Rehoming cockrels

[Lucylou]

Anyone whose read my previous post will know that instead of 7 hens,I now have 3 cockrels & 4 hens!!

Originally the breeder had said she would 'swap' any boys. Well, don't know what's going on but cannot get hold of her, been trying for over 10 days & I'm getting very anxious for my birds. Can't keep them for much longer as one is very 'bossy' & is starting to make the others lives difficult.

So, mine are kept as pets, not for the pot, & I really don't want to have to dispatch a healthy chicken (well not personally ) Does anyone have any suggestions or know of a solution? If it really comes to it & they have to be dispatched then I will agree but only as a last resort.

 

[victorias poultry]

Do you live near to the breeder in which you bought the birds from originally, may well be worth just turning up if she is ignoring your calls, but I would try to get hold of her over the weekend first, it maybe just that she is away for a few days?
Good luck, I used to get a friend to kill my cockerels but started doing it myself a few months ago, I hate doing it but it is just one of those things that occasionally has to be done, especially if they start fighting or constantly jumping on the girls.

Regards Sue

 

[Anonymous]

Good luck with getting hold of her,I doubt you're being ignored on purpose,there could be any number of reasons.Is she close enough to drop a letter/note round to?

 

[Lucylou]

I'm getting worried about the situation now so in one last attempt to go back to the breeder I have contacted the friend who originally gave me the number (they know each other through their kids. I didn't want to involve my friend as I don't want her to feel responsible in any way, but its the last option.)I've been trying to contact this lady for nearly 2 weeks now, all times of day & evening & weekends!

So she's going to try & find out what the situation is (it might be very genuine!) & if by the end of today its a no go I will go down another route :? . Not quite sure what that is at the mo but will start making phone calls :?

 

[snifter]

TBH rehoming surplus cockerels is far from easy. If people want a cock bird its usually for breeding purposes so they should be buying a cock bird of good standard. Often surplus cockerels are not really suitable for breeding but some people may use them.

Of course, someone may want one but don't expect this to be the case. Take it as a bonus if you do find a home for one (or more). In my experiece it can be very hard to rehome surplus cockerels.

If they are large birds I would suggest making use of them for the table. I know in the beginning when I kept chooks they were pets only but surplus birds meant having to get a bit tough on my feelings and learning to adapt. I now rear birds for the table also as well as keeping some for pets. Also having kept a cockerel on as a breeder for my hens and having him become very aggressive to people and animals meant I was actually happy to dispatch Dave and roast him for Christmas a couple of years ago. I never had a single qualm about him being eaten and I'd reared him from an egg and grown attached to him. But months of him flying at me with his spurs and then attacking the kids and dogs meant he had to go. I decided to have him for the table as by then I had grown more used to the harder side of poultry keeping and felt ok to do so.

 

[victorias poultry]

months of him flying at me with his spurs and then attacking the kids and dogs meant he had to go.

Hi Snifter

I have the opposite problem, a buff orpington cockerel who thinks I am mum, and keeps flying up onto my shoulder for a preen and cuddle!
He loves nothing more than having a tickle under his wing.

 

[Lucylou]

Thanks for your input snifter et al.

Although I could never do it myself I am realistic about cockerels & their future I'm sure the lady who bred them , if I eventually get to return them, will have them for the pot but I am resolved to that.)

I have to consider my family's feelings too - my mother is a vegitarian & she would be horrified if she knew so I will have to keep it very low key & just not mention exactly what she's going to do with them.

 

[Lucylou]

Snifter - re your 'grumpy' cockerel. Did he start off docile then become more aggressive as he got older or was he always a bit unpredictable with you? I know some can be rather aggressive but just wondered, only out of interest, if they 'turn'.

My bossy one I wouldn't dream of keeping even if I could, because he's always been bossy. Whereas Scruffy has always been so friendy & still is.

My only experience is with a bantum cockerel & he was a sweetie! He used to look after one bantum hen & 2 large birds, he used to look so funny trying to look the part bossing then about. :lol:

 

[snifter]

The aggressive one began life just fine. Was handled lots, lived in with our banties and other hens. When we decided to keep him (he was a stunner) he was fine, just as he matured and started treading the hens he got really nasty. He had a thing about me also and would sit on the doorstep and watch me. I was the last person he got aggressive with also. But his fate had been decided before that when we knew we would be sending off a batch for the table, he was included in the head count.

Most of my cock birds have been good tempered, some really friendly. He was the only one that was nasty.