What to do with chickens you don't want....

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Well I cull (send to freezer camp) any cockerel who is not up to "my standard" - be that standard APA or my own design. I also hatch, hoping for cockerels to fill my freezer - pullets I can sell at POL. If I think the cockerel is a really good example of his breed, I will advertise him and sell him (if I do not keep him myself).

I DO have a few "pet" cockerels/roosters - who have stormed my poorly protected heart and will live with me until they pass - but they are few and far between. One of these roosters has never lived with a hen - he has always lived with another rooster - some might think that is a sad life, but he enjoys it.

If you like this cockerel, do you have another cockerel or a silkie pullet/hen you are not planning on breeding (maybe using her as a broody)? If so build them their own place and keep him. I have a little red bantam cochin - I rarely ever hatch her eggs - she is not to standard and does not need to pass that on to any offspring BUT she is a fantastic broody who will glady hatch any egg I place under her.

 

[jjthink]

You have a good heart - you are trying to have this work out well for the little guy.

A flyer in your local feed store and in vets offices that treat farm animals and/or birds as well as contacting any 4-H groups that may be in yuor area might find a decent home for your little guy. I personally don't adopt anybody out unless I verify to the best of my ability that he/she is going to a good home and for me this includes a site visit but I am just speaking for myself so I can sleep well at night. Too many kooks out there for me to rest easy - dinner is one thing, torture quite another.
Hope it all works out for you and he.
JJ

 

[millie481]

Don't forget about Craigslist!

 

[Northwood Silkies]

Yep, Tried Craigslist and Bestfarmbuys but no responses and our local feed store don't have a bulletin board to place ads. I wish I did have a extra hen to place with him in a separate pen but I don't and I don't even have a extra pen plus it's getting quite cold here in Michigan to start building anything for him.
Just don't have any extra $$ right now to build anything with Christmas and a birthday coming up in Dec. This is the second time I have listed him on here in the auctions for free. I even offered shipping. I had some interest on him but the one deal fell through and I never heard back from anyone else.

 

[lotzahenz]

I have a Rooster Garden, it's sad all that work, but it has to be. This time I found an Amish meat processer for charged only $2 per bird and I have a freezer full of wonderful culled roos. I left my one and only silkie roo at home though, I just couldn't eat him, YET. I thought he might be boney too, just my excuse though.

 

[gingernutranger]

Is there a local auction? I can bring my birds and they go through vet check then you go inside and tell them what you brought then give them you info and they send the checks in the mail. You dont even have to stay. I got $15 for each one time!

 

[Ibicella]

Yes, I do cull any excess. Cockerels are favorites of mine for recipes.

Do you have any farm animal rescues around? You could possibly try that.

 

[Northwood Silkies]

The local auction is about an hour away and to be honest I don't really want to travel that far just for one chicken. Wish there was a closer one.

 

[teach1rusl]

If you explored your other options, then there are worse things than a quick death... Those things look like muppets to me, so personally I couldn't eat it (unless I was starving).

 

[Northwood Silkies]

LOL teach1rusl