Cockerels from RSPCA Stubbington Ark on the hunt for love after being abandoned

Big John and Russell Crow were taken in at the RSPCA Stubbington Ark after John was unwanted by his former owners because of his crowing, and Russell was found abandoned in a cardboard box and had to be rescued by RSPCA inspectors

The team at the animal shelter in Fareham want to find the pair new homes.

Centre manager Kirstie Blakeley said: ‘Both John and Russell are big characters; they are very handsome boys with a lot of love to give. They are calm and gentle around other poultry and are comfortable being handled, so we’re really hoping their funky online dating profiles will find them a match made in heaven with a harem of hens this Valentine’s Day.

‘The boys are both quite vocal when they wander around their enclosure singing ‘cock-a-doodle-doo’ throughout the day, but we don’t feel they are very loud, and they are quiet at night when they are in their coop, so we hope this won’t put people off coming to meet them.’

The RSPCA regularly deals with cases of abandoned cockerels, and it is thought this could be as a result of disputes between neighbours over their crowing, or simply the fact that they cannot lay eggs.

The charity has teamed up with the British Hen Welfare Trust, which in 2017 set up the ‘Cockerel Lonely Hearts’ project to offer the public the opportunity to find homes for any unwanted cockerels.

Jane Howorth MBE, founder of the British Hen Welfare Trust said: ‘Our primary focus is the rehoming of ex-commercial laying hens, but, we care about these beautiful boys too and decided we wanted to do something to help.

‘We’ve offered the cockerel adoption service on our website for some time, but teaming up with the RSPCA was an obvious way for us to help even more chaps find themselves a flock of loving ladies to look after.’

Both charities advise any potential rehomers to ensure they check that their local council allows keeping cockerels as pets before rehoming them, as well as considering neighbours and other local residents.

If your feathered flock are on the lookout for love this Valentine’s Day, visit www.bhwt.org.uk/adopt-a-cockerel/

Last year Rowlands Castle farmer Jamie McInnes launched Tudder – Tinder for cows – to help farmers ‘swipe right’ and learn more about breeding stocks across the country.