Illinois...

[Faraday40]

Rooster idea:
To prevent my roos from crowing in the early am, I brought them into the house last night. I put them in a large plastic storage bin with a home-made mesh top. I read that if a roo can't stretch up, he can't crow. FALSE. My roos can crow laying down.

PRO: I'm very sure the neighbors didn't hear any crowing at 6:20am.
CON: I heard crowing at 6:20am. I put them outside around 8:30am & they felt like they needed to make up for lost time. (Lots of crowing & mating!)

My next trial will involve covering with a blanket or moving the box to a very dark area. Anyone else have an idea to share?

* My neighbors never complained, but I do not want to give any reason. Once the winter windows go up & the days are shorter, There won't be any crowing heard before 8am.

 

[Justso]

Rooster idea:
To prevent my roos from crowing in the early am, I brought them into the house last night. I put them in a large plastic storage bin with a home-made mesh top. I read that if a roo can't stretch up, he can't crow. FALSE. My roos can crow laying down.

PRO: I'm very sure the neighbors didn't hear any crowing at 6:20am.
CON: I heard crowing at 6:20am. I put them outside around 8:30am & they felt like they needed to make up for lost time. (Lots of crowing & mating!)

My next trial will involve covering with a blanket or moving the box to a very dark area. Anyone else have an idea to share?

* My neighbors never complained, but I do not want to give any reason. Once the winter windows go up & the days are shorter, There won't be any crowing heard before 8am.

LOL! I can only imagine the torture of having the crowing in your house.
I had my young roos closed up in the dark chicken house and it didn't help. Let us know how it works out for you.
I hope your neighbors are forgiving, and like mine find it "charming" (I'm sure that will last until next summer when the crowing starts at 5:30).
Props to you for trying!!!

 

[MeepBeep]

I'm sure that will last until next summer when the crowing starts at 5:30).
Props to you for trying!!!

Mine start crowing about 3:30 - 4:30 on average all summer... I can get them to crow at anytime if I'm walking around outside and shine a flashlight in the window any bit of light and the roos will crow and guineas will go crazy sounding off...

As for crowing in the house, for a brief time my birds were all housed in the basement while I finished the coop, I was unable to hear them in the bedrooms so no worries there but I found it almost comical to hear a crow from the basement...

Roosters pre-dawn crowing is controlled by their circadian clock aka internal clock, it's not light stimulated so covering them or keeping them in the dark will likely not help as they will crow when their internal clock suspects dawn is near even in total darkness...

 

[4stakes]

What 5:30? I've heard ours crow at 2:30 am and he always starts at 4 - 4:30 am for at least 10 crows every 5 seconds. Neighbors say the don't mind or hear them. Well I do, and would like to ring a neck somedays.

 

[Faraday40]

What 5:30? I've heard ours crow at 2:30 am and he always starts at 4 - 4:30 am for at least 10 crows every 5 seconds. Neighbors say the don't mind or hear them. Well I do, and would like to ring a neck somedays.

Wow! That is a lot of crowing. I'm beginning to miss my old roo who only crowed a couple times in the am. I currently have 3 roos - trying to decide which to keep. Only 2 are crowing. My neighbors also like the country charm of the roosters' crow, but I don't want to cause anyone to lose sleep - especially my hubby.

 

[Pixie]

Wow, this thread is perfect timing! I was contemplating getting another batch of layers before winter. The hatchery gives 25 free with a 50 purchase. Most likely all roosters. Yikes! My hubby would absolutely freak out with all the noise!

How many weeks did it take them to start making noise?

 

[MeepBeep]

The hatchery gives 25 free with a 50 purchase.  Most likely all roosters.

If they are going to toss in 25 roos, you might as well hatch your own or buy a straight run locally and hope for the best...

Roos make quite a bit of noise, they start making noise pretty early (about 2 months) but it's not until they are more mature (about 5 months or older) that they really learn to belt it out...

I'm unloading a bunch of my roos next week, a friend is driving up from TN to take them off my hands...

 

[Faraday40]

Wow, this thread is perfect timing! I was contemplating getting another batch of layers before winter. The hatchery gives 25 free with a 50 purchase. Most likely all roosters. Yikes! My hubby would absolutely freak out with all the noise!

How many weeks did it take them to start making noise?

My last Orpington roo took 5.5 months. He was the only male. I kept him around for protection, but he wasn't good quality for breeding.

This season, my biggest orp started crowing between 12-13 weeks. He started mating the hens about a week after his 1st crow. Now at age 5 months, the 2 orps have very strong crows & all my eggs are looking fertile. The breeder said their daddy was also an early bloomer. My Bielefelder (same age) has yet to crow & is not mating. It's funny, but all 3 males show no interest in the pullets their own age. They care only for the older females.

 

[Pixie]

Thanks for the info! I guess it goes to show, that sometimes "free" is anything but! LOL!!

 

[Pixie]

I'm unloading a bunch of my roos next week, a friend is driving up from TN to take them off my hands...

What is your friend going to do with them? Crockpot?