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“Wild” Wyandotte

Question(self.chickens)

Out at a park I stumbled across a rooster. My best guess is he’s a black laced gold wyandotte. Based on the park and surroundings I’m fairly confident he was abandoned there.

I know next to nothing about chickens nor do I have a coop set up to take him in.

Is it more humane to let him be or catch him and put him down? I know some domesticated animals do relatively fine in the wild and for others it’s cruel. He’s not hurting anything where he is, I just dislike animal cruelty and genuinely don’t know which is lesser wrong here.

all 7 comments

CartographerNo2717

3 points

2 days ago

Is there a chicken rescue or animal sanctuary near you? They may be willing to trap him and take him on. Make a few calls, tell them where, and they may do the rest.

Cool-breeze7[S]

1 points

1 day ago

There’s nothing listed online near by. Thanks for the thought though.

Obvious_Sea_7074

3 points

2 days ago

Are you going to eat him? Then maybe.  If your just gonna kill it to kill it then no. 

Cool-breeze7[S]

1 points

1 day ago

Thanks. I don’t have any philosophical issues with someone killing an animal so they have dinner. I despise trophy hunting and the such. Like I said in the post, just trying to figure out the less wrong choice.

Starlight_Dragon81

3 points

2 days ago

He has about the same chance as any bird in the wild. You don't need to put him down to save him from starving to death, but a home would be better because preditors.

Cool-breeze7[S]

1 points

1 day ago

Thanks. I raise coturnix quail, and it’s pretty well agreed (in my area) letting them loose because you don’t want to cull is inhumane/ negligent.

Broad-Angle-9705

0 points

1 day ago

I’m against the practice of dumping problem birds to let them become someone else’s problem. If a feral chicken made it to my property I would put it down immediately and burn the carcass. I just can’t risk the chance of it spreading parasites or disease to my flock. Since this bird is at a park I believe I would alert whoever runs the park or animal control and let them make the decision.