An Open Letter to the Public re: “Chick Days”

In recognition of the vast and growing problem of unwanted and abandoned roosters and other backyard poultry, we, the undersigned animal sanctuaries, shelters, and welfare organizations strongly encourage responsible members of the public to forgo the purchase of chicks and instead consider adopting some of the many happy, healthy chicken companions in need of loving homes. 

Rooster overpopulation is an under-recognized yet exponentially growing area of concern in the realm of animal rescue.  To date, the issue has gone virtually unacknowledged and unaddressed by the mainstream public, which continues to feed the problem by indiscriminately breeding and buying baby chicks, half of whom statistically will mature into (unwanted) roosters. 

Collectively, we put forth to the public the notion that: (1) chickens are not disposable; and (2) the acquisition of chicken companions warrants as careful consideration as that of any dog or cat companion.   

In light of the nearly universal acceptance that companion animal overpopulation can only be resolved through adoption rather than breeding and buying, we urge the public to apply the same principle to the lives of chickens -- all of whom have the same need for shelter, care, and companionship and who suffer similarly when they are discarded.

The rate of rooster placement for animal shelters is dismal -- only a very tiny percentage of those who enter an animal shelter nationwide finds a solid home. Therefore, simply discarding unwanted roosters at local animal shelters should not be viewed as a viable solution.

The problem of purposely hatching chicks without being prepared to keep all the offspring regardless of sex is self-evident: Fifty percent of all chicks hatched are roosters, and the demand for pet roosters is virtually nil.  

The problems with buying pre-sexed chicks from a hatchery are less obvious but equally problematic. Because chick-sexing is an inexact science, one in every ten chicks sold as female will mature into a rooster. This amounts to hundreds of thousands of unwanted roosters across the country annually, peaking in the months following seasonal chick sales.  Because nearly all legitimate animal sanctuaries are always at capacity for roosters, the vast majority of these birds will be dead before their first year. 

For those seeking chicken companions, there are virtually thousands of adoptable hens and roosters in need. Your local animal shelters or farm animal sanctuaries can help, or visit Adopt A Bird Network to find your next feathery friend.