Is this cruel?

[nanaluvsgps]

I didn't know where else to post this so i'm posting it here. About 2 months ago an old lady sold me two bantams crosses as females, but like they do, one was a roo. I know that they are roosters and they crow!! but is it cruel putting them in a box overnight so they can't lift their neck up to crow. I will give him away if I have too, but im really attached so it is hard! I would like everyones honest opinions, so feel free to say what you would like. Has anyone done this before?

 

[Fred's Hens]

If you want roosters and can have roosters and they can live a normal life, then keep them.
If you cannot have roosters, do not want roosters, or they will not live a normal life, then give them to someone who can provide them a normal life. To me, it's just that simple. I wouldn't have or keep any animal that I could not provide them a normal life.

Hope that helps you think through this situation.

 

[Hazard]

Of course putting them in a box that is so low that they can't stand up to the extent they want to at any given time is cruel! You really needed to be told that?

 

[Nicole01]

If I had a rooster that crowed in the night, I'd give him away or possibly eat him depending of his age and exercise level. The less they move around and the younger they are... the better tasting they will be. I buy chicken at the store, so why not raise it ourselves?

We do not live on a farm unfortunately. My husband says we are not moving to a farm, which he is right. We can have roosters, but must follow the noise ordinance. My husband also told me no roosters, but I can have as many hens as I want. He is also fencing our 4 acre property to keep our hens safe from stray dogs.

I would not put him in a box to restrict his movement. He's probably scared too. If you don't like his crowing either eat or rehome him. He is not going to quiet down. My neighbor has a rooster that crows all day everyday nonstop. I like it, but a few neighbors do not and expressed very strongly so.

 

[the1much]

ya,, its cruel,,but this sounds like a trollin thread. if your kid Pee's to bed do ya think its cruel to make them sleep in the tub?

 

[Mattemma]

I would say no box. Try a pet carrier and cover it.Some try to keep the coop dark.Both are really just temp answers though. If it is a constant issue rehoming might be the best option. I have the nicest roo,but his crowing is driving ME insane. It is not like a dog that you should not let bark all day long.Roos crow.Sometimes day AND night.

I think we both know what needs to be done if we can not let a roo be a roo.

 

[easteregger96]

You need to find someone who won't mind his crowing at night. That's what I did with my roos that crowed at night. I have never put my chickens in a box like that. I have had to separate my girls before for fighting. But, I used a cage that gave them plenty of room to move as a time out and I made sure they had plenty of food and water during their time out too. How in the world is that poor roo supposed to eat or drink in a box so small that he can't move? It's not his fault that he crows, that's what roosters do. If you treat them like that, you don't need any chickens or roosters.

 

[annabell254]

Yep...I would try making his night home as dark as possible (as in NO light getting to him) and keep his fav girl with him....this might help...also if you really love him and it is just night crowing that is getting to you, you could insulate his night home with 2-4" of sound board or foam board...I would use foam and just cut it to fit the outside of the box and duck tape it on...completely cover it with the duck tape...maybe even using shag carpet face down on the top or walls or both...carpet really, really absorbs sound....DO NOT FORGET BREATHING HOLES!!!!

 

[nanaluvsgps]

He doesn't crow over night or druing the day he only crows about 6:30-9:00. We have decided to not use the box idea, insted sound proof a pet carrier or light proof it. My daughters friend came over last night and he was going off this morning, and i asked her if she heard him and she was like . . . you have a rooster? She didn't hear him at all! and he was right outside the window. So maybe im just paranoid about the neighbours hearing him.

 

[TXchickmum]

We are permitted to have roosters, but also have a noise ordinance. Every morning at about 6:00 AM I bring my two sweet cockerels (along with their two li'l pullet friends) into our (large) utility room that has been specially suited to chickens. They have plenty of room to run around, access to food/water, and their favorite perch installed. They happily crow for two hours, and then I open the door and they all follow me outside. -reunite them with the other three big gals, and all is well! They occasionally crow here or there during the day, but it isn't a nuisance. There are dogs around that bark more loudly and habitually than my cockerels crow. That being said, I would not recommend keeping anything in conditions that restrict movement or food/water access. -not healthy.