What if you get a roo?

[Killer Tomato]

I could never slaughter a chicken, for it is illegal in my small town and we have to get a permit
And... we don't know how to.
S I'd just send him to a local farm...

I've never done it either, but I have neighbors right next door who could help me in an emergency situation if needed. I'd hate to have one of mine suffering from a fatal attack, and be unable to dispatch with dignity (or worse, screw it up, and inflict more pain/suffering, or chop off my thumb).

Our closest poultry vet is more than an hour away, so having a backup plan was important to me.

After the gash down my nose, the neighbors kept asking me if I "needed any *help* with my rooster!" lol.

 

[AnimalGeek23]

Whoa, I just realized that this thread is featured!

 

[MissChick@dee]

View attachment 1584983
The scar on my nose is shaped like male genitalia, and over an inch long. The ugly scab was there for a week. It is just coincidence that I have a red Sharpie on my shirt that moment.

I was COMPLETELY cured of any "oooo, I'll keep him no matter what" feelings.

You may laugh -- the Weiner scar is a hilarious leftover of Dennis, the rooster!

(ps Bobbi-J and I are now BFFs)

I remember when you first posted that pic. Every time there’s a OP with small children who wants to “rehab” a rooster you should post that and say....he missed my eye by thissss much! Seriously ~ right?

 

[MissChick@dee]

I could never slaughter a chicken, for it is illegal in my small town and we have to get a permit
And... we don't know how to.
S I'd just send him to a local farm...

Dunno my husbands from NY state. And when grandma wanted dinner the chicken didn’t ask to see his permit.

 

[MissChick@dee]

People will take your Roo’s for fighting....inexperienced young roosters are used for practice. I’d rather cull them swiftly with mercy. And have them provide food.

 

[AnimalGeek23]

Dunno my husbands from NY state. And when grandma wanted dinner the chicken didn’t ask to see his permit.

I contacted the council and they said that I needed a permit? I’m from Scarsdale so I don’t know if the rules are different.

 

[BantyChooks]

So, you’ve just ordered chicks online or went to your local supply store and carried home chicks.
Of course, sexing young chicks can be very difficult, so there’s a 50% that you got the sex you wanted.
Few months later, after all the work and they’re finally out of the brooder, you realize one of them is a cockerel. You cannot keep a roo. Other than rehoming, what would you do?

I just want to see what you guys would do if that happened to you.

I hatch my own, so I get about 60% roosters. I eat some, and give some away.

I can have roosters, so I keep a bunch, but if I couldn't, I'd eat it if rehoming wasn't an option for some reason. Other than that, there's nothing you really CAN do. "Releasing them into the wild" or whatnot is inhumane.

 

[BantyChooks]

I contacted the council and they said that I needed a permit? I’m from Scarsdale so I don’t know if the rules are different.

Is that for just one bird, or for a butchering operation? The idea of needing a permit seems strange to me, but hey, I don't know even your general area.

 

[microchick]

What would I do with a rooster....hmmmm. Have a hard time wrapping my head around that. I have 12 standard sized birds, two of which are roosters and approximately 48 bantams and bantam crosses (they never hold still long enough for me to get a good count) Half of them are roosters/cockerels. So somewhere around 30 males?

They say the ratio of males to females in a hatch can be 50/50. Mine are more like 75/25 with the males being the 75. I claim God in His infinite wisdom must know that I like roosters because He keeps hatching out more of them for me to deal with.

I'd sure try to rehome the poor boy first and foremost. Put an ad on BYC, put up a picture and ad in the local community bulletin board or buy an add in the local penny press. And if you don't mind somebody else eating the lad, say something like, "great with hens or invite him to Sunday dinner as the main course!" If you have to resort to it say FREE ROOSTER!.

If you are not adverse to having somebody else butcher him, offer him as such. His life will have a purpose even then.

Good Luck!

 

[bobbi-j]

I contacted the council and they said that I needed a permit? I’m from Scarsdale so I don’t know if the rules are different.

Different places have different rules. Know anyone who lives out of city limits that would let you process a bird there? Or a butcher shop that would do it for you?