no crow collars

Unfortunately, after literally countless attempts at adjusting the 'no crow collar' for tightness and placement (not to mention the fact that I tried it on three different roos), I've
come to the upsetting realization that nothing short of a complete and total laryngectomy will EVER keep a rooster who really wants to 'roooo', quiet. That's only my opinion, but
I've got lots of experience (with the collar) and a dozen or so neighbors to back me up...lol !!!

-kim-

P.S. A word of caution for those who may zealously try to make their bird wear the collar for days on end with it as tight as can be...
a neighbor of mine did that for a week one time and his rooster ended up with a terrible abrasion sore around his neck that took weeks to heal. Just an FYI.

I am back with good news! To my disbelief after readjustment (several weeks ago) our roo has finally been (almost) silenced!! He crowed right next to me today and I was tempted to say "what was that you said?". He is defently quieter because the other roo we have can out crow him. (Our other roo has a very pathetic crow) I am satisfied with the collar!!

What size for a silkie? It says Medium, but some people complained that it was big. Should I get small? Thanks!!

Would love to see photos of the position the rooster is wearing it when it works. Thinking of buying one of these.

I've made my own for my old english bantams, and by made I mean I cut off a piece of 5/8" Velcro and tuck around their neck. Good success with young roos, old boys not so much. They get their lower mandible under the collar and can't get it out. Unpleasant for all concerned.
What I'm getting at is start them when they start crowing!

I bought some chicks this spring - April 2016. They are only 17 weeks so no eggs just yet. I really wanted Mille Fleur D'uccle but was buying from Meyers and they don't sex them. In any case, I now have one hen and one rooster Mille Fleur D'uccle. I am super happy with them. Sweet and cute. But a couple weeks ago, I tried to put a blue painters tape tie on my Polish hen so she could see and when I put her back with the flock, they didn't recognize her. All of her flockmates (raised together) attacked her and the rooster got particularly aggressive and crowed for first time. I had the collar but hadnt' put it on yet, so grabbed the No Crow Collar (bantam size, of course) and put it on (and removed painters tape from Polish hen and gave her a haircut instead... she is so grateful to SEE!) Rooster didn't crow for a couple weeks once collar was on. (I do check collar daily. ) Then the other morning... he crowed again. I tightened collar just a tad. No more crowing for a couple days. I can still get my finger under it. He did get his beak stuck and scratched at it when I first put it on him, but I snugged it up so he couldn't get under the edge. He is now used to it. He doesn't seem to notice. I kinda like the look.... he looks like he is dressed up (I did not get bowtie, but still, can see label sometimes and looks fancy to me - bowtie would be cute). He no longer scratches at it. He doesn't even seem to notice. He doesn't mind me adjusting it when I've tightened it. Maybe he is just a good little roo. He has not been crowing so maybe it is just not habit for him since he has a harem of lovely talkers. Or maybe it is just his age and the crowing will begin in another few weeks. Or maybe this collar really works.

I did read, and it makes sense, to get the collar on a young rooster just before they start to crow to keep them from practicing the behavior. Also, with other new interesting things to distract from collar, might help, too. These youngsters were just starting to free range when I started using the collar so they had lots to do and explore all day that they'd never had before. I think the distraction was helpful.

Another thing that I had read was how to keep roosters from crowing and waking everyone up. So, aside from the collar, you can put them to bed in a "Rooster Box." The box should be dark, though should offer plenty of air and it should have limited height. You want your rooster to be comfortable to sleep, but not be able to stretch up to open airway for a good loud crow. Not sure if it works, but if my rooster ever wakes me up from sleep (or my neighbors!), that will be my next attempt. Haven't tried it yet. If the collar works, perhaps I won't have to. I have never kept a rooster before so this is all new to me. He just needs to be a good little boy who doesn't attack people, rough up his girls, or wake my neighbors. Yeah, I know, that sounds wrong... my poor little roo is not allowed to be himself. <sigh>

Will be interested to hear back in a few months how it's gone!

No-crow collars-ordered one earlier this evening, does anyone have any experience with them and how long do they take to get them to you

jheasley said:

No-crow collars-ordered one earlier this evening, does anyone have any experience with them and how long do they take to get them to you

Click to expand...

I received mine yesterday. I put it on this morning and thank God I waited it out with her (yes, her) to see how she'd take to it. It wasn't pretty. I read that it would be an hour or so for them to get used to it but for the 15 minutes I sat there, she kept getting her lower beak stuck in it. I kept making it tighter and tighter. I could get a finger in so I know it wasn't choking her or anything. The one thing is that, according to their website, a Polish Crested (normal size) should have a medium. She's not a bantam. This collar is huge. It's literally twice the length it needs to be for her neck. Which might explain why she keeps getting her beak stuck in it even though I keep tightening it. Also, the ends are protected with a fabric edging (as Velcro is so stiff and would be pokey). But, those ends, not being Velcro now, stick out because they have no way of lying down. I like the idea of the Velcro and of the mesh but parts of this design just don't work. I have no idea if it's going to stop her from crowing because currently it's sitting on my desk, not on her neck.
Oh, you may be wondering why I'm putting it on a hen? Apparently I have a very gender-confused hen. Or maybe she's gender fluid. I don't know what the correct PR terms are for it but she's definitely exploring all of her gender options. She was a fine little egg layer for a while. Then one day she decided to go broody. Yes, I know, Polish Crested are not known for going broody. But, she's special. Anyway, we did everything we could for three weeks to break the broodiness and finally she got out of it, only to start wandering our backyard crowing! I live in the city. This isn't going to end well. I keep trying to explain to her that she's a hen and she needs to go lay some eggs (which she hasn't done for a month now). She just looks at me and crows. Silly bird. So I got the collar for her in hopes that it would make her crowing much quieter. Sigh. On to the next idea. Anyone?