De-crowing a Rooster

[ihvpower]

Okay, Thanks for the information. He's just about 3 months old now. I definitely listen to what the vet says and would not take a chance on his death.

 

[sourland]

Caponizing after secondary sex characteristics have developed probably will not be succesful in quieting your rooster. It is also far more difficult and dangerous in a more mature bird.

 

[tinahoak]

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And it isn't generally done by Vet's either. I was investigating this ( caponizing) several years ago. I called my vet and he told me that isn't something taught in Vet school. It is past down from poultry farmer to poultry farmer on how to do this. It is done to young roos that are going to be sold to resturants as it makes the meat more tender. I even called the local co operative extention to inquire about this .......got no where. I was checking into this for different reasons , I was just starting out with chickens and did not know any better about eggs / baby chicks....didn't want to find a baby when I cracked an egg to eat. Now I look back and laugh as I was TOTALLY a newbie!

 

[ChickenChik]

Here is what we did...before let me go ahead and say that we did not intentionally decrow him. He brought home a rooster about 2 months ago. We tried a temporary isolation from my other birds and then we tried to put him in with my other birds and he ATTACKED them. It was really bad so we snatched him out real quick and placed him back in his little isolation pen for a few weeks. No, he was not with the other birds and I know that a chicken should be with other birds but we didn't have another option. We placed him back in with the other and he was fine and NO MORE CROW. I told my husband that he broke him like you break a horse. He has been in with my others now for a week and no problems what so ever and he is happy. Again, we did not intentionally do this and it is not for everyone UNDERSTOOD just an option other than neutering.

 

[Tiramisu]

I don't see why caponizing would be considered, it may make the roo not crow as much but its not going to affect how it makes noise. Keeping it in a coop will make the crowing harder to hear, but that doesn't seem the best choice to just always have it in there, especially if they free-range or have a run. otherwise you will probably just have to rehome if your neighbors are going to complain or something.

Is there room to move the coop farther back? Maybe if you could do that and have bushes around would block the sound a bit

that would seem like a lot to do to keep a roo though

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

About 15 years ago I was searching down a place to de-crow a rooster. Every one just laughed at me. Said it cant be done. I sure was attached to that little roo. Didnt know it was a roo at the time. I picked my favorite chick out of 7. And it was the prettiest roo there ever was. Think is there was only 2 roos in that batch. I taught the chick to ride on my shoulder with out pooing.. He rode in a basket on my bike.. It was like a pet. Until one day he crowed. Roos were not allowed where I lived. Hens were. So I had to sadly rehome my little guy after a month long attempt to find a place to de-crow him..

If you did find some one to do the surgery. I bet the roo would most likely not survive it.. Or it wouldnt work. And it would be so very very expensive..

 

[ihvpower]

Yup, vet said that it was extremely dangerous. Well, so far it's a soft, adorable little crow as he is only a little cockeral, about 3 months old. I'm going to try and adjust the neighbors to him and see what happens. Pics to follow. ALSO he has a bald patch at the base of his beautiful tail. It feels very rough and looks quite dry. He has no bugs on him. Anyone have any ideas on what this might be from???

 

[klf73]

I wouldn't see how neutering would quiet him.....some hens crow if there are no roos

no idea about the bald patch, maybe you could post pics? could someone be pulling his feathers out? my roo has no muff/beard(he is ameraucana) cuz the girls pull the feathers out.......

 

[ihvpower]

Here is "Dickie Bird" isn't he gorgeous!??? He's a little raggety right now cuz he's just a baby but wait till he's big!

 

[ihvpower]

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On the pic of him, you can just see a piece of it. You think the girls might be the culprits? I'll take a close-up tomorrow and post it.