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[Chortle Chook]

Back in August I bought a Poland hen who, it turns out, is a cockerel. Dandy is a lovely friendly boy and I was so hoping he could stay as his crow is actually quite nice but he is beginning to fight with my long time resident cockerel 6 year old Silkie boy, Dill. It is nothing horrendous at the moment and only really happens when everyone gets up in the morning and Poland Dandy wants to jump on Silkie Dill's girls.

 

I'm stealing myself to the fact that I'm going to have to end Dandy's life one way or another I can't face ringing his neck and I don't think OH would necessarily do it right, though he has offered, so I think it will be a trip to the vets. Do people think this will stress him out? I was supposed to go on Monday but bottled it. Has anyone else had to do this and how did you feel about it / steel yourself to do it?

Edited January 9, 2013 by Guest

[Olly]

You are probably right that there isn't room for two with the same flock. Sad, but kinder than letting them fight all the time.

 

Dispatching a bird isn't something to attempt unless you have learned how to do it properly, so unless you know someone who can do it for you, I think the vet is the best option. Put him in a box with the lid closed (with air-holes) or a cat-carrier with a blanket over it, and he will not find the journey too stressful.

[WitchHazel]

I've done it.

 

I would not recommend trying to do it yourself if you don't know what to do... and whatever you do, don't use one of the so-called humane killers - they are anything but humane.

 

You don't wring the neck (that causes a lot of pain and suffering), you need to do it by dislocating the neck. I don't have the skill to do this by hand, so I use the broomstick method.

 

I went on a course to learn how to do it properly, as I was more worried about causing suffering during the process than actually killing the bird, if you see what I mean.

 

I don't like doing it at all, and I only do it now if a bird is suffering. Even in those circumstances, where I know it's the kindest thing, I find it very hard and very draining.

 

Would the breeder take Dandy back (they would probably cull him, so the end result is the same but you wouldn't have to do it)?

[Cheeky Chooky]

Hi Catherine, as you know, we had to cull our darling Molly a short while back and although he'd never done it before, OH did the deed. We felt that taking Molly to the Vet to be PTS wasn't the best option...we just felt we should do it ourselves so we did some research on t'Net and YouTube was very useful too. Good luck with whatever you do *hug*

[Chortle Chook]

Would the breeder take Dandy back (they would probably cull him, so the end result is the same but you wouldn't have to do it)?

The breeder has offered to take Dandy back but the end result would still be curtains and as the breeder is a good 1-2 hrs drive from me I think a short trip to the vet would be kinder. Will the vet use a needle?

 

Does anyone know, can a cockerel be neutered?

[jackian]

I have had two girls PTS who were poorly and you don't see them do it ...They take it away and do the deed later.

It has already been mentioned to put him in a dark box with airholes and it will calm him down....Good luck .

[Tweety]

Unless you are absolutely sure that you know what to do, I would take him to the vet if there is no other option but to despatch him.

Our vet told me that they give the bird some anaesthetic gas first, then PTS. Check with your vet if you are worried about it.

 

Couldn't you separate poor Dandy and his girls from your other boy? I have 3 bantam boys, 2 of whom tolerate each other very well, the dominant one just chases the others away if he gets too close. The 3rd one is very aggressive, and I have separated him and his harem from the others.

[WitchHazel]

Not sure how much travellinh you are prepared to do, but you might be able to rehome him with Beegal on the Practical Poultry forum. It's not a free service as I understand it.

 

http://www.practicalpoultry.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1203174700/285

[Chortle Chook]

Well Dandy is still here I'm going to hold out as long as possible and have put him on various re-homing sites just in case but not as 'free to a good home' as I really do think that some sorts of life are worse than death.

 

To anyone who was worried I'd 'learn' on Dandy how to despatch a chicken, don't worry, I'll certainly not be doing that nor will I let OH 'have a go' If / when his time comes it will be the vet. Thanks everyone for telling me how to keep him calm on the trip

[mimi5]

Oh I'm so glad I hatched out 4 pekin boys this year!! I thankfully managed to re-home all of them!!! It was a bit nerve wracking though!! I keep in touch with their new owners....not that I'm controlling or anything!! One is called Colin and another in called Monty 2 after his dad!!! My favourite was the last to go (Sooooo wanted to keep him but I could see doodling contests between him and Monty not going down well with my lovely neighbours!!)and he is called Marty Mcfly, well he did have a catching flies obsession and was very cute!

 

Here's hoping your Dandy gets a lovely new home and some girls to look after!!

[hilda-and-evadne]

Will the vet use a needle?

 

It doesn't have to be by needle, it can be by gas which is kinder. I had to have a hen PTS, and she went to the vet in a cat carrier which was placed inside a tent-thing, and she just went peacefully and without fear or stress. Gas is more expensive but it makes me feel better that I chose the gentler option for her.

 

Does anyone know, can a cockerel be neutered?

 

My step-mother once told me that one used to be able to "caponise" cockerels with a pellet inserted behind the comb (if I remember right) but that pellet was a growth hormone and is now banned.

[hilda-and-evadne]

Well Dandy is still here I'm going to hold out as long as possible and have put him on various re-homing sites just in case but not as 'free to a good home' as I really do think that some sorts of life are worse than death.

 

There is an animal sanctuary at Swanley, Kent, which takes cockerels. Apparently, they are the only place in the UK that takes cockerels and they now have over 600. I rehomed both my cockerels there. They ask for a donation of £25 (or it might be a little bit more now), and I seem to remember that they are planning to move to a larger site at Tenterden.

[Redwing]

Beegal on the Practical Poultry forum who is in Nuneaton will take and rehome cockerels for a donation of a bag of feed or a little money towards the upkeep of his lot

[AlphaChickens]

Hilda - just wanted to say thanks for posting about the animal sanctuary in Swanley. I think my little Light Sussex boy may well end up there (or another of their branches) - I just can't bring myself to take him back to the breeder to be culled, he's too lovely.

 

x

[Chortle Chook]

Many thanks, Hilda and Redwing. I'll try both these if I can't find another home for him myself in the next month or so.

[The Dogmother]

Catherine, if you're stuck and need him despatched then give me a shout or pop over to me.

[Chortle Chook]

Thanks, Clare, that is extremely kind of you. A visit to your place would be a whole lot nicer than a visit to the vets here (they are not very nice). I'm going to keep trying to find Dandy a home for a bit longer, but will keep you posted

[Chortle Chook]

Thought people might like an update on what happend to my Polish cockerel,Dandy. On 24th December I took him back to Hamble Valley as Rachel kindly promissed she would not cull him but would 'run him on' till spring and then try to re-home him with two girls. She popped him right into a really nice, spacious WIR where he quickly found some girls Then on 7th Jan I got a call from someone who wanted to buy him as I'd forgotten to take him off of the Omlet market place She was super keen as her Polish splash boy had died over Xmas and she really missed him. She said she would go and get him from Rachel so I think he has found a nice home.

[LottyJ1]

Fab news

[charly1979]

Sooooooo happy for you and your boy I was lucky that my mum could take Julian from us he has now started full throttle morning calls to which she called me on Sunday morning and infromed me that they would be calling me every morning after he has woken them (yeah right mother phone will be switched off) Joking aside she loves him to bits buts the whole expierence has made me think twice about breading

[sparkysmum]

Relief Always good to hear a happy ending

[counturchickens]

Such good news, thank you for updating us