Help!

Hello Everyone!

It has been such a while since I was last on, but as an update, I am currently moving! I am taking six chickens with me and I am giving my Turkey, Duck and Rhode Island Red to good friends of mine! And unfortunately, my Barred Rock was killed by a Weasel. But my oldest Chicken just started laying, yayy! She's a great layer. Here is a list of my Chickens that I am taking to the New House:

Rhode Island Red - Ginger
Silver Sebright Bantam - Pietro
Golden Sex Link - Momo Fuku
New Hampshire Red - Cinnamon
Black and White Polish - Fabio
Ameraucana - Fredzilla
Here is a few pictures of my Sebright Pullet, chick and Full Grown:






I am going to let them be Free Range since the coup we just bought is smaller than our other ones, and we are getting rid of their protection (our turkey) so I was thinking, should I get a rooster? They have this new thing out that keeps them from crowing without hurting them, so I would get a nicer breed and that for them.
Is this a good idea? Please comment below so I can decide if this is a good idea. Thank you and talk to you guys soon!

I can't comment on the rooster collar. I am fortunate enough to live in the country and so I am able to let my boys be boys! If you do decide to get a rooster for protection, I would lean towards getting a bantam since you have a bantam and a polish. Although I have had golden crested polish and full size roosters. Not sure. A rooster can only warn the hens and try to fight off predators. I've had many hawk attacks and owl attacks that the rooster could do nothing to save the chickens. I would try to get your coop in order and realize that with free ranging, there is always a risk that they may get killed. Just speaking from experience.

Outpost JWB said:

I can't comment on the rooster collar.  I am fortunate enough to live in the country and so I am able to let my boys be boys!  If you do decide to get a rooster for protection, I would lean towards getting a bantam since you have a bantam and a polish.  Although I have had golden crested polish and full size roosters.  Not sure.  A rooster can only warn the hens and try to fight off predators.  I've had many hawk attacks and owl attacks that the rooster could do nothing to save the chickens.  I would try to get your coop in order and realize that with free ranging, there is always a risk that they may get killed.  Just speaking from experience. 

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Good luck on the move! Don't bother with a roo, collared or not, until new coop "expansion" /secure fencing for run - "blue print" is realized. PingandPietro wrote: "my Barred Rock was killed by a Weasel" Sorry for your loss. Weasels/Foxes/Raccoon, at your new place? Investment in securing your flock, assessing & reducing pred load at new location, before starting to let them out for "supervised" free range (adjust to new place).

If you're just getting a rooster for "protection", don't bother. They can be helpful in warning the flock of an aerial attack, but if you're going to collar him anyway (are you not allowed to have roosters in your new place, or do you just not want to hear it crow?) I think that would defeat the purpose in having a rooster in the first place. A rooster is often just a speed bump for a ground predator. Most cannot fend off a coyote, fox, raccoon, skunk, neighbor dog, or whatever else may come along. A dominant hen will often take the place of a rooster when it comes to being vigilant and watching for hawks and other birds of prey. I agree with Outpost that you should concentrate on getting your coop in order first, and maybe consider an attached run. You don't have to keep the chickens in the run, but it's nice to have in case you need to lock them up for a time to discourage a persistent predator, or if you need to be gone for a few days. I also keep mine locked up when visiting family comes with their dogs.

I agree with the above.

I have also read a few thread posts that state the collars do reduce the crowing but they do still crow. I think shocking an animal for doing what they were made to do is unkind.

Thinking dog antibark collar here. I know my nasty new neighbor should have looked around before buying in a NON HOA neighborhood. There are 50 dogs within hearing. My dog wore the collar for a few days when he was to be out while I was at work. By day 4 I had to carry his 120 pound butt to the yard if the collar was on. I am just lucky he only pouted and did not decide to bite. No more collar for him.
In case anyone was wondering why I think shock collars are unkind.

Actually, the kind I was hinting does not shock them, and the neighbors complain about the crowing so I was looking into the collar. I would rather not do something like that, but it would be my only choice since I don't have my turkey and I have an aggressive dog! I keep my girls safe though, the fence is currently being built and soon they will be safe and sound inside. Thank you all for your advice! I preferred to not have a collar for my rooster if I got one since I'd rather not have to spend money on a fence, but everything's set now. Thanks again!