Can anyone take my Legbar cockerels?

[jonpop]

Hello,

I've been lurking around your site for ages now - especially the chicken bit - but I've never posted before. Unfortunately, I made a stupid auction purchase and I'm hoping someone here can help me out.

We went to a poultry auction on Saturday and bought 2 (what we thought were) cream legbar hens. Now that we've had them in the garden for a couple of days it's become apparent that they are in fact cream legbar cockerels. It was totally our own fault - I can't believe we didn't realise they were cockerels.

Anyway, we can't keep cockerels in our back garden, our neighbours are very understanding with the chicken and ducks we have already but I fear early morning cockadoodle-dooing would be too much for them to put up with.

The cockerels are beautiful looking, only 15 weeks old but they have lovely strong markings on their necks and backs and long glossy tail feathers. They are much bigger than our other chicken (a bog standard ex-bat) and have long legs and big feet. They've only been here for a couple of days but are eating/drinking, dust bathing and scratching about like they've always been here.

Hopefully I've attached a photo. If anyone can take them I'd be really grateful

Thanks

Jon

(P.S I'm in North Shields, Tyne & Wear)

[grenhouse]

This is an issue with buying at auction! Cocks are very hard to get rid of as you only need 1 to do the business! I always take mine to auction, however have started to think about having them for meat, truth is it is probably a better ending than most which go to auction (most are ferret food!). I hope someone takes them from you.
Steve

[RedThorn]

Hi and welcome Jon. Always great to see new chookaholic members.

I'm one of the more pragmatic people here though and as sad as it is, if you cannot home them, prep them for the pot, at least you know they'll be treated right and you'll be humane about it. If you're not worried about the skin, then just get your hand between the skin and the meat and peel them, it'll be over very very quickly this way. The first one is the hardest emotionally, but I promise it does get easier.

I really do hope that you can home them and agree that this is the first prize option. All the best and may you have many happy chookaholic years ahead of you.

Either way, please keep us all posted and all the best

[rustylady]

Hi Jon - welcome to the Vine. Sorry I can't help with your cockerels - they look beautiful. You say in your post that you live in North Shields, but can you add that to your profile please - that way it will show up on your posts (then we won't have to keep asking, and you won't have to keep telling us)

[chris]

Cor, they look lovely - look at all that grass too! I remember when my garden had grass (pre-chickens ). I was going to suggest the same as RedThorn, but we do have a couple of members who are from around your area.. you never know.

Have you tried on some other well known poultry forums? Someone may want to introduce some new blood line (pure?) into their flock... or they may be happy enough to take them off your hands for the pot.

Welcome to the forum!

[jonpop]

Thanks for all the replies, I know deep down how this is probably going to end but I really want to try everything I can to get them a good home before I reach for the Paxo. I've recently had to 'dispatch' 2 of our hens - they were very old and decrepid and it got to the point where it was the kindest thing to do. Both occasions were horrible and I'm not sure I could do it again - especially when there's nothing wrong with these boys. However, I'm old enough and ugly enough to know that it might come to that - last time I borrowed a hand held dispatcher but I think these guys might put up a bit of a struggle so I'm thinking it might be better/kinder to break their necks 'by hand'. Does anyone know of anywhere I can get a step-by-step instructions on the best way to go about this?

Thanks for all the messages, I've put adverts on as many poultry/allotment sites that I can think of so there's still a chance someone might take a shine to them I suppose and they've not stated crowing yet so I'm hoping I've got another couple of weeks before I have to 'act'. I'll keep you posted.

Jon
(P.S I've updated my profile to show where I am)

[VirginVegGrower]

How about trying a local farm or breeder of cream legbar? We bought our hen from Cheshire/Shropshire border although with googling I am sure you could find a shorter drive.

[Snadger]

Hi Jon

Can't promise anything, and don't want to build your hopes up too much, but I might be interested in one of them and I'll ask around at the allotments about the other. We aren't allowed cockerels at the allotment but I already have seven so I may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb!
I believe that the Cream Legbar cockerel carries the blue egg laying gene and I wouldn't mind hatching a few blue egg layers!

Give me two or three days to try and sort it and I'll PM you if it's a go-er.

[jonpop]

That's really good of you Snadger, Thanks

[chris]

re: instructions - I watched some videos on youtube that demonstrated the "broom stick" method - also if you search in this forum you'll find detailed instructions on how to do it.

We always buy whole chickens and joint them up.. probably a bit odd but I'm looking forward to when my wife allows me to keep chickens for food

[frias]

Welcome to the vine jonpop. I let a broody sit and ended up with 3 beautiful Welsummer cockerels. I was unable to rehome and was in fact contacted by a rescue centre that advised me to be very careful about offering them for free as they could be taken and used as bait for cock fighting. In the end it was kindest to have them culled than face an awful death. I still think about them and for this reason will never hatch again. Really hope someone like Snadger can help you.

[vicky]

Hi and welcome to the vine!
I can't take them I'm afraid. We have 2 baby CL cockrels that were hatched earlier this year. One will be kept (for the blue egg gene) and the other is destined for the freezer.... I dispatched my first 2 boys last year and it wasn't nice but they'd had a good life! There's a lot on youtube re the dispatch and dressing of the bird. Good luck with rehoming.

[baldrick]

Hi Jon

Can't promise anything, and don't want to build your hopes up too much, but I might be interested in one of them and I'll ask around at the allotments about the other. We aren't allowed cockerels at the allotment but I already have seven so I may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb!
I believe that the Cream Legbar cockerel carries the blue egg laying gene and I wouldn't mind hatching a few blue egg layers!

Give me two or three days to try and sort it and I'll PM you if it's a go-er.

I take it your allotment inspector is either deaf or doesnt know much about hens........

[Snadger]

I take it your allotment inspector is either deaf or doesnt know much about hens........

I hope he is blind and deaf as well as Sid and his harim are right next to the access road...........better than a guard dog!

TBH the allotments have been there for such a long time, are quite a distance away from any housing, quite a few plotholders have always had cockerels, and the few householders who will be able to hear them crowing are used to the sounds of the country.
The blanket law was probably introduced for city dwellers.

If anyone was to complain though, I'm sure the full might of the council would be unleashed upon us.

[RichmondHens]

I don't think you would get blue egg layers just using a CL cock to cover "ordinary" hens, otherwise everyone would be doing it!!!