Hello all.
Thanks so much for your input. Let me put your mind at ease with some information that I could have posted originally, but didn't think I needed to as it doesn't necessarily pertain to my original question. I have worked with and trained animals all my life. My husband and I are huge bird fanatics, he is a wildlife biology major who is also a master falconer, I am a chicken nerd. We also have some of the healthiest, strongest, longest distance racing pigeons around. While I DO NOT profess to know everything about birds, I know health, pain tolerances, temperaments, behaviors, and can even tell you when you are about to get nailed by a hawk, pecked or wing whipped by anything else that we have
Many times I ask a question to simply learn about a topic, or to learn what YOU think or DO about a topic. It is not that I am un-informed about things, I simply want to see what you know.
Now to address some of the topics you all have mentioned:
crow collars- I understand the 'pro' side of the debate, it is a non-surgical route to stop crowing. But I will not do it. It is not a choice i'm willing to deal with. One being having to constantly monitor it for tightness, and feather damage from the collar and mites that like to live in warm spots. Two, if I keep the roosters, they would have to wear it 24/7, as I am great respecter of my neighbors possibly working night shift and having to sleep odd hours. We have had to do that ourselves. Three, any animal wearing a collar (especially an animal with the thought capabilities of a chicken!) are susceptible of getting the collar caught on something and causing damage to themselves via panicking. That is the sole reason I won't use the collar.
Caponization/Cruel?: I know full well the pain tolerance of birds. Animals in general have a MUCH higher pain tolerance than humans, that is fact. Once, i had to regularly perform bumble foot surgery on the same hen. No anesthesia, no surgery scalpel (which I honestly do want to get one of those). There were only two or three times she even flinched. After wrapping up, she went right back to foraging and scratching. I can tell you countless stories of just how tough birds are. So should I decide on the surgery, I am not concerned about pain level at all. if anything, I would be concerned about possible infection. Anesthesia is not a wise option for birds anyway, as they do not tolerate it well. It is an extremely fine line of tolerance. It is only in a life saving situation will I use that.
Roosters saving the day with predator alerts: someone on this thread mentioned how their rooster did this for their hens. I agree it can happen, my hens will alert to hawks and falcons that are not our birds. And yes, they know the difference. When my husband has his birds flying or tethered in the backyard, our chickens are 100% calm about it, they'll even hang out near them! But when another flies over? chickens screaming all over the place, but yet they and the pigeons stand stock still.
Why am I considering caponization? I know how well we take care of our birds. I have yet to meet anyone with the same standards. I agree that there are people out there that out-do us in that arena, but I have yet to meet them. So I hesitate in wanting to re-home them, I have re-homed before, but I hesitate, especially with these types of roosters. They are bantam cochin and frizzle. to me, they aren't going to pack on enough weight to make it worth while to harvest. So knowing that, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt they may go to a dog training home. we give our pigeon culls out for that purpose, so I know it happens. And finally I have simply grown attached to these two goof balls, they make me laugh so much! I do know that will change though. everybody's gotta grow up.
For those of you who tried to keep this conversation on course, thank you.
For those of you who wanted to argue, and didn't, thank you.
I am still in limbo on this and have not made a decision I still need to research more. I understand that age is a factor for sure, and they are getting close. I also understand that there is a chance that this surgery will not stop prevent the crowing.
If I do re-home, I will try to swap for same breed pullets, as I have absolutely fallen in love with the temperament of both breeds.
I hope I have addressed all of your concerns, if not, remind me. Also I am going to keep this thread open for a bit longer, as I would still like to learn from your knowledge.
Again I stress KEEP THIS CIVIL! please do not argue with me or anyone else on this thread. I am one of those people who can't stand what social media has become known for.... keyboard warriors. I want to learn, not fight
So thanks everyone for respecting this.
Also, the thread posted as an attachment by Beer Can, that is such an informative thread, I'm only a third of the way through it... its a huge thread!
thanks for listening and helping!
