What to look for when rehoming a rooster - Decision Made!

[Marlinchaser]

Quote:
How many extra roosters do you have available.

 

[Lensters]

Ok, let's try to be realistic here. What makes this rooster worth enough to put feed into for 6,8,10 years? Why is he better than the half a million roosters that make the trip to freezer camp daily?

If you really want him to live out his life, you are going to have to be the one responsible for him. That will mean keeping him or paying someone to board him. Boarding won't be cheap because as you know too many roosters causes fights, not to mention the poor hens get torn up by the roosters constantly mounting them. So you'll need to pay for someone to build a few coops and runs to house these roos.

Since you'll more than likely end up getting a few more roos, if you plan to keep getting hens (packing peanuts, sexing errors or ones you hatch) you might as well build a couple of coops for these roosters. Make sure that you have enough coops and runs so you can separate the ones that don't get along. Or maybe you should just give him to someone who is willing to take care of your problem humanely in exchange for the nutrition that they will get from him. Just don't expect other people to solve your problems for you, life doesn't work that way.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Wow, we're a cynical bunch, aren't we? Or perhaps we're just realists. I wonder if the reason you saw mostly bantam roos at this place is because they're the only ones too small for them to bother processing.

I'm curious also about how they can manage to be a working ranch with a large flock of chickens who also take in other folks' unwanted roosters as a form of community service and not dispense with any birds that don't contribute to their production. Unless they're just letting them free-range & scratch up their own food until the next bag of feed gets donated.

To answer your question, you should look for how these birds are being housed & fed. Do they all have a place in a secure coop to spend each night? Or are they allowed to roost in the treetops and get picked off by predators? Are all the roosters given feed to meet most of their needs or just the producing hens?

I know it's tough to find a home for a rooster you cannot keep, especially if he's a nice handsome guy that you really like. But the reality is that since even with a mixed flock the ideal ratio is 1:10, and with many flocks kept with only hens, that there are job positions as flock husbands, breeders, & pets for about 10% of all roosters hatched. That leaves 90% of all roosters with their purpose on a plate. Look at all the posts for free roosters on the Buy/Sell/Trade board. Sometimes you can't even give them away, not even for food.

But really, there are worse things that can happen to a rooster than to nourish a grateful human family. Some folks just sell/give away their roos with a "don't ask/don't tell" policy. But I'd prefer to know if someone planned to process my roos, and look for people who would at least treat the bird humanely right up until the end, who knew what they were doing so the end would be quick & efficient. I always tell folks who want to give me their roosters what my intentions are for their birds. If this rancher plans to process your rooster he should at least be honest about it.

 

[Barry]

Quote:
How many extra roosters do you have available.

None at the moment.

 

[mandelyn]

I keep however many nice, sweet, friendly roosters as I can. If I have extras, I advertise how friendly they are. Usually, a pet home will show up. If not, or if the rooster is less than friendly... well then once he's not mine, his future is in the hands of the new people. There's just too many and their needs too great to worry about each one finding a forever home. Did I mention they don't lay eggs?

If finding the perfect home is a must, you're better off building him a house than rehoming him, so that you know that rooster has a place.

 

[The Zoo]

Ok - to answer some of the questions. This is a ranch for foster children so not technically a 'working' ranch. They have kids who live on their ranch, attend school and help out with the animals. Though they do raise cattle and goats and sell the eggs. It's very Christian based and I met the owner and he seems to be a very good sort.

They don't advertise that they take unwanted chickens, I found out by telling my story when I was buying a large dog crate for my rooster and the lady told me to call this feed store and the guy there told me to call this ranch and talk to them.

I can come by any time I want to check on the rooster and any of the other chickens. He never pressured me to bring my roo by, I told him we were still trying to decide what to do. He only mentioned a 'small bag of feed' to help out at the end. A $10 bag of feed is a small price to pay.

They have a secure coop and covered outdoor pen - the pen is larger than my front yard and there's a big coop. If I had to guess I'd say he had about 100+ chickens. They also are allowed out to free range for an hour or two each day. They are NOT pets though a sweet BO came up to him and chirped until he picked her up. I know that by giving my roo to him I run the risk of him dying from something that wouldn't happen to him at my place.

He made a point of telling me that they don't eat any of the animals from the farm - what they can't sell for pets or milking go to market, but they never eat them themselves.

They are called Hosana's Boys Ranch and they're in all counties in the Bay Area - my husband's grandmother knew of the organization because she used to foster kids. They've been around for over 30 years.

Like any place they do have trouble with predators (we have coyote, moutain lion and raccoons around here) but they don't seem negligent. So either my boy can go to this place and be more like a 'rooster' not a pet or he can stay here, have a longer more spoiled life, be viewed as a pet but never have a huge amount of room. I won't put him out with my older girls again.

If the chickens appear healthy - all scratching around, eating, clucking, active, etc then I am to assume that they are healthy? I didn't see any that didn't look it and I stodd in front of the pen a long time.

 

[The Zoo]

Quote:
What I am looking for is advice on how to tell if this guy is running a good and healthy coop. I have chosen to take him at his word that they don't eat the animals they take in. I am NOT asking other people to solve my problems - I am asking for ADVICE from people who I hope are more knowledgeable than me about what a coop/chickens should look like on a large scale. I have 1 roo and 3 hens and I know what MY flock looks like and how to tell if they're healthy and well. I do not, however, have any experience with a larger flock.

 

[ivan3]

The Zoo wrote: I am asking for ADVICE from people who I hope are more knowledgeable than me about what a coop/chickens should look like on a large scale.

If the chickens appear healthy - all scratching around, eating, clucking, active, etc then I am to assume that they are healthy? I didn't see any that didn't look it and I stodd in front of the pen a long time.

No obvious injuries/illness/unthriftiness/none dead in the water or feces piled up, yes?

Your roo might just be getting lucky. For probably 99% of roos there is no vetting of the `forever home'. Just smiling fate showing up out back, in response to an ad posted in the feed store, lauding the handsomeness of the boy and expressing excitement over all those `lonely hens' that will be so happy to see him...

Two hours later he's being served up in a casserole decorated around the sides by little hens in relief...

Sounds like you've done more than your due diligence.​

 

[mightieskeeper]

I wanted a Roo for my Dominique's. I paid 10 bucks for a very nice cockerel. But I drove 3 hours to get him. I'm glad I like him!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Quote:
Sounds like your roo is getting a good place for himself, and that your judgement is sound. You know how to tell when your small flock is healthy & well, so multiply that by about 35 and you'll know what to look for in this larger flock. If all the birds are looking/acting/eating/scratching/seeming all right, then they probably are. Trouble signs would be birds looking thin & raggedy, acting lethargic or skittish, if the place looked dirty or smelled bad. This sounds like a nice place and it's great that kids in foster care get a chance to experience farm living.

The request for feed donation makes more sense now, and they are being honest with you. You know they personally won't butcher your rooster for their table, but you know there's a chance they'll send him to market. I hope things work out well for everyone involved in this transaction.