Help me keep my Silkie Rooster!

[JLutey]

We decided to hatch some chicks for one of our broody hens and ended up with 4 out of 5 roosters. I have found homes for the roosters however we have fallen in love with the little black one. It even plays around with out dog (a newfoundland). We really want to keep the rooster however he has started to crow and it will only be a matter of time before we get complaints from our neighbours. Is there any way at all anyone can suggest how we can keep this rooster quiet and keep him here?? Please help

 

[chickencoop789]

There are options to keep him quiet. Some options are keeping him confined in a low box so he cant lift his head up to crow, or keeping him in a dark place. But things like that can be cruel and stressful for the chicken. If you start getting complaints from the neighbors, give them fresh eggs every few days in exchange for keeping your rooster.

 

[sourland]

Roosters crow. It's inherent to their nature. The only possible solution that I can see is to make him a 'house chicken' if you really want to keep him.

 

[Mattemma]

Don't even try to limit him in a box.It will just stress you both.Dark coop and release at a decent am time is the only thing I would recommend.Thing is the rooster might crow all day long.Mine does.Drives me nuts not because I hate it,but because I worry about the neighbors reporting me.

You could keep him in the house at night if needed.Could even make him a house chicken in a large dog cage if neighbors complain.Outside the house though a rooster will do his rooster things,and either the neighbors tolerate or complain.

As a fellow rooster owner I say keep the roo.Let it out at a later time in the am.Hope for the best.
My roo crows in the am,when a bird sings,when a dog barks,when a squirrel or crow invades their space, and just for the heck of it.He is a great roo,but I am sure the neighbors are saying," There goes that darn roo crowing again! Is it even legal to have? I am going to call the police and report it!"

I tell you if my neighbors complain I would probably try the dog crate thing.Dh would go insane,but I would have to save this roo.He is just to awesome.If yours is like that just keep the house cage as an option.If you are lucky neighbors will tolerate daytime crowing.It is the 3am-6am crowing that agitates most of the them to the point of reportig you.

 

[laturcotte1]

Thats why I don't hatch the eggs. I pull them as soon as I know they are there. We are a rescue and you couldn't even in your wildest dreams imagine how many unwanted chickens are out there especially roos. Look on line everyone wants to get rid of roosters. Its been my experience and I haven't been doing this very long roosters crow all the time. They crow in the morning because the sun is coming up, greetings when you walk outside, to call his girls, crow, crow look what I have to eat. They crow when its time for him to put his girls to bed, crow because they've gone to bed, he saved them from danger, crow, crow, crow. Personally I love the sound but others may not. Good lluck with your decision but whatever you decide do whats best for the rooster. Good Luck

 

[JLutey]

My dog is not a really big barker however every neighbour on the adjoining fences have very noisy dogs. He doesn't have a lot to do with any hens he mainly hangs out with the dog and at night goes down and sleeps with his surrogate mum. I think we may try bring him in at night and and see how he goes during the day. I cant imagine waking up in the morning and seeing him and the dog sitting at the back door waiting for breakfast.
Thanks for all your advice.