How can I keep my roosters quiet?

[Kiki]

I would have to say yes, you will soon start seeing what we are saying.
I understand being attached, maybe when you see what will happen you will become less attached and want to save your hens lives instead.

 

[MTchicknman]

Not only will they tear up your hens, but when they get around to establishing dominance, whichever comes out on top wil continually chase, harass, and tear out the feathers of the one's who 'lost' the dominance battle. My son's chickens have 22 acres of free-range, but the rooster who lost out is always looking bedraggled and without very many tail feathers. I'd agree with most of the former comments - either separate pens, or get rid of them one way or t'other! I'm breeding 3 different breeds, so the males have their own runs, to avoid fighting for dominance - more work/trouble, but that's the way I keep my chickens looking healthier, and not pecked to death!

 

[Lazy Farmer]

You have too many roosters. One to ten hens is standard.
The fewer roosters, the less crowing. I sometimes have 12 or more and it gets annoying. Once I get the numbers down, it is better.
You can keep them locked up till later in the morning to muffle the sound.
Young cockerels crow more frequently than older roosters.

We have seven roos. They communicate from sunrise to sunset. Lord knows what they are saying about me.. Hehe.
If you have only 1 Roo and the neighbor a few houses down have one... Cock-a-doodle-doo!!!!!!
Pick your favorite and Craig's list the rest.
wave bye bye to the rest..

 

[keesmom]

I have nowhere to put my roosters, I can't build another coop because I don't have enough room in my yard but I'm really attached to all of them.

You may be less attached to them when they start fighting each other, begin gang breeding the hens, or when they harass the hens so much your hens hide in the coop and egg production drops. Or if they decide to go after you.

There is nothing you can do about the crowing competitions. That will continue even if you separate them.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Not only will they tear up your hens, but when they get around to establishing dominance, whichever comes out on top wil continually chase, harass, and tear out the feathers of the one's who 'lost' the dominance battle. My son's chickens have 22 acres of free-range, but the rooster who lost out is always looking bedraggled and without very many tail feathers. I'd agree with most of the former comments - either separate pens, or get rid of them one way or t'other! I'm breeding 3 different breeds, so the males have their own runs, to avoid fighting for dominance - more work/trouble, but that's the way I keep my chickens looking healthier, and not pecked to death!

Our roos are kept in several places separated from hens until they are used for breeding. Then they do their job and get put back. If you keep them with the hens at all times, especially more than 1, expect a drop in egg production caused by stress and kaos from multi roos. We only have roos because we are breeders.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I have nowhere to put my roosters, I can't build another coop because I don't have enough room in my yard but I'm really attached to all of them. My hens are starting to lay eggs so does that mean problems are sure to arise very soon?

So they hatched on January 31st/February 1st so they're still pretty young, they're still kinda small too... anyways when they get older the crowing will calm down a little? I know I've got too many roosters but I can't bare to part with them.

Even if the roosters don't fight, which they will, you will soon see bareback hens. The feathers will grow back after molt but they will soon be scratched off again. Even if you lose two of the roosters, a single rooster will over breed 4 hens.

No, they all share one big coop. They all get along well and I've never had a problem with any of them being aggressive. I have one silkie and the rest are just "normal" roosters I guess... they're the ones you always see on television.

Normal roosters, as in 3 of the hundreds of breeds there are?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They also taste just like chicken.
My best advice is to keep the one that is most appropriate for your flock (i.e. same breed as the hens, most protective, least human aggressive, etc.) and lose the rest in whatever way suits your fancy.
They may not be aggressive now but in my experience, the ones that are tamest tend to be the aggressive ones later because they have no fear of you.
I prefer my roosters to remain aloof so they don't get too close.

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

I agree with what most everyone else says. They are friendly now with each other but that can and does change to some degree. I hear it gets really bad when to many roos and to few hens even death of a bird so not pretty at all. I totally get your attached but depending where you are you might not be allowed to keep a rooster anyway have you checked?? Just asking. But I would try and rehome them the younger the better. If you can keep one keep the friendliest out of all the roos. Also you say you hatched them does that include the hens? If so and the males are the same breed as the females I would rehome them as they could be related don't know bout you but I'm weary of inbreeding animals.

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

Then you need to re home them, you are not equipped to handle them, you live in the suburbs and risk losing your entire flock if your neighbors complain and your flock is deemed a problem in the neighborhood. You risk having hard feelings with your neighbors. you risk overmating your poor hens, basically gang rape on a daily basis. All because YOU cannot bear to part with them. Seems kind of selfish when I say it like that doesn't it?

Good luck

Gary

Also sounds overly harsh and insensitive to the op.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Be thankful you don't have my roosters. I wish crowing was all I had to listen to. Sometimes they start hollering when the hens start hollering when they're laying eggs. It can get seriously annoying.

I once had 3 roos and 4 hens that were raised together. No problems. 3 hens died. Still no problems. About a year later I got 20 hens for them. Still no problems. All of mine free range from dawn to dusk, so maybe that's why.