the moment I hear a crow and figure out who it was, I literally need to take off of work and remove that chicken that same day.

 

[JedJackson]

Great advice so far. Going around to local feed stores or tractor supply centers is also a good idea. Or just calling works, too. Ask the employees at these places if they might know of anyone interested in your breed of cockerel, and ask if they have a bulletin board where you could post a note. I've had good luck doing that and it is a whole lot safer than Craigslist, in my opinion.