Humane way to re-home a not-friendly rooster?

[Alagirl]

[QUOTE=cyberbay;7737073]
Saultgirl: I had to laugh at your post. If this thread is so ridiculous, then why do you participate?

Chism… Just to clarify: saying in that post that someone doesn’t have “the sense or guts to wring…” is simply rude. There was nothing in the OP for anyone who has basic reading skills to conclude that the rooster owner is reluctant to do either. The purpose of the OP was to fact-gather, which is what responsible people do before taking a course of action.

Maybe you shd try doing that yourself – get informed first. Act second. You might be surprised at the nice outcome, the lowered reactivity, and the insight into others you might gain.

It’s my u’standing that the rooster – a product of a dumb 5th-grade teacher’s class project – is not aggressive toward humans, but is abusive toward the hens. Yes, it’s more than crowing at non-human hours that has him under scrutiny.

Honestly, I am constantly surprised at the aggressiveness that comes out on COTH. The reactiveness, the lack of comprehension “… And these people keep animals??” I find myself asking.[/QUOTE]

sorry, but you are the rude one.
It’s not a dumb 5th grade teacher, she probably got eggs to hatch, something too few kids get to see this day and age.

You question is akin to ‘my dog killed three cats, need to rehome it’
Great that the rooster has not attacked humans…that does not make him any less aggressive. Roosters are for the hobbyist rather useless creatures - alive: they don’t lay eggs and make a lot of noise.
And yeah, they need a bunch of hens to be happy and not squish the other birds with their affection.
“Humane Rehoming” is not even code for ‘I don’t want it killed’, and depending on the circumstance, it’s also an indicator for the spineless.
Like the pounds are full with good dogs, time and money is too precious to waste it on a lost cause.

Chicken are delicious meat creatures, that’s why we have so many of them.
Unfortunately, we have gone away from knowing where that meat from the shrink wrap originated…or recalcitrant rooster would not even be a topic.

[Chief2]

Since your friend sounds like she is trying to do the responsible thing, I agree with keeping it and segregating it away from the flock. Given the responses on the thread (which I tend to agree with–I myself was thinking soup), you can see where he will most likely end up if your friend gives him away. Or he’ll end up in some cock fighting ring if she goes the CL route. I will give her kudos for wanting to try to re-home him responsibly, but I don’t think she will be able to get it done with this particular bird. If she wants to keep him, segregation would be for the best.

[arapaloosa_lady]

I don’t see anything wrong with keeping chickens as pets, not livestock. Not everyone is OK with slaughtering their pets at the drop of a hat, and that doesn’t make them wrong or crazy, just a different way of thinking.

I suggested castrating because if you had an aggressive stallion who you didn’t need for breeding, the first thing you do is get him gelded, not euthanize him. I do think the surgery is inhumane if it’s done by a farmer without anesthesia or analgesia. But there are vets out there who will anesthetize your bird, cut off his testicles, and wake up back up again with appropriate pain medications. That’s what you do for a pet.

And you try behavior modification. Sometimes the least intelligent animals are the best to train because they can’t think of too many alternatives. Most people don’t attempt to train their chickens beyond hopping in the coop for the night, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

I do think the suggestion to separate him from his flock is a good one while your friend figures out what’s going on.

[S1969]

[QUOTE=arapaloosa_lady;7737244]
I suggested castrating because if you had an aggressive stallion who you didn’t need for breeding, the first thing you do is get him gelded, not euthanize him.

I do think the suggestion to separate him from his flock is a good one while your friend figures out what’s going on.[/QUOTE]

The problem with the idea of castrating the rooster, is that like many other animals - it isn’t a guarantee that it won’t still be a nasty bastard. Not sure that it’s possible to try to modify a rooster’s behavior, but heck…you can always try.

OP, I think you’re being too sensitive. Mean roosters are problems for anyone that has chickens (I don’t, but helped my friend dispatch all but her “chosen” rooster from the unfortunate straight run of 6 chicks…which all turned out to be roosters.) One of them was a mean SOB that mauled and nearly killed several hens before he was dispatched by the owners in hopes of saving their hens. But the others were nearly as bad as the mean ones - the were like packs of gang-rapists and traumatized the hens. They went from something like 20 eggs a day to 2…plus hens that were traumatized and injured.

There really are only a couple of options for a mean rooster:

– rehome him to someone that might want him for breeding…not very likely, because he might maul/kill the hens, and/or provide mean rooster DNA to offspring

–rehome him to someone that wants a mean rooster as a pet and/or might be willing to segregate him from other hens/animals. Not very common.

–owner keeps him and segregates him

–owner dispatches him and/or gives him to someone that will – most common

Personally, I’d go with “owner dispatches him” – or at least give to someone local to do the job. When done well, it’s quick and humane.

[PeteyPie]

I just don’t think there is anything reasonable or responsible about rehoming a mean animal. As mentioned above, the most likely outcome of rehoming is death for dinner or death by fighting. If the owner is thinking of some kindhearted person giving it a home then what a mean thing to do to the kindhearted person who is probably clueless and who might be attacked by the rooster (as might the kids or neighbor kids).

You are asking for opinions about humane solutions. In my opinion, there are only two possible humane solutions: the owner keeps the rooster isolated or the owner has the rooster killed humanely (and really, just about any method for slaughtering a chicken at home is going to be humane because it will be quick).

[cyberbay]

Peteypie- I’m with you: Re-homing the rooster with some unsuspecting person would not be humane, so that’s not an option she would pursue.

S1969: no, I don’t think I’m too sensitive. I just have expectations that posters shd use civil language. “Whacky” is not civil, nor saying my friend has no sense or guts. I will stick w/my expectations. I find your replies civil.

And I am not worried about this rooster, or worry that he “just needs a second chance,” b/c I know a bit of rooster behavior; and I know that my friend will safely deliver him to the next step,whatever that may be.

Alagirl: again, a teacher, esp., who hatches eggs without a plan to see the chicks into a responsible home is, yes, dumb. It’s irresponsible, and talking about a responsible home and care shd have been part of the lesson. She didn’t have a plan, apparently., for post-hatch.

And in NO post (caps for your benefit) did I say the rooster had killed. There are suspicions he’s been up to no good. But, so far, no human has witnessed. I in NO WAY (caps for your benefit) said that it softens the situation that this rooster hasn’t attacked a person. I am simply answering a query from a poster if he had attacked a person.

PBPony: vegetarians don’t eat meat, either.

[Kwill]

Fascinating discussion – interestingly, we can have urban chickens in our backyards in my town of 40,000 people but there can be no roosters at all. I think it’s the crowing.

We can also have mini horses, too, but I think I will stick to boarding my full sized horse in the country.

[Jingo-ace]

[QUOTE=cowboymom;7736246]
Rooster are like zucchini… difficult to give away, even for free! :no:
.[/QUOTE]

THAT is the best description EVER! LOL

[Alagirl]

@cyberbay;7737994

And in NO post (caps for your benefit) did I say the rooster had killed. There are suspicions he’s been up to no good. But, so far, no human has witnessed. I in NO WAY (caps for your benefit) said that it softens the situation that this rooster hasn’t attacked a person. I am simply answering a query from a poster if he had attacked a person.

Yes, in the first post you suggested that the rooster had killed a couple of hens and mutilated a goose…

I read your initial post well enough, thank you very much, I don’t need CAPS, beneficial or not, in this context.

You are judgmental and not very nice when the weak points in your scenario are laid open.

[saultgirl]

[QUOTE=cyberbay;7737994]

Alagirl: again, a teacher, esp., who hatches eggs without a plan to see the chicks into a responsible home is, yes, dumb. It’s irresponsible, and talking about a responsible home and care shd have been part of the lesson. She didn’t have a plan, apparently., for post-hatch.[/QUOTE]

You don’t really need much of a “plan” for chickens. If no one wants to “provide a responsible home”, you can usually find someone who wants to eat them.

[chism]

[QUOTE=cyberbay;7737073]
Saultgirl:
Chism… Just to clarify: saying in that post that someone doesn’t have “the sense or guts to wring…” is simply rude. There was nothing in the OP for anyone who has basic reading skills to conclude that the rooster owner is reluctant to do either. The purpose of the OP was to fact-gather, which is what responsible people do before taking a course of action.

Maybe you shd try doing that yourself – get informed first. Act second. You might be surprised at the nice outcome, the lowered reactivity, and the insight into others you might gain.

It’s my u’standing that the rooster – a product of a dumb 5th-grade teacher’s class project – is not aggressive toward humans, but is abusive toward the hens. Yes, it’s more than crowing at non-human hours that has him under scrutiny.

Honestly, I am constantly surprised at the aggressiveness that comes out on COTH. The reactiveness, the lack of comprehension “… And these people keep animals??” I find myself asking.[/QUOTE]

Umm…I suggest you go back and re-read what I wrote. I’m 1000% certain that I said nothing about anyone “not having sense or guts to wring” , I stated MY opinion on someone else’s post…which is something people tend to do on Bulletin Boards. If you took it personally, that’s on YOU.

[Ambitious_Kate]

[QUOTE=cyberbay;7734486]
A friend has a rooster that she is suspecting of killing off 2 hens, and mutilating her goose (pecked out an eye? Possible?). Also, it’s ticking off the neighbors with its untimely crowing.

In order to not fall into a primitive way of thinking, she would prefer to find a new home for this guy. So, being chicken-ignorant, would anyone know if there are rooster rescues, or would another chicken owner be interested knowing its crimes, or ??

Thanks for any suggestions.[/QUOTE]

Yes, actually, you did say that the rooster is savaging other animals. Apparently so much so that the owner wants him gone. The owner doesn’t want him savaging her animals, but is more than willing to foist him off on another, possibly unsuspecting chicken owner. That chicken owner you two want to give him to is someone who owns other chickens, by the way. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be a chicken “owner”. Right?

I stand by what I said:

No, there is no way to humanely deal with a rooster which savages other animals. He should be destroyed. If you want to be eco friendly about it, eat it. Otherwise, its still no, you can’t “humanely” give it away. Its not humane because you will be putting the rooster at risk for being abused because he will continue his savaging of the new owner’s animals. Also, you won’t be being honest, if you are looking for another chicken owner who might not care about his past. They will care, once they get it. So, you can’t HONESTLY give the rooster away to another chicken owner, or duck owner, or goose owner.

Most animals have already learned their behaviour from their hormones, and once done, don’t loose that behaviour from being neutered. I don’t know about chickens, but if she wants to spend the money, hey, give it a try.

You can, however, ‘humanely’ kill it. There isn’t a market for giving it away, since you asked.

Edited to add: And, by the way, what do you mean by “in order to not fall into a primitive way of thinking…”?? There is nothing primative about eating a chicken. We are omnivores (except for vegetarians). We eat chickens.

[crosscreeksh]

[QUOTE=Ambitious Kate;7738403]
Yes, actually, you did say that the rooster is savaging other animals. Apparently so much so that the owner wants him gone. The owner doesn’t want him savaging her animals, but is more than willing to foist him off on another, possibly unsuspecting chicken owner. That chicken owner you two want to give him to is someone who owns other chickens, by the way. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be a chicken “owner”. Right?

I stand by what I said:

No, there is no way to humanely deal with a rooster which savages other animals. He should be destroyed. If you want to be eco friendly about it, eat it. Otherwise, its still no, you can’t “humanely” give it away. Its not humane because you will be putting the rooster at risk for being abused because he will continue his savaging of the new owner’s animals. Also, you won’t be being honest, if you are looking for another chicken owner who might not care about his past. They will care, once they get it. So, you can’t HONESTLY give the rooster away to another chicken owner, or duck owner, or goose owner.

Most animals have already learned their behaviour from their hormones, and once done, don’t loose that behaviour from being neutered. I don’t know about chickens, but if she wants to spend the money, hey, give it a try.

You can, however, ‘humanely’ kill it. There isn’t a market for giving it away, since you asked.[/QUOTE]

---

I totally agree…but watch…someone will come up with a “Chicken/Rooster Rescue” or retirement home for wayward roosters!! Apparently the number of “savior posters” have not been attacked by a rooster!!

[Ambitious_Kate]

Its not a matter of being attacked. its a matter of managing livestock. Roosters, or any other uncut male animal which savages other livestock and can’t be controlled are candidates for euthenasia. I say euthenasia euphemistically. When it comes to roosters and other fowl, I would say slaughter and eat it. But that’s me. The fact remains, it shouldn’t be part of your barnyard. If she wants to keep it, she has to be esponsible and segregate it. If she doesn’t think THAT’s humane, then stick it in the stew pot.

[cowboymom]

I think I was the one with the statement about guts or sense. And I stand by it.

My chickens are absolutely a combination of pets/livestock. They have names and I keep the hens their entire lives and I obviously have more roosters than I really should have right now… but with that love for them I have a healthy dose of practicality too.

We’re not talking about a puppy here-this rooster has reached his potential as a rooster and he is what he is. And while it seems like the description is changing all the time, if he really is aggressive then pretty much you have two choices: kill him or give him away.

I actually don’t think it’s all that bad of a thing for her to have hatched him out, you see what you get and hens are easy to give away and roosters are zucchini! It’s the way of the world.

The statement about “primitive” struck me as superior toward us cave folk that butcher and eat our mean rapist roosters and probably set the tone for the rest of the thread. Sounds like the rooster’s owner is a chicken newbie with stars for eyes and you, OP, are feeling defensive of her but where I come from sometimes you get a big dose of honesty when city mouse asks primitive country mouse a country sort of question.

[Alagirl]

[QUOTE=cowboymom;7738439]
I think I was the one with the statement about guts or sense. And I stand by it.

My chickens are absolutely a combination of pets/livestock. They have names and I keep the hens their entire lives and I obviously have more roosters than I really should have right now… but with that love for them I have a healthy dose of practicality too.

We’re not talking about a puppy here-this rooster has reached his potential as a rooster and he is what he is. And while it seems like the description is changing all the time, if he really is aggressive then pretty much you have two choices: kill him or give him away.

I actually don’t think it’s all that bad of a thing for her to have hatched him out, you see what you get and hens are easy to give away and roosters are zucchini! It’s the way of the world.

The statement about “primitive” struck me as superior toward us cave folk that butcher and eat our mean rapist roosters and probably set the tone for the rest of the thread. Sounds like the rooster’s owner is a chicken newbie with stars for eyes and you, OP, are feeling defensive of her but where I come from sometimes you get a big dose of honesty when city mouse asks primitive country mouse a country sort of question.[/QUOTE]

Amen

[saultgirl]

[QUOTE=crosscreeksh;7738423]

---

I totally agree…but watch…someone will come up with a “Chicken/Rooster Rescue” or retirement home for wayward roosters!! Apparently the number of “savior posters” have not been attacked by a rooster!![/QUOTE]

They’re out there

http://savethecocks.com/Save_the_Cocks/Why_Rescue_a_Rooster.html

http://www.brittonclouse.com/chickenrunrescue/

https://www.facebook.com/rooster.sanctuary

[Jumper_girl221]

This is bringing flashbacks to my rooster that my husband brought home.

Back story…

I get to the barn one day and there’s a rooster walking around. We have peacocks, a few guineas and 3 buff orp hens. I immediately call DH saying wtf (I grew up with chickens and roosters). Response: oh yeah a truck driver had him. The wife was scared of him so he would chase her around but he’s just like a pet as long as you aren’t scared of him.

All was well for a few months, then he started getting more and more aggressive, to the point thst he’d fly at me while feeding horses and spur my thighs. I complained but apparently I just “needed to not be scared of him” and it was like talking to a wall.

Final straw…he chased my 3 year old up onto his toy gator and was flying at his face spurring him, I grabbed a pitchfork handle and smacked him (honestly thought I killed him then). He was better for a day or two, then back going after me.

I got into a “heated discussion” with DH on the way home from work thst day saying take care of it or I will. Finally hung up when he was informing me that it was all in my head, he’s sitting right here getting petted and is friendly as can be. I hang up on him.

Get to the barn 10 minutes later, DH is sitting by the barn arms crossed all pissy. I look around and say where is th e rooster. He points and it’s a pile of feathers by the tractor. I said what happened? Apparently the damn thing started flying at his face and he couldn’t get it off and he grabbed a shovel.

Guess he shouldn’t have been so scared snicker

There’s way to many nice roosters to deal with a nasty one…those spurs are SHARP!

[pj1]

[QUOTE=Jumper_girl221;7738791]
This is bringing flashbacks to my rooster that my husband brought home.

Back story…

I get to the barn one day and there’s a rooster walking around. We have peacocks, a few guineas and 3 buff orp hens. I immediately call DH saying wtf (I grew up with chickens and roosters). Response: oh yeah a truck driver had him. The wife was scared of him so he would chase her around but he’s just like a pet as long as you aren’t scared of him.

All was well for a few months, then he started getting more and more aggressive, to the point thst he’d fly at me while feeding horses and spur my thighs. I complained but apparently I just “needed to not be scared of him” and it was like talking to a wall.

Final straw…he chased my 3 year old up onto his toy gator and was flying at his face spurring him, I grabbed a pitchfork handle and smacked him (honestly thought I killed him then). He was better for a day or two, then back going after me.

I got into a “heated discussion” with DH on the way home from work thst day saying take care of it or I will. Finally hung up when he was informing me that it was all in my head, he’s sitting right here getting petted and is friendly as can be. I hang up on him.

Get to the barn 10 minutes later, DH is sitting by the barn arms crossed all pissy. I look around and say where is th e rooster. He points and it’s a pile of feathers by the tractor. I said what happened? Apparently the damn thing started flying at his face and he couldn’t get it off and he grabbed a shovel.

Guess he shouldn’t have been so scared snicker

There’s way to many nice roosters to deal with a nasty one…those spurs are SHARP![/QUOTE]
A neighbor had a rooster that attacked her every single day when she went in to get eggs and to feed. She would have to fight her way in and then out. Her husband would stand outside of the pen and laugh. (I’
d have killed him). One day she told him she had enough. If he wanted the eggs and those chickens fed he could do it. ONE day he lasted and then killed the rooster after he attacked him. It wasn’t so funny when it was him being attacked.

[cyberbay]

Apologies to you, alagirl!
Sorry, cowboymom. That quote /comment shd have gone to you: I don’t think it’s appropriate to call a stranger names when you know just the tiniest slice of this rooster story, the owner situation, etc. I mean, really, to call some names because she has done nothing except try to get informed? Really.

And, yes, I consider it “primitive” to make life-ending decisions about animals prior to having all the facts about their situation or all the methods for ameliorating their situation. I am not against any of the options mentioned here for this rooster. My friend are of the stripe of being informed. This thread is in service of that end. Being rude or angry in response was just never called for – and those instances have been pointed out.

We’ll disagree on the hatching out. It’s an urban school, and 0 chicken owners around. Hence, the project; hence, the chicken ending up w/my friend 35 miles away. And given how these chix could be roosters of this temperament, doesn’t sound responsible, does it, to give the chick of unknown temperament to people with little animal knowledge, as your post suggests.

I also notice that as you posters keep replying, you are getting much clearer in your responses and suggestions, in much less heated tone. Thank you.

Clarifying here: as deriding as people are about a ‘rescue,’ I am not seeing any material difference between “giving away” a rooster to another chicken owner or having it going to one of these (non-existent) rescues. Is there a real difference?

I agree that this is not just a mild household pet, this rooster in question: I mean, isn’t that obvious by the fact that this thread even got posted?

Ambitious Kate: “suspecting” is the word in my post you quoted.
Can you tell me how that word means he actually “killed”?

This post is about fact-gathering, as is 98% of what gets posted here on COTH. My friend is only just wanting to make sure she has a solid picture of rooster behavior and of her options b4 making a decision. She will make the right step, once she hears of as many (just a few, really) options as she can in the next few days. Again, using aggressive language just isn’t appropriate.