De-Crowing a roo?

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

Quote:
What book is this.. do you know the name of it?

I want to know what book that is too.. I would like to read it..

 

[kbmead]

We also live in suburbia, and we use the containment method. After everyone goes in at night, we close the door to the chicken house and don't let them out until an acceptable time of the morning.

The roosters still crow early, but it is muffled enough that it doesn't bother anyone. It sounds far away.

Good luck!

 

[Brindlebtch]

"Dr. Ross E. Babcock has done this operation and has developed a
simple surgery for it. I understand he is willing to speak with other
vets about it. He can be reached at:
1215 E Northern Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85020
602-944-9661"

The nice gentleman, Barry, from Feathersite.com gave me this info.
I haven't de-crowed a rooster, but maybe this will help you.

 

[island.girlie]

When my rooster started to crow, my first reaction was one of frustration and irritability. After two months, I can't really hear it anymore. I think the brain learns to drown it out or something. And the reason I think I was wigging out in the first place was because I thought the neighbors would be grumpy over it. I stressed for nothing. My neighbors have no problems, and now I love my roo (even though he can be mean) and enjoy his crowing when I want to listen.

P.S. My place is only 5000sq ft., so it's close to the windows too

 

[WalkingWolf]

Quote:
We live in the country but zoned as a suburb. The codes said no livestock when we read them. EVERYBODY has chickens at night and in the morning it is a crow festival for a couple square miles. So far nobody has complained.

My wife always picks one chicken for a pet, right now it is a spare lonely Cornish Bantam Rooster. Every night like clock work he is waiting at the back door to come in. When the door is opened he walks calmly to the bedroom and finds his spot on a towel on the bed until my wife goes to bed, like a puppy he hops on his towel next to her. I have tried to get him to sit on a roost but he will not have it. Surprising he is potty trained he rarely does his business in the house and then it is on his towel. Like clockwork he crows at 3:00 am the time my wife has to get up for work(green alarm clock). I let him out as soon as light breaks.

If you are not planning on hatching eggs, you should cull the roosters to keep out of hot water. Housebreaking a bird(towel or potty box) takes time. It is fairly simple every time the bird squats it is going to poop, if you stop it from squatting until over the desired spot they will learn. Reward when they poop where they are supposed too. The other option would be to build them a rooster coop to keep them in the dark until time to get out.

 

[gottsegnet]

re: being unclear on the laws:

Try making a few anonymous phone calls. I called the state department of agriculture to find out the laws where I live and the surrounding communities. Even your city council has better things to do than log your phone number and start monitoring you because you called for clarification.

(& the guy on the phone left me to my common sense because there are no laws out here. That was sort of freeing and scary at the same time.)

If you find they are legal at least you'll only have to worry about noise ordinances and will likely only get a "letter" like we did on our dog. Annoying, but not a fine, not a demand to get rid of the animal and not a court hearing.

 

[blackdotte]

My son-in-law is an Avian Veterinary Specialist , he tells me de-crowing a rooster is not a simple operation but a major bit of surgery. Most birds do not handle general anesthetics well and most are likely not to live through the procedure. He considers it unethical & would not contemplate doing it.
David

 

[Anny]

Even if there was a way to decrow a rooster it would probly be pretty inhumane, like de-barking a dog.

 

[pkeeler]

If the choice is:

1. kill and eat bird

or

2. Try de-crow surgery, if bird dies eat it, if not, happy rooster.

Then #2 would be my pick, and probably the rooster's pick. Don't see how that can be unethical.

The book that mentioned the surgery is:

"Chickens in Your Backyard", by Rick and Gail Luttman. Very available book that is in every Barnes and Noble.

 

[WalkingWolf]

If the object is eggs, sans crowing why not give ducks a try. Yes they still make noise but it is the females that are louder. Ducks have some advantages too, most can't fly or jump high so no tall fencing needed. They tolerate cold temperatures in winter much better. Ducks are usually ready for outdoors by 4 weeks. All that is usually needed is a dog box with straw and a safe pen for night. Also most breeds mature at the rate of a meat bird without the other problems of heart disease and bad legs. They do lay less than chickens, but the eggs are larger. And some breeds are known to be quiet. And ducks are considered pets in most cases by government.