Crowing control: no crow collar or roost box?

[EverythingZen]

which method works best for quieting the early morning crowing?

Tonight I’m going to try putting both my cockerels in an overturned rectangular laundry basket which will give plenty of ventilation. Problem with this plan is it’s summer here and bloody hot and all the reading and you tubing I’ve done suggests there really should be a blanket over it as well to reduce the light. Also, if the hens are roosting in the coop with them, will they most likely just wake the boys up anyway?

I’m hesitant to start the collar method. It seems to work for the vast majority but the exceptions worry me. I’m going to DIY the collar but it’s going to take some time to get a good prototype for each. One is a bantam and one is already a huge lad, so they will both be very different in size. The Velcro I have is about 2cm thick (just under 1”) so it’s possibly not wide enough anyway to work. I’ll need to fashion a fabric strip that is firm enough, wide enough, and adjustable until I tweak the perfect fit.

What methods have you tried? Any tips or tricks you can recommend? I live in a semi rural area and there are many roosters around, but I know it will be me who gets complaints, especially from one neighbour who is very citified and not accustomed to how things work out here. I really want to prevent complaints if I can.

 

[Cayuga momma]

which method works best for quieting the early morning crowing?

Tonight I’m going to try putting both my cockerels in an overturned rectangular laundry basket which will give plenty of ventilation. Problem with this plan is it’s summer here and bloody hot and all the reading and you tubing I’ve done suggests there really should be a blanket over it as well to reduce the light. Also, if the hens are roosting in the coop with them, will they most likely just wake the boys up anyway?

I’m hesitant to start the collar method. It seems to work for the vast majority but the exceptions worry me. I’m going to DIY the collar but it’s going to take some time to get a good prototype for each. One is a bantam and one is already a huge lad, so they will both be very different in size. The Velcro I have is about 2cm thick (just under 1”) so it’s possibly not wide enough anyway to work. I’ll need to fashion a fabric strip that is firm enough, wide enough, and adjustable until I tweak the perfect fit.

What methods have you tried? Any tips or tricks you can recommend? I live in a semi rural area and there are many roosters around, but I know it will be me who gets complaints, especially from one neighbour who is very citified and not accustomed to how things work out here. I really want to prevent complaints if I can.

The crow collar can take like a month till you get it adjusted right. Mine worked great until my roo tried to swallow a big chunk of tomato that one of my hens missed. We found him hours later dead. He chocked to death.

 

[EverythingZen]

The crow collar can take like a month till you get it adjusted right. Mine worked great until my roo tried to swallow a big chunk of tomato that one of my hens missed. We found him hours later dead. He chocked to death.

I’m so sorry! I didn’t even think of that. Mine free range and get into absolutely everything. God only knows what they’d be able to find and choke on. They’ve just stopped eating a styrofoam box in favour of this stupid Christmas pen my kids have left in the backyard. It’s got this rubbery reindeer head which plays jingle bells and lights up and the chooks looooove playing with it. We joke about which noise will get the first complaints; the crowing or out of season tinny carols?

The crow collar can take like a month till you get it adjusted right. Mine worked great until my roo tried to swallow a big chunk of tomato that one of my hens missed. We found him hours later dead. He chocked to death.

 

[Cayuga momma]

I’m so sorry! I didn’t even think of that. Mine free range and get into absolutely everything. God only knows what they’d be able to find and choke on. They’ve just stopped eating a styrofoam box in favour of this stupid Christmas pen my kids have left in the backyard. It’s got this rubbery reindeer head which plays jingle bells and lights up and the chooks looooove playing with it. We joke about which noise will get the first complaints; the crowing or out of season tinny carols?

Mine free range also. I made sure I cut his pieces of tomato small and tossed the girls theirs. (They like their chunks bigger) I don't know how they missed that piece.
It was sad, because my 9 yr old son found him. We opened his mouth and you could see part of the tomato sticking out of his throat. Lesson learned and I threw out the crow collar.

the chooks looooove playing with it.

Thats would be hilarious!

 

[DobieLover]

which method works best for quieting the early morning crowing?

Tonight I’m going to try putting both my cockerels in an overturned rectangular laundry basket which will give plenty of ventilation. Problem with this plan is it’s summer here and bloody hot and all the reading and you tubing I’ve done suggests there really should be a blanket over it as well to reduce the light. Also, if the hens are roosting in the coop with them, will they most likely just wake the boys up anyway?

I’m hesitant to start the collar method. It seems to work for the vast majority but the exceptions worry me. I’m going to DIY the collar but it’s going to take some time to get a good prototype for each. One is a bantam and one is already a huge lad, so they will both be very different in size. The Velcro I have is about 2cm thick (just under 1”) so it’s possibly not wide enough anyway to work. I’ll need to fashion a fabric strip that is firm enough, wide enough, and adjustable until I tweak the perfect fit.

What methods have you tried? Any tips or tricks you can recommend? I live in a semi rural area and there are many roosters around, but I know it will be me who gets complaints, especially from one neighbour who is very citified and not accustomed to how things work out here. I really want to prevent complaints if I can.

Are roosters permitted where you are?

 

[EverythingZen]

Are roosters permitted where you are?

Yes, but with conditions, such as maximum numbers per 1000sqm land etc. it’s all established for the residential folks who make up 98% of the population. Then there’s my area that borders the rural and residential. We have more land than town, but aren’t primary industry or agriculture like lots of the rural is - chicken farms, cattle, horse people, and then the numerous market gardeners etc with produce. Council don’t care out here as long as you’re not neglecting or overcrowding etc. it’s all good.

I think however, my boys are content for now with the roost boxes. I’m so happy. For the last 2 mornings I haven’t heard them until around 8am. If I can avoid the collars then it’s all for the best. It’s a last resort in our case, so it’s great they’ve so far taken to their laundry basket haha.

 

[DobieLover]

I happen to love listening to my boy crow. Or try to. He has yet to completely master a correct crow.
If you're permitted to have them, I would not put the no crow collars on them. It's too risky IMO.
Just keep doing what you are doing to be a considerate neighbor and leave it at that.