If you find yourself with more roosters than you can care for, you should first determine how you ended up in this situation and what to do to prevent it in the future. Hundreds of roosters die every year because they're not wanted and not all sanctuaries and rescues have space. Below are several humane options to consider:

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 1. Set up a bachelor flock: Roosters can coexist peacefully without hens, although you should monitor them closely as they have a pecking order, and some can be bossier than others. 

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2. Find Suitable Homes: When rehoming, ensure that the new owners have adequate space, shelter, and resources to care for the roosters properly. Investigate potential adopters thoroughly to ensure they are committed to providing a good home and are not intending to use the roosters for harmful purposes, such as cockfighting.

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3. Reach out to your local humane society. They may be able to offer care or rehoming efforts. Always do this step before reaching out to a local sanctuary, rescue, or farm since most are full due to the increasing popularity of backyard hen keeping. 

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4. Local Sanctuaries, Rescues, and Farms: Contact local animal sanctuaries, rescues, or farms to see if they can provide a permanent home for your roosters. Some sanctuaries specialize in caring for roosters and may be able to accommodate them.

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Although we do not suggest hatching eggs in any situation, if you do, never plan on breeding chickens without a plan for surplus roosters. Prevention is key to avoiding future overpopulation issues. By taking proactive steps and exploring humane alternatives, you can ensure that your surplus roosters find safe and loving homes where they can live out their lives happily.

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Please Note: The Retirement Roost Rescue focuses on retired egg-laying hens and does not have space for roosters at this time. If you'd like to be added to our list of available chickens, please check out our Rehoming Efforts page. 

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