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

[The Zoo]

The chickens were all active, scratching around, eating, the little banty roosters were strutting (it was hilarious, little pipsqueak guys, they were so darling). I only saw one that looked peeky and he said she was an old hen someone had brought them.
They had plenty of food and water. I thought it looked ok, not like I house my chickens but then mine are pets and his aren't.

 

[nwgirl]

Quote:
Because of a city ordinance I had to rehome my roo, and it was a tough decision. He went to live on a rustic bird farm, and with so many birds, I worried about how well he would be cared for and yadda, yadda, but for my situation, it was the best choice. My mind was my worse enemy because I worried about how different life was going to be for him, but on the up side, he was going to still have one. I keep in contact with his new family which helps. They said I can have my pick of his babies too if want. After reading more, it sounds like the best option you currently have. Some times you just got to go with your best instincts. Good luck.

 

[The Zoo]

It's an even harder choice because I can keep him if I want. My neighbors don't mind his crowing (which is good because it's all he does all morning). The only reason I'm even considering it is because my two older hens are scared of him, he has hurt them by trying to mate them and they lay eggs and he doesn't. My other option is to build him a bachelor coop/pen in our run but I think it may be cruel to have him so close to the hens and not be able to get to them. He wouldn't be able to be a real rooster then. He'd be a caged pet. Ugh Ugh Ugh.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Like so many others have said, there are plenty of roosters looking for honest work and very few positions available for them that don't involve gravy. If you can keep a roo & like having a roo then give this guy the Donald Trump "Yer fired!" and start interviewing new roosters that have better manners and know how to treat the ladies.

 

[The Zoo]

He dances for them, tries to give them treats. I just looked out the window and he was clucking at Easy (one of the older ones) and she was right up by his cage looking at him and trying to get to the piece of corn he was trying to give her. He goes into the coop and sits with Tikka (the hen that likes him) when she's laying an egg so he's NOT a bad roo. It's just when he tries to mate with Over and Easy and they run away and he chases them. I didn't want a roo but here I've got one that I raised from a chick (was expecting a girl) and I want to do what's best for him. I am all in a muddle.

 

[mamaKate]

I don't know what your ordinances are but how about getting more hens? It would take some of the pressure off the old girls. Lots of hens run from roosters. If he doesn't hurt them, they might adjust.

 

[The Zoo]

I'd love to. I have a smallish coop (big enough for 4-5 hens) with a pen and then an attached run they can free range in when I'm home. None of these is huge but would definitely fit some more hens. I'd raise them from chicks so really the earliest I could do it is next year. Those girls would grow up with him so would hopefully like him like Tikka does. It's definitely a thought. Plus he's pretty good at keeping the older hens from bullying Tikka. No one bullies his girl! Hee.
Maybe that's what we'll try and until then he's in bachelor-land.
With the option of taking him to the ranch at any time if he misbehaves.

 

[The Zoo]

Well after much thought today, I have decided to take him to the ranch.
It's cruel for me to keep him just because I don't want to give up on having him. He has little access to the ladies, has been living in a large wire kennel only allowed out sometimes. It's just not right for an animal to be like that. If he was a dog or a cat I'd never have let it go this long. Even if his life is shorter at the ranch, at least he will have had some freedom and the chance to have his own flock.
I'm sad, but it's the right thing to do.

 

[patandchickens]

Sounds like a good decision to me. I've rehomed several roos on that basis myself -- that I expect they'd rather run around for at least a few more days/weeks/months jumpin' the hens' bones and eating bugs in the sun, than go directly into the freezer which around here is the other option. It doesn't sound like they were likely to be doing anything horrible with the roos like using them for fighting, so, probably a good chance he will have some length of reasonable life.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I'm sure it was a tough decision, but a good one. Now you can find a more mannerly roo -- or maybe another hen or two -- to take his place.