Several weeks after local animal sanctuaries warned they were overwhelmed with calls from residents trying to surrender roosters, geese and aging hens, the crisis hasn’t slowed — and some say it’s only getting worse.
At Sonoma Chicks Rescue and Sanctuary, founder Tania Soderman said her phone still rings daily with pleas to take in unwanted birds.
“After that last story ran, people just read the headline and saw our name,” Soderman said. “The phone started ringing off the hook. I can’t even pick it up anymore, we’re completely at capacity.”
The nonprofit sanctuary, which Soderman has operated since 2015, currently houses more than 100 birds — from chickens and ducks to injured pigeons and turkeys — cared for by Soderman and one intern.
Despite the steady stream of calls, she said few of those reaching out offer to help cover the costs of feed, shelter or veterinary care.
“Maybe 2% of people who contact us offer to donate,” Soderman said. “I don’t know how they think we survive, nobody’s paying us to do this.”
In August, Soderman said many people purchased chicks without realizing that half would grow into roosters, which are banned in most residential areas.
That pattern, she said, has continued — along with people hoping rescues will absorb the consequences of their impulse animal purchases.
Soderman said she’s also receiving calls about injured or neglected birds from people hoping to surrender them instead of paying for veterinary treatment.
“I just had someone call about a bird with a broken leg that’s been suffering for weeks,” she said. “They wanted me to come pick it up so they didn’t have to deal with it. That’s not rescue — that’s neglect.”
The situation mirrors reports from Charlie’s Acres Farm Animal Sanctuary, which said in August that it, too, was inundated with requests to surrender unwanted roosters.
Rhianna Axon, the sanctuary’s animal care director, said previously that callers often resorted to “emotional blackmail,” telling staff they would kill the animals if the sanctuary couldn’t help.
“We want to help, but we’re already at capacity,” Axon added.
Brian Whipple, director of Sonoma County Animal Services, said while there aren’t a lot of avenues available for those looking to get rid of roosters, there are some options other than abandoning the birds.
“There’s always Nextdoor groups and social media groups that may be able to help with that and obviously, rescues are there for some of that as well, but they do get inundated,” Whipple said. “It’s definitely hard, because there aren’t a lot of resources for that kind of thing. And I think that’s why people turn to the dumping, because they do try and they can’t find an outlet, and that’s what their last resort comes down to.”
Soderman said many rescues, including her own, are now operating beyond their limits — and that public awareness hasn’t translated into sustained financial support.
“There’s a definite lack of funding for us all,” she said. “We’re overworked, and there’s no break in sight.”
Heading into the fall, Soderman said she’s trying to fundraise to cover winter costs for feed and shelter. She hopes the community that relies on sanctuaries will begin to share responsibility for keeping them afloat.
“We’re doing good work for the community,” she said. “But we can’t keep going without help.”
Axon also mentioned back in August that there were several alternative ways people could responsibly purchase chicks and chickens without contributing to the issue.
“If you want chickens, I always recommend contacting local sanctuaries because they will oftentimes adopt out and adopt some egg laying hens and that doesn’t add to the problem,” she said. “We offer resources of places that people can contact — other sanctuaries in the area, because we don’t adopt out — or information about how to check local zoning laws before you get animals. It’s not a perfect solution, but we’re trying to give some info.”
Residents wishing to support local bird rescues can donate or learn more at sonomachicks.org and charliesacres.org.