How Do I Safely and Humanely Get Rid of Unwanted Ducks or Chickens?

There are several ways to help me find a good home!  Don't just leave me!

There are several ways to help me find a good home! Don't just leave me!

We occasionally read or hear about tragic stories of people dumping ducks, chickens, and other birds in dumpsters or outside.  There is absolutely no reason to ever dump birds in an environment where they cannot survive.  All birds, especially domesticated ducks and chickens, have value and can be given a good and purposeful home.

Many people do not realize that most ducks and chickens one comes into contact with are domesticated breeds.  Thus, they had their wild instincts bred out over time in order to achieve the most desirable farming traits.  They will not adapt to a wild environment in most situations, and certainly should not be killed or dumped simply because they are unwanted.

If you have ducks or chickens which you cannot care for or do not want, please do not destroy them.  These are several key options which you can pursue to find them an adequate home, all of which require little effort.

How to find a good home for unwanted ducks or chickens -

  • Post an ad for free ducklings or chicks on Craigslist.org .  People all over the country raise ducks and chickens for a variety of beneficial purposes including egg production, pets, and as meat.  If you simply advertise on Craigslist that you have some free birds available to be picked up, you will receive plenty of interest.  Often time times, a good home can be found within a few hours.
  • Look for people seeking ducks and birds in your area on farming message boards, such as BestFarmBuys.com or AgriSeek.com . If you find the right person, you may even be able to sell you birds and make some money.
  • Contact a local farm or hatchery and ask them to take the birds.  There are countless places which raise birds for a variety of purposes all around the country.
  • Contact a local wildlife rehabilitater or waterfowl rescuer.  While this a great option and a valuable resource, these valuable people are very busy.  Thus, it may be better if you attempt one of the options above prior to contacting a rescuer.
  • Contact your local Fish and Game department.  Again, this option should be used only when you’ve attempted the first three options.

A Battle to Save the Backyard Ducks in Long Island, NY

Raising chickens and ducks in one’s backyard is a practice that is undergoing explosive growth in the United States.  Countless people find it to be an engaging hobby, an environmentally healthy pursuit, and a tremendous joy.

Ducks aren't just for the farm.  They make great pets and wonderful friends.

Ducks aren't just for the farm. They make great pets and wonderful friends.

This has been dubbed the Backyard Poultry Movement, and it is occasionally at odds with city ordinances and municipal codes.  Officials cite health, odor, and noise concerns.  However, while it may not be feasible to raise fowl on a large scale within city limits, it is certainly possible to keep a small flock for personal purposes, even when in close proximity to neighbors.

There is a trend of legalization of backyard poultry in cities where it was once banned.  Examples of cities where the citizens have successfully overturned ordinances prohibiting backyard poultry include Fort Collins, CO, Madison, WI, and Ann Arbor, MI.  However, this is usually only after a small skirmish between proponents and opponents of the Backyard Poultry Movement.

Such a skirmish is currently taking place in Long Island, NY, where Huntington Station resident Nina Tam and her daughter Ava Post are fighting to keep their ducks on their urban property.  Nina Tam suffers from allergies to chicken eggs, and thus duck eggs serve as a wonderful, healthy alternative.  The family is raising a small number of birds both as pets and for egg production, and they’ve found them to be a tremendous joy.

Here are Nina and Ava's backyard ducks.  They appear to have  Pekin, two Black Runners, and a Fawn & White Runner.

Here are Nina and Ava's backyard ducks. They appear to have a Pekin, two Black Runners, and a Fawn & White Runner.

Furthermore, the ducks are very quiet and do not disturbed the neighbors.  They are totally fenced in, and do not create a public nuisance.  They even serve as an exciting treat for area children who come observe these entertaining birds.

However, one neighbor has complained and thus the city has sprung into action to have the ducks removed from their property.  There is currently a hearing scheduled for November 5th to move closer to resolving the issue.  Nina Tam and Ava Post have garnered hundreds of signatures on petitions to encourage their city to follow the increasing trend of legalizing backyard poultry.  Also, their story has evoked an outpouring of support from poultry enthusiasts and sympathizers in the form of Tweets and Facebook messages.

Check out the social media efforts related to this story -

Funny Duck Picture

We've all heard of rubber ducks before, but this one is a bit ridiculous.

We've all heard of rubber ducks before, but this one is a bit ridiculous.

What has @DuckInfo been tweeting about? Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-10-18

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What has @DuckInfo been tweeting about? Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-10-11

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