Why you never dump a rooster and what you can do

The big question is, why do you have a rooster you need to get rid of a rooster in the first place? Did you take him home from a Hatching Project? Did you take in some chicks and maybe were told they were hens, but weren’t? Did you buy some fertilised eggs? Did you let your hen sit on her eggs as it’s so cute to show your children this experience?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While right now you have to deal with this situation you are in, we desperately hope you will never again take on chicks, fertilised eggs or allow your hens to hatch eggs unless you are 100% prepared to take responsibility for any roosters that you have.

Here are the 6 reasons you should never dump a rooster:

  1. Animal Welfare. They are domesticated animals, that need protection, feed, security. They are not native or wild birds that know how to live in the bush, or on the side of a road. Once dumped they stay in that location as they don’t know what to do. They are undernourished and lonely. Some people throw them feed, maybe they can get water. They don’t get the right food or the treatment they need to worms, lice, mites, ticks. Most importantly they are left alone or sometimes with a couple of rooster mates that are also dumped, instead of doing what comes naturally to them, protecting a flock.
  2. They become a target for cruelty. They are attacked by dogs (often encouraged by the dogs owner), taken by predators, left to the amusement of cruel people who think it’s fun to chase them, hurt them (reported cases of dumped rooster with both it’s legs broken) or catch them and use them for live dog bait or cull them for food.
  3. The local community is affected. Often dumped near homes or properties. The crowing, roosting on picnic tables, aggression because they are hungry, caring people furious that someone can do something so cruel, spends time trying to give them feed and water but can’t take them home either.
  4. The Environment. Rooster dumping adversely affects our local environment as they compete with native animals for food.
  5. Illegal. While you might dump them at night, so not caught. You are still doing something illegal. The prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 carries a $5,000 fine.
  6. Strain on already full sanctuaries. Volunteers spend hours rescuing dumped roosters. Sanctuaries always have more roosters than people to foster them or adopt them so they can not keep rescuing these dumped rooboys.

Here is what you can do:

  1. Advertise on local and rural social media pages. Please vet the people very well, visit their property so you can be assured they are genuine people who will give him a good home – even a nice old lady coming to take your rooboy could simply want him for their pot! It’s horrible I know but we’d rather forewarn you – if you say you want to visit their home, then if they are genuine they will say yes!
  2. We will update this page as we find more sanctuaries who will take in roosters.  For now, there is only one sanctuary we know of that might will take in a rooster for a 20kg bag of chook feed. They are up past Gympie (QLD). While for many of you that’s a long way, it’s a trip that can save the life of your rooster. You can also contact us to see if we are planning a road trip up there with some other rescued rooboys. But if you need to act quickly, then contact them and make the trip:
    https://www.facebook.com/Serendipity-Farm-Animal-Centre-Inc-355149664045/
  3. Euthanasia. If you cannot find a good home for the Rooboy then the best outcome for this fella is euthanasia at your local vet. Sounds cruel? It’s far kinder than dumping him.  For the rooboy he will go to sleep and hopefully in your arms so that’s a peaceful ending for him. For you, it’s a lesson that will mean, no more dumped roosters, on your watch, ever.
  4. While we might be able to help you with advice or maybe even transport to Serendipity Rooboy Sanctuary, so you are welcome to contact us (go to contact page), our charity won’t take in roosters that have been home bred, bought as chicks or taken in from a school hatching project – this is because we promote no breeding, as we know how many roosters are abandoned or given to people who will use them for un-savoury purposes (like dog baiting or to eat!). We are heart wrenched that it means so many roosters will no longer have the safety of a home and a flock to protect, but our Foster carers are always full and we can’t find enough people to adopt the rooboys we have. Please do not ask us to take in your Rooboy. It hurts every time to say no, but we will say no.