What to do with my cockeral

[Rowndan]

well boris is just not normal.. he is still standing down the bottom of the garden most of the day, hes really thin as not eating a great deal although has good appitite as loves bread and titbits!! he has now started crowing early in the shed and its very load, doesnt bother me but i know it will be bothering the neighbours..

i think if i take him to market no one will buy him as his comb is such a funny colour an a bit scabby on the top.

i think the only option is to pull his neck, but who can i get to do it??

im pleased hes had 10 weeks with us and had a chance of being free range, but i think he had underlying problems.

any ideas??

[leannwithconnie]

I'm so sorry he still isn't quite right. At least he has been given a chance with you.
I just couldn't do it myself but I know if it's done correctly it's very quick. Hope you can find someone to help out ...the only other option is a vet.

[bevbob]

Oh poor Boris, god I dont know what to suggest for getting his neck ......... what a shame he hasnt put weight on.

I went to sainsburys tonight to get some free range chicken and ended up getting free range sausages instead because there wasnt much to choose from! either the tv the last few nights has done its job and everyone has gone free range or they dont stock enough. Probably both!
They had some chicken fillets, 2 for five pound which I just couldnt afford to spend 10 pound on 4 little fillets so I went for the sausages.
I will never buy cheap chicken again though so if it means we dont eat it often - so be it.

[Debbie]

Row can your work utilize him at all? I realize you'll not want to do it, but maybe someone at work can do the deed.

You can certainly try the market. If no one wants him, you can always bring him home.

I think you're right, though. I think he's got underlying problems, possibly needs a deworming. At the very least you've given him several weeks to be himself and a decent chance to go out, enjoy the fresh air and sunshine....and a chance to be a happy rooster. That's worth a lot right there.

[Rowndan]

Bev. i think its this weeks TV thats done it as darren was saying (he manager at morrisons) they had run out of free range chicken and even the suplyers had too. i think its great the programs have really given people a kick up the bum..

i had thought about the vet and thats prob the way il go as that what i would do with easter and margaret, i dont really want him to have his neck rung.. hes had a good few weeks but not really getting anything out of life like marg and east are..

ohh poor boy.

[harveydales]

Poor Boris. I'm sorry he is obviously unwell but at least he has had a good few happy weeks with you. I think you will be happiest taking him to the vet to do the deed. In the past, my friend's husband has come round to do it for me but even when it is done well and quickly, it still seems quite traumatic to me.

[SuzieP]

I'd say vet as well. If neck pulling has to be done, it needs to be done expertly to reduce trauma. Poor old Boris - but I feel sure this is the best, Row. You've given him a good chance of a happy life, but it really sounds as if he's poorly.

[Rowndan]

would the vet give him an injection ?? ths may sound silly but i would maybe feel abit silly taking him to the vets!! lol i hope he wont try and give me medicine for him and just do the deed.

my dad and uncle would both do it, but my dad is a £$% head and i fell out with cousin so wouldnt be able to take him up there.

oh heck!!

[harveydales]

He'll do it by injection if you ask. Vets are getting more and more used to people bringing in pet chickens these days. It is hard though, isn't it?

[carolinec]

My friend Maria takes her chickens and cockerals to the vet if they need to be put down. She says as they are her pets she treats them the same & cats/dogs. At least you'd know it would be very quick, although I suppose it's expensive.

[Rowndan]

i think boris has been on this site during the night!! this morning he came marching out with m and e had a few tit bits then of he went about his busines,

i think i may take him to the market next week to see if i can get him a new home, some thing this morning told me it wasnt the right to have him put to sleep


if a hen house is blacked out would that stop him crowing in there??

[harveydales]

Go by your gut feelings, Row. Maybe there is some one out there who is looking for a cockeral just like Boris. I once did just that - went and got a cockeral specifically to keep a rather bossy singe hen of mine company. She bullied other hens so badly i daren't put any in with her but she got on fine with the cockeral I found for her.

Blacking out the hen house should delay his crowing but it will be very hard, if not impossible, to do a good enough job and think what it will be like in summer when he starts at 4AM.......

[Rowndan]

just been looking for ways to stop him crowing early and a cat basket with a towel over it seems the way to go so will try that and see how we go, somehow i just deep down i cant part with him..

fingers crossed xx

[leannwithconnie]

You are obviously very fond of him Row... I don't think I could take him to market in case his new home couldn't cope with him either ..I would wonder all the time what had happened to him!

[Rowndan]

i just kinda like him, not like the way i do with easter and marg as they are very special to me, i suppose its cause of how i came to have him.