Making a true backyard chicken?

[hdowden]

i think there are those working on breeding for a crowless rooster and there are threads about it weather or not theres been any progress i have no clue

 

[4hchickmama]

I have heard the exact opposite thing about all the breeds just listed from people too. People who have orps that scream at all hours and silkies that make a lot of noise (not to mention silkies are not good layer/meat birds)... So currently there is no one breed that's quiet. It's only individuals who are.

And my orp is a poor layer at 3-4 eggs a week, but my silkie is a great layer laying 6-7 eggs a week. It is down to the bird.

That's exactly it. You can find individuals who are quiet. However, if moved to another area they may no longer be silent.

Yep. Same as dogs. You can have a breed that in general is quiet, or energetic, or obedient....but it is really down to the individual animal.

Right, so I figure... Why can't there be a whole breed bred soly tobe quiet? We breed other animals to be quiet (like dogs) and eventually by breeding the quieter individuals you could likely end up with a quiet breed of chicken that meets the needs of an urban chicken keeper. You may even get roosters less inclined to crow or with quieter voices.

As I said above...there aren't really any breeds of dog who are actually quiet. It is down to the individual, the owners training abilities, and the environment of the animal. I've heard of people working on quieter roosters, but I don't think that is necessarily a trait that is passed on gentically. It would be cool if it was though. Without a genetic mutation to diminish the ability to crow or cluck, they could still have that ability. Usually quiet birds are quiet just because of their individual personality, not because of inability to make noise.

 

[theoldchick]

We can no more breed a crowless rooster than we can breed a dog that does not circle before laying down.

 

[ImpulsiveFarmer]

I had around 30 black australorp hens and they were super quiet. They almost never made a peep. They are also larger so are good to eat, lay nearly as good as the hybrid layers, and are super docile. They do great either free-range or penned. I never had trouble with them pecking at each other like I did with the more high strung hybrid layers. Even my roosters were relatively quiet, but I think that had more to do with the placement of the coop than the actual breed.

I would say australorps are one of the best breeds for people with very little space, but want a bird that lays super well.

 

[Nyowpotopop]

Actually there ARE breeds that hardly ever bark. They're just not inclined to it. I actually own a mutt that actively does not like to bark. To her barking is like a chore - she avoids all noise when possible, even other barking dogs.
Just look into Basenji's and you'll see what I mean. Also english Bulldogs, Borzoi and Saluki... Shockingly enough many scenthounds like Bassets and Bloodhounds don't bark - though they will "bay" when excited. Bull Terriers are pretty quiet too. Are there exceptions? Absolutely! Short of removing thier vocal cords you cannot stop them from making sounds EVER. But in my years of attending greyhound rescue charity events with hundreds of greyhounds in the same place at the same time... I've seen maybe three greyhounds that barked - all puppies. Noisy is the EXCEPTION for that breed, not the norm. Basenji are bred to be quiet. A dog that is a pointer or retriever would be bad to have barking at the game you're trying to hunt so in working dogs that inclination to noise is often bred out resulting in quiet dogs.

With chickens it seems to be all across the board depending SOLEY on the individual bird and it's enviroment. I think that being quiet is a trait that when selected for properly could be brought out. But you need to select for both a lesser capability to make noise AS WELL as inclination to do so.

Unlike with chickens my dog that doesn't bark doesn't bark ANYWHERE without a good reason. Same with the dogs at the greyhound events. You move a chicken to a new enviroment and it could start screaming at all hours. Since nobody with any of these breeds is trying to breed for a quiet chicken that is inclined in it's NATURE to be quiet... How do we even know if it can or can't be done?
Also I think it's silly to say that it's impossible to get a quieter bird. Birds under the threat of predetation must stay quiet or get eaten. That's how many wild species survive - by NOT making a lot of noise. You put that condition on them artificially for long enough and I bet you will get a quieter bird.

Oh... And circling bedding for dog - while a common trait is not super prevelant in many breeds. My sister's cavelliers almost never do it and neither does my quiet dog... My husky on the other hand circles 4-5 times and paws at it a little so I suspect it has a lot to do with temperment and breeding too.

 

[canesisters]

I say go for it! Keep immaculate records, take LOTS of picts and let us know how the breeding program goes.
Best of luck.

 

[4hchickmama]

Actually there ARE breeds that hardly ever bark. They're just not inclined to it. I actually own a mutt that actively does not like to bark. To her barking is like a chore - she avoids all noise when possible, even other barking dogs.
Just look into Basenji's and you'll see what I mean. Also english Bulldogs, Borzoi and Saluki... Shockingly enough many scenthounds like Bassets and Bloodhounds don't bark - though they will "bay" when excited. Bull Terriers are pretty quiet too. Are there exceptions? Absolutely! Short of removing thier vocal cords you cannot stop them from making sounds EVER. But in my years of attending greyhound rescue charity events with hundreds of greyhounds in the same place at the same time... I've seen maybe three greyhounds that barked - all puppies. Noisy is the EXCEPTION for that breed, not the norm. Basenji are bred to be quiet. A dog that is a pointer or retriever would be bad to have barking at the game you're trying to hunt so in working dogs that inclination to noise is often bred out resulting in quiet dogs.

With chickens it seems to be all across the board depending SOLEY on the individual bird and it's enviroment. I think that being quiet is a trait that when selected for properly could be brought out. But you need to select for both a lesser capability to make noise AS WELL as inclination to do so.

Unlike with chickens my dog that doesn't bark doesn't bark ANYWHERE without a good reason. Same with the dogs at the greyhound events. You move a chicken to a new enviroment and it could start screaming at all hours. Since nobody with any of these breeds is trying to breed for a quiet chicken that is inclined in it's NATURE to be quiet... How do we even know if it can or can't be done?
Also I think it's silly to say that it's impossible to get a quieter bird. Birds under the threat of predetation must stay quiet or get eaten. That's how many wild species survive - by NOT making a lot of noise. You put that condition on them artificially for long enough and I bet you will get a quieter bird.

Oh... And circling bedding for dog - while a common trait is not super prevelant in many breeds. My sister's cavelliers almost never do it and neither does my quiet dog... My husky on the other hand circles 4-5 times and paws at it a little so I suspect it has a lot to do with temperment and breeding too.

You think Basenji's chortling and scenthound's baying is quiet? Umm okay. I will take barking over baying any day. As I said before, you would have to have a genetic mutation to not crow or cluck and then attempt to breed for that trait. I'm not sure how you would go about finding a bird with this kind of mutation. Will it exist? Sure, eventually. Is it common or easy to find? No. You would have to get some scientific or veterinary testing in to find out what birds are being quiet because they are just quieter birds and which are quiet because they cannot be loud.

As you already pointed out, it has a lot to do with environment. A small flock of just hens can be pretty quiet. Most people who experience extreme noise in their flocks of certain breeds have over 5 whereas most urban backyard flocks will have less than 5. I'm betting most of the people you are talking to who are saying some of the quieter more docile breeds can be loud, have a large flock.

And as far as predation...that is when most chickens make the MOST noise. They aren't a wild species. They are highly domesticated. I don't think exposing chickens to the risk of predation over periods of time is going to give you quieter birds...it's just going to give you less birds.

Here is the thing though...if you are allowed chickens in your area, then you are allowed chickens, regardless of the noises they make. If you aren't, having a quieter bird isn't going to make it more legal. I'm not trying to be argumentative, I'm just seeing flaws in the logic and scientific basis for what you are asking. The breeds of dogs we have today have taken hundreds of years to develop with lots of culling and selective breeding. If it were even possible to make a silent chicken, it would take a long time to do so.

 

[Nyowpotopop]

I think that a scenthound who sees no reason to bay will not make a peep. Same with Basenjis... My own quiet dog is a hound mix and when freaked out bays. Sometimes I will go WEEKS without hearing her make a sound. She's less talkative than my rabbits sometimes. Again - it's NOT about a bird that has a genetic mutation that messes with the vocal cords. It's about breeding birds with a temperment to NOT be inclined to make noise. It's a temperment/behavior issue which is still a genetic trait. I said ARTIFICIALLY through culling the birds who are the loudest!

And actually... It's often people with smaller flocks who complain about the noisy birds I find. People talking about 5-15 birds and how they have X breed who is noisy.

Most inner city areas have noise ordinances. Just about every city or township up here does. If an animal makes noise all day long and enough complaints get filed they can legally order you to shut it up or get rid of it... Chicken, dog, or anything else! Technically the city I am about to move to has no laws that would stop me from owning chickens but if the birds just screamed all day I would be fined or ordered to fix it or get rid of them. Since the only way to really "fix it" is chopping the bird's vocal cords I would be forced to get rid of my birds. These laws exist heavilly throughout urban areas and is a major source of concern for chicken owners. Also many chicken owners DON'T own their birds legally which while it's not nessicarially something I condone I suspect these people would be more interested in stealthier birds. And lastly quiet chickens lead to happier neighbors and potentially laws being changed to allow chickens in areas that do not currently allow them because suddenly it's possible to own a quiet chicken.

Canesisters
Thanks. X3 I have been considering it... It does mean I will need to expand my current coop plans but I think I could do that...

edited by staff

 

[Narragansett]

Quote: Exactly. If everyone who wanted a quiet chicken for either legal or illegal purposes were to buy 10, there still would not be a market large enough for anyone to bother attempting such a project, which probably wouldn't be finished in their lifetime.

 

[Nyowpotopop]

There's noise ordinances in most inner city or suburbs. It doens't matter if the noise is a constantly blasting radio or a living animal they will make you quiet or remove the source of the noise.