House Rooster

[Aunt Angus]

Hi @Aunt Angus,

Much to my surprise and delight, my boy is doing very well. He's been with me for just over a year now. It's been quite the adventure so here's what I learned.

- Invest in a good diaper, especially if he's going to have free run of the house. We tried a few different ones, but had the most success with sizing and fit with a set from Avian Fashions.

- Prepare for dander. I thought it was just one chicken, how must much dander can one chicken generate? Between the dog, the chicken, and a long winter, the answer is a lot. I invested in a decent air purifier to handle it.

- He's going to roost anything and everything. Hawke roosts on my computer monitor and the back of my computer chair. I tried to make him a perch, but he just wasn't having it.

- He will likely mate with things. My guy mates with my dog's foot and all of her stuffed animals. It's pretty funny.

- He still needs to go outside for sun, dusting, mental stimulation. My guy sticks to the front yard where I can see him and he responds to his name. He has better recall then my dog. LOL.

Regarding crowing, it really depends on the breed and personality. My guy is on the quieter, mellower side. He really only crows when he hears something - when the dog barks, when the roommate comes home after work and it's dark out. I'm usually up before he is. If I'm not he'll jump down from his perch, stand on my chest and stare at me until I make him some breakfast.

I've really enjoyed having him around. And he keeps my dog company when I'm not home.

Tell me about you potential house rooster.

Oh, thank you for this!

Today is Picotee's first day inside. It is NOT going well. We bought some diapers, but he hates them, and we is paralyzed by them right now. He is a NOISY fella (I doubt we'd be in this situation if he weren't - LOL!), but we'll see how it goes. Luckily, we have 2 air purifiers. I hadn't thought of dander, so thanks for that.

I will have to get creative letting him outside. The neighbor who complained might just call the county again, and we'd be in trouble! Oh, this whole situation makes me terribly sad. It wouldn't be so bad if he hadn't been an outside guy. He also has a flock of hens who he is going to miss. I will likely take him out daily to interact with them, but that neighbor.... I wish there was another way, and I blame myself for everything....

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

I'm sorry you're neighbors do not appreciate Picotee's song. As crappy as my neighbors are, they haven't complained about my rooster flock.

What breed is he and how old? My backyard boys, Silkies and Faverolles, have mellowed with age.

Since Picotee has lived outside, he'll take a while to adjust to the house and the routine. Does he have free run of the house or is he confined to a room? Does he have a 'safe space?' He will certainly miss his girls, but if he can hang with them while he's out and about, that'd be good for him.

He'll get use to the diaper. Try increments. Like an hour today, two hours tomorrow. And make it fun. Give him treats while putting it on and after it's on.

How close is your neighbor? If you're supervising his outside time, you might be able to distract him from crowing.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I'm sorry you're neighbors do not appreciate Picotee's song. As crappy as my neighbors are, they haven't complained about my rooster flock.

What breed is he and how old? My backyard boys, Silkies and Faverolles, have mellowed with age.

Since Picotee has lived outside, he'll take a while to adjust to the house and the routine. Does he have free run of the house or is he confined to a room? Does he have a 'safe space?' He will certainly miss his girls, but if he can hang with them while he's out and about, that'd be good for him.

He'll get use to the diaper. Try increments. Like an hour today, two hours tomorrow. And make it fun. Give him treats while putting it on and after it's on.

How close is your neighbor? If you're supervising his outside time, you might be able to distract him from crowing.

You are so helpful!

Picotee is just under a year old, and he is a Sebright. He is pretty feisty. He's gotten aggressive toward my mom's dog (not mine - they were raised together, more or less) and my husband. I have filed down his spurs just in case. Right now, he is in a really very large cage in another room, crowing up a storm! Everyone is really miserable.

When my rather unsupportive hubby isn't home, Picotee will be able to roam about the house. I will probably keep him with me until he feels a little more at home.

We had the diaper on for about 2 hours today, and he refused to move! I feel SO bad about all of this... Any idea how long it'll take him to get used to this arrangement? Right now, I am thinking just about anything would be better. If it was just me, I could deal with it. But my house is a circus right now, and my hubby is not a very understanding guy. He is sitting outside on the patio because he doesn't want to be in the house with all the crowing. I know he blames me for all of this. When I apologized to him, he got angry and told me to be quiet because "apologizing doesn't fix anything."

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

I am sorry to hear your husband isn't being supportive, and is in fact, being rather rude and juvenile about it. If your husband is interested in stopping Picotee's attacks, he will have to get involved - cuddle therapy, feeding, handling, treats. Otherwise it'll be much of the same. It's also important for you, as alpha, to break up the attacks between him and your husband. I'm assuming Picotee is well behaved with you.

Beyond being small and beautiful, I don't know anything about Sebrights. But if he's under a year, he's going through his first Spring. His hormones are raging so all he wants to do is fight and mate. He will settle down.

How loud is your house? If you can hear the girls clucking, he can, too, and he crows to let them know where he is. I hear this all the time with my house rooster and my backyard boys.

Try to listen for other noises when he crows. Is the dog barking? Is the neighbor's car running? Is someone revving a motorcycle? Is the dog barking? My backyard boys go bonkers when the neighbor's hounds start barking or when the other neighbor's blast their music.

If you can figure out why he's crowing, you may be able to mitigate the noise so he won't crow as much.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I am sorry to hear your husband isn't being supportive, and is in fact, being rather rude and juvenile about it. If your husband is interested in stopping Picotee's attacks, he will have to get involved - cuddle therapy, feeding, handling, treats. Otherwise it'll be much of the same. It's also important for you, as alpha, to break up the attacks between him and your husband. I'm assuming Picotee is well behaved with you.

Beyond being small and beautiful, I don't know anything about Sebrights. But if he's under a year, he's going through his first Spring. His hormones are raging so all he wants to do is fight and mate. He will settle down.

How loud is your house? If you can hear the girls clucking, he can, too, and he crows to let them know where he is. I hear this all the time with my house rooster and my backyard boys.

Try to listen for other noises when he crows. Is the dog barking? Is the neighbor's car running? Is someone revving a motorcycle? Is the dog barking? My backyard boys go bonkers when the neighbor's hounds start barking or when the other neighbor's blast their music.

If you can figure out why he's crowing, you may be able to mitigate the noise so he won't crow as much.

Thanks again for your help! Picotee is finally starting to relax. You were 100% right about the diapers, too! I ordered from Avian Fashions, and while I was waiting (coronavirus caused shipping delays), I ordered some from Amazon. What a difference! He fusses with the velcro, but he moves around just fine in it. He was paralyzed in the other diapers. And he's quiet most of the day now. He's really only obnoxious first thing in the morning.

Funny how sweet he's become being inside with me all day. Ima teacher, and he's been my "wingman" while I conduct my classes.

We did find a house that is zoned for ag, which means he'll be able to be outside again within a month, but while the deal on the house is closing, he's stuck with me!

 

[Aunt Angus]

I am sorry to hear your husband isn't being supportive, and is in fact, being rather rude and juvenile about it. If your husband is interested in stopping Picotee's attacks, he will have to get involved - cuddle therapy, feeding, handling, treats. Otherwise it'll be much of the same. It's also important for you, as alpha, to break up the attacks between him and your husband. I'm assuming Picotee is well behaved with you.

Beyond being small and beautiful, I don't know anything about Sebrights. But if he's under a year, he's going through his first Spring. His hormones are raging so all he wants to do is fight and mate. He will settle down.

How loud is your house? If you can hear the girls clucking, he can, too, and he crows to let them know where he is. I hear this all the time with my house rooster and my backyard boys.

Try to listen for other noises when he crows. Is the dog barking? Is the neighbor's car running? Is someone revving a motorcycle? Is the dog barking? My backyard boys go bonkers when the neighbor's hounds start barking or when the other neighbor's blast their music.

If you can figure out why he's crowing, you may be able to mitigate the noise so he won't crow as much.

And my hubby has been great! I guess he was just grumpy that first day after a tough day at work. He apologized to both me and Picotee. He even carries Picotee around with him.

 

[Sapphire Sebright]

Oh my, what a handsome rooster! He has a really pretty name, too.
I used to have a Golden Sebright -- his name was Cinnamon:

He was handsome, but pretty mean....
Anyway, good luck with Picotee!

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

@Aunt Angus I'm glad to read all the good news in your update. Thank you! I'm glad you and your husband are able to move to an ag-zoned house and you'll be able to keep your feathered friends! Picotee is a handsome rooster. And the diaper is very complementary.

 

[torch21]

Hi @Aunt Angus,

Much to my surprise and delight, my boy is doing very well. He's been with me for just over a year now. It's been quite the adventure so here's what I learned.

- Invest in a good diaper, especially if he's going to have free run of the house. We tried a few different ones, but had the most success with sizing and fit with a set from Avian Fashions.

- Prepare for dander. I thought it was just one chicken, how must much dander can one chicken generate? Between the dog, the chicken, and a long winter, the answer is a lot. I invested in a decent air purifier to handle it.

- He's going to roost anything and everything. Hawke roosts on my computer monitor and the back of my computer chair. I tried to make him a perch, but he just wasn't having it.

- He will likely mate with things. My guy mates with my dog's foot and all of her stuffed animals. It's pretty funny.

- He still needs to go outside for sun, dusting, mental stimulation. My guy sticks to the front yard where I can see him and he responds to his name. He has better recall then my dog. LOL.

Regarding crowing, it really depends on the breed and personality. My guy is on the quieter, mellower side. He really only crows when he hears something - when the dog barks, when the roommate comes home after work and it's dark out. I'm usually up before he is. If I'm not he'll jump down from his perch, stand on my chest and stare at me until I make him some breakfast.

I've really enjoyed having him around. And he keeps my dog company when I'm not home.

Tell me about you potential house rooster.

Hello! how do you find the right chicken sizes from this website? i only see exotic birds.

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

Hello! how do you find the right chicken sizes from this website? i only see exotic birds.

Huh. There used to be a section specifically for chickens. I haven't bought a diaper in a while since they've held up so well.

Maybe shoot them an email or a chat and ask them where the chicken diapers went.