What do you do with cockerels that you can’t keep?

[Apis mellifera]

If your concerned about the placement of the rooster you could sell him in a trio or as a pair. Your more likely to place him if he comes with a hen or hens. Most of my extra roos are processed but ones that are eye catching get sold as trios and I have no problem selling them.

 

[Lilokieescorter]

I you can also try Facebook, they should have a group for rehomeing may be able to help

 

[TsBurks]

I’m not sure where to post this, sorry if this isn’t the right place. But I have a 7 week old Olive Egger cockerel. He did a cute little baby voice CHICK A DOODLE DOO this morning. Not loud, but it was obvious. We cannot have roosters where we live. I have posted him on Craigslist, various local chicken/farm groups on FB, and MeWe. The humane society here doesn’t take “livestock”. I do not know what to do with this bird. I’d rather if he didn’t go to someone that was going to eat him (he’s so small anyway), but I’m getting desperate. I did find a rooster rescue group, but they require you to forfeit your entire flock and sign a contract saying you’ll never get more chickens and basically commit to being vegan . I know lots of folks on here have ended up with accidental cockerels - what did you end up doing?

I need a Rooster, wished I could get him and that would solve both our problems!

 

[jonalisa]

I’m not sure where to post this, sorry if this isn’t the right place. But I have a 7 week old Olive Egger cockerel. He did a cute little baby voice CHICK A DOODLE DOO this morning. Not loud, but it was obvious. We cannot have roosters where we live. I have posted him on Craigslist, various local chicken/farm groups on FB, and MeWe. The humane society here doesn’t take “livestock”. I do not know what to do with this bird. I’d rather if he didn’t go to someone that was going to eat him (he’s so small anyway), but I’m getting desperate. I did find a rooster rescue group, but they require you to forfeit your entire flock and sign a contract saying you’ll never get more chickens and basically commit to being vegan . I know lots of folks on here have ended up with accidental cockerels - what did you end up doing?

If you have any farms near you, I would start there. I got an accidental rooster a few years ago and my neighbors sent an envoy to my front door to tell me they asked a local farm to take my rooster. The farm said yes, then the neighbor came to me asking me to rehome it... And I did. I was grateful actually and made a small donation to the farm.
If you find a farm, maybe you could buy a couple of months worth of feed to go with it, as an incentive? Also I would ask in person rather than call.

 

[jonalisa]

I guess nobody likes taking things out in the country where there's plenty of food for it in the woods and stuff and dropping it off near a water supply so it can drink. I do that all the time still see several birds I let loose run across these 120 acre fields at times.

Yeah, sorry, in my mind that kind of sucks.

 

[Xouie]

I was hoping to find an Asian restaurant with it on the menu, but so far no luck. I've found them frozen in a couple stores, but they looked really freezer burned.

If you’re looking on an English menu, you’re less likely to find it. If you did, I think it would be called “black skin chicken” and served as soup (I’ve never seen it any other way). And it is ex-pen-sive!! Like wedding banquet $$$$.

 

[Cave Creek Chicken Mama]

I would take him also, but I'm sure you're not near Cave Creek, AZ? My rooster is a rescue, he was evicted nearby, we love him, but we are lucky, we can have him here, NO HOA, at all Best of luck,,,,,,I wouldn't eat him, no way, but I am a vegetarian!! I hope this works out best for both of you......

 

[jonalisa]

Lots of (mostly) good ideas already in this thread. Throwing out options I haven’t seen mentioned

Some additional places to post are next door and offer up.

You could try taking him flea market that allows animal sales (ours here does)
I’ve seen people mention getting their roosters certified as therapy animals so they can keep them regardless of an ordinance.

You could try and get the ordinance changed.

You could keep him as a house chicken. (Not as crazy as it sounds I swear)

You could talk to your neighbors and see if they would mind you having him... In my opion roosters aren’t really louder than dogs and maybe your neighbors don’t care. If they don’t mind then possibly no one would report you Especially if you have him sleep in a crate inside or in a garage.

At any rate you could print out a letter explaining you got an accidental rooster and that your trying to find a home for him and pass it out to your neighbors. This could encourage them to ignore any temporary crowing and maybe among them there is someone who knows someone who’d want him.

Good luck finding a solution your comfortable with.

This is a good idea and maybe try this first?

 

[DA in AZ]

I will take him if you li

I’m not sure where to post this, sorry if this isn’t the right place. But I have a 7 week old Olive Egger cockerel. He did a cute little baby voice CHICK A DOODLE DOO this morning. Not loud, but it was obvious. We cannot have roosters where we live. I have posted him on Craigslist, various local chicken/farm groups on FB, and MeWe. The humane society here doesn’t take “livestock”. I do not know what to do with this bird. I’d rather if he didn’t go to someone that was going to eat him (he’s so small anyway), but I’m getting desperate. I did find a rooster rescue group, but they require you to forfeit your entire flock and sign a contract saying you’ll never get more chickens and basically commit to being vegan . I know lots of folks on here have ended up with accidental cockerels - what did you end up doing?

I will take him if you live in AZ.

 

[Marie Helen]

I’m not sure where to post this, sorry if this isn’t the right place. But I have a 7 week old Olive Egger cockerel. He did a cute little baby voice CHICK A DOODLE DOO this morning. Not loud, but it was obvious. We cannot have roosters where we live. I have posted him on Craigslist, various local chicken/farm groups on FB, and MeWe. The humane society here doesn’t take “livestock”. I do not know what to do with this bird. I’d rather if he didn’t go to someone that was going to eat him (he’s so small anyway), but I’m getting desperate. I did find a rooster rescue group, but they require you to forfeit your entire flock and sign a contract saying you’ll never get more chickens and basically commit to being vegan . I know lots of folks on here have ended up with accidental cockerels - what did you end up doing?

I hope you don't mind but I've shared this on FB - I hope he finds a nuce new home where he can enjoy life with his own young ladies