Decrowing Roosters.

[Lujangut]

There is one in Oakland called St. Louis vet hospital that does it also Uyman I would like to purchase your rooster if he is available

 

[Lujangut]

I just contacted this Vet and they told me they don’t do it anymore. The vet decided that it was too risky and felt bad every time a rooster died in his hands
I’m still looking for a vet that would perform Decrowing in the LA or South Cal area

 

[Gentle Flock]

Thanks all. Its good to see some more positive comments and questions.

Ya'll are right about the target client, the "oops" rooster that has become a pet. Also I think that there are alot of people out there that would like to show the kids how the incubation process goes. So they need a fertile rooster to go with their hens. I doubt that there are very many schools doing this little project anymore, which really is a shame.

That is a good pic of the anatomy that I'm working with. The syrinx is actually very thin and kind of floppy, it works like stretching the neck of a balloon. With the surgery, the goal is to cut slits in either side of the syrinx. This allows the forced air from the lungs during a crow to be pushed through the slits into the clavicular air sacs, instead of past the stretched part and on out of the mouth. But normal breathing is much slower and is circulated normally. Bird respiration is interesting, it is so efficient, they actually exchange oxygen on both inspiration and expiration. Plus all the air sacs hold extra air (in an emergency air can be supplied through the humerus or even the abdominal cavity) .
Its very tight in there, Im working through a hole smaller than a quater at the base of the neck. Im a tinkerer and have built some really specific tools to accomplish this.

Also an advantage of poultry is that you can mail them. So I hope that distance is not a huge hang up with some of you, shipping is pretty economical and I've had good luck with it so far. I shipped a pair to NC for less than $15 postage, the rooster was about 7 days post surgery. They arrived in 2 days and were actually left an extra night at the post office because my friend didnt make it down there before they closed. Done great, pullet actually laid an egg on the journey. She's a vet and she said that my surgery is very effective. I'm hoping that she'll finally get on here and comment and possible post a video.

Thanks heaps.

Dr. James

Dear Dr James, Do you still do decrowing surgeries? Please contact me @ [email protected]

 

[Gentle Flock]

I just contacted this Vet and they told me they don’t do it anymore. The vet decided that it was too risky and felt bad every time a rooster died in his hands
I’m still looking for a vet that would perform Decrowing in the LA or South Cal area

Thanks for replying to me. Is there a list of any vets that perform this surgery in the USA?

 

[Gentle Flock]

I will contact them. Thanks.

 

[Michnant]

Hello people of the chicken world! Im Dr. James Richards, a vet in eastern OK. I have been working on a surgical procedure to help with the crowing that offends some people (neighbors). I believe there is a growing need to allow people to keep their roosters, when otherwise they would be killed because of noise. There is an increasing number of the backyard flocks now being raised in more urban settings. I understand that people have a special bond with their birds and removing an animal from your flock can be a hard thing to do. Also, a rooster is needed if you intend on hatching some chicks out of your birds (obviously

) Personally, I really like the attitude and aesthetics they bring to a flock.

I was taught this procedure from a very experienced vet in AZ. I think that I have really tuned the procedure and seems to be very effective. I dont have any objective numbers yet, I don't have the right software to measure before and after noise levels. (any advice from the computer folks would be appreciated)

It is a thoracic surgery to modify the voice box of the bird. The birds are put under anesthesia and the procedure is performed in a sterile manner, just like any other surgery on your pet. But, just like any surgical procedure, there are risks. It does not stop the crowing behavior, but really decreases volume. I don't believe this ends up causing pain, since the roosters still posture, pop their wings and crow but much quiter. They really recover quickly and get back to being normal roosters just a few hours after the procedure, mating hens, eating etc.

Anyway, I may be offering this procedure at the clinic and am trying to get a feel for the demand for decrowed roosters. I may also offer pre-decrowed birds that I raise, but this will be in the future.

I know that there will be people out there that disagree with this concept. I feel that an elective surgery to save the animals life is not always a bad thing.

So please give me your input, good or bad on the subject of rooster decrowing.

Thanks heaps.

Dr. James

p.s. Here is a youtube link of a silver duckwing rooster 10 days post surgery.

Dear Dr J.
I am hoping you are still doing this procedure or can forward me to another doctor that you might know. We have been desperately trying to find a vet in my area that would do the decrowing on my rooster and I can not tell you how many times I have been told off. Is there a way I can contact you?

 

[casportpony]

Dear Dr J.
I am hoping you are still doing this procedure or can forward me to another doctor that you might know. We have been desperately trying to find a vet in my area that would do the decrowing on my rooster and I can not tell you how many times I have been told off. Is there a way I can contact you?

Welcome to BYC. This member has not been on BYC since 2016.

 

[georgiashens]

I would definitely do it. I see my chickens as pets and love them dearly and if one of them did turn out to be a roo I would be heart broken because there’s no way i could keep one. If I had the opportunity to do this and the situation did arise, I wouldn’t hesitate! Yes it may be risky but the outcome would probably be that they were slaughtered anyway so why not give them the chance to live a wonderful life that they otherwise couldn’t have. £250 isn’t that expensive compared to what we would pay for our dogs and cats vet bills so why not chickens?

 

[user651618]

Is this procedure available for spouses?