Do people do mean things with free roosters?

[Dinosaur Village Keeper]

I have a Silkie rooster that became mean a few weeks ago. I have read things about holding him down to get him submissive, but the truth is, I have never been around birds or chickens and I am afraid of him! I don’t want to try and hold him and have my hands pecked up like he did when I was picking up a hen who needed a butt bath. I feel bad killing him as he is only 10 months old! I no longer like going in my backyard because I am afraid of him. We recently fenced in 1 1/4 acres for our pets, and one rooster is ruining it all for me. I listed him on craigslist for a dollar but the person that responded said “Is he one dollar or is he free and when and where can I pick him up?” I would actually pay someone to take him! However, someone that was worried about paying only a dollar made me question her motives... Do people do awful things with roosters? If someone wanted him to eat, that isn’t the worst thing, and we would give him to them dead, killed in a humane way. I don’t want him to be treated cruelly! Someone told me roosters are gotten free for cockfights or to use as a dog bait. I could not handle that. I really liked this rooster before he decided to hate me. And I love the sound of his crowing in the morning and will miss that dearly.

 

[bobbi-j]

Not everyone who takes a free rooster is going to use it for cockfighting or dog bait. Some people actually do give them a good home. Others may see it as free meat for themselves or their pets. Unfortunately, when you give away or sell an animal, it is no longer yours and its fate is out of your control. Honestly, if I were to take a rooster that was being rehomed due to a bad temperament, I’d eat him. If I were going to rehome a mean rooster, I’d do so with full disclosure and not ask any questions. (We don’t move ours on - we put them in the freezer ourselves. At least that way you know what happened to them.)

 

[HuskerHens18]

Unfortunately, people will even buy roosters for money and use them for fights or bait. Some guy was willing to pay 10$ a piece for mine, a few days later his name was in the news for cockfighting.

It's sad to think of a young animal soul being killed just because of their sex and hormones, I hate seeing such heartless comments on the way people treat unwanted roosters. Its terribly common. If you feel its suspicious, it is!!

You seem like a loving and caring person, you need your backyard back! ❤Perhaps if you can find someone willing, they could humanely butcher him for you. Then you know better what happened to him, and you get a meal. Or, talk to some of your friends and see if they'd take him for themselves to eat. I'm sorry you have to do this, my heart goes out to you. I understand how you feel.

 

[LindsayL]

We need to re home our rooster, as we live in city limits and cannot have them. We just found out he is a he as the babies we got just turned 21 weeks old and I finally figured out which one started to crow. We don't want him killed at all. But I did find someone who owns a farm and asked if she did take him, that he not be killed...Ever. To be a pet even if he stops making babies with the hens. She agreed and we will be setting up a time for her to get him. Is there a way you can make a contract with the new owner? Maybe even ask for updates if they are keeping him?

 

[ChocolateMouse]

The majority of people who take roosters are either looking for a rooster to keep or free meat for themselves or their dogs. They're not used all that often for things like dog fighting or cock fighting though it could happen and is somewhat location based. There's not nearly as much cockfighting in the northern US as the southern US. For what it's worth a silkie would be a poor cockfighting subject. Lots of people from asian countries like silkie meat specifically for the black skin and make soup out of them. Our local asian market sells silkie meat special at a premium.

The reality is once an animal leaves your home you have no idea what happens to it. Especially a rooster. There's so many roosters out there that if someone with bad intentions doesn't take yours they'll just find another a month or a week from now or hatch their own or order them. Buying rooster chicks online is like $2 each. But that doesn't mean it WILL happen. Plenty of people will contact you in good faith with good and honest intentions.

Just let people know he's human aggressive BEFORE you rehome him.

 

[rascal66]

Thing with Craigslist, especially with free birds, you always have to consider that these people can literally do anything with them. They'll lie as well. Some people will happily take a free rooster for the pot, and that's pretty common. You're better off trying to sell for a higher dollar but given you just want him gone, its something that's very likely to happen... Sorry for that
Not to say that there aren't people who will try to give him a good home, though. Some people who re home roosters usually request pics of their future home and lots of details before letting a new owner adopt them. You can try this too if you want. Good luck

 

[rascal66]

Not everyone who takes a free rooster is going to use it for cockfighting or dog bait. Some people actually do give them a good home. Others may see it as free meat for themselves or their pets. Unfortunately, when you give away or sell an animal, it is no longer yours and its fate is out of your control. Honestly, if I were to take a rooster that was being rehomed due to a bad temperament, I’d eat him. If I were going to rehome a mean rooster, I’d do so with full disclosure and not ask any questions. (We don’t move ours on - we put them in the freezer ourselves. At least that way you know what happened to them.)

I agree with this!
I love both hens and roosters. I'm lucky to have a bachelor area for roosters. While most are destined for meat, I always try to save a few to join the main flock to range, breed and protect.

 

[so lucky]

Could you just keep him in a separate pen until you decide what to do with him?
Honestly, if you are going to be worried that the new owners might be cruel to him, it would be better all around if you could just humanely kill him yourself.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is there a way you can make a contract with the new owner? Maybe even ask for updates if they are keeping him?

You probably can make a contract (just as you'd sign a contract to adopt a dog from rescue) however are you really willing to take him back if the new owner can't keep him? Because that's what you're agreeing to, that you'll take the bird back.

 

[Dinosaur Village Keeper]

Thank you for everyone’s comments and concern. I have one person to ask for help and then I will go the route of having my husband shoot and bury him. I cannot eat my pet even though he was mean to me. I know it’s not his fault... he is just doing a good job protecting his flock. It feels like a waste of life not to eat him, but I won’t be able to sleep for fear he could be treated inhumanely. Your responses have helped me a lot. Thank you again.