Please help me find a way to keep my roo. *long-ish* *pics*

[MaggieRae]

Sorry mods, not sure where to post this.

I ordered 8 beautiful little chicks (3 EE's, 3 Silver Laced Wyandottes, 2 australorps) from MPC a long time ago and they finally arrived about 5 weeks ago. I worked very hard to get these chickens, it took months of convincing and even a power point project to convince my father to let me get the chickens.

Now that they're here, I absolutely adore them! They're all very sweet and will sit on my shoulder whenever I walk about the house or yard. When I take them outside, they all follow me around. Effectively, they're the best chickens anyone could ask for. *I'm sure every new chicken owner thinks this though.

*

But now one of my sweet little babies is a boy! And I've grown so attached, not to mention how attached he is to me. 'Lucy' (was short for Lucille, now short for Lucian) is a very kind little gentleman. Too young to be a real rooster at 5 weeks, but Dad's being really firm about no boys with no reason other than "noise". How do I convince my dad to let me keep him? *He's only worried about crowing.

*

We're on two acres *at the very back of the property by the gov. land*, with a bunch of acreage of gov. land behind and to the left of us. On our right is an elderly couple that only come up every other weekend or so. In front of us is a super neighbor whose amazing (!) , and to the left of him some guy I've never met... or seen... His car is there, and then gone.

So, how do I convince Dad to let me keep Lucy?
And will Lucy's crows be loud enough to upset the neighbors? I really don't want to get rid of him unless he truly is a nuisance.

Thanks in advance!

I really appreciate it, and so does Lucy!

Here's a pic of the little bugger-

 

[redhen]

Cry and pout.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

I don't know how old you are, but you sound very articulate...go and speak with your neighbors, and make sure they do not have a problem with it first...if they do, don't argue the point with them, just realize that you will probably have to rehome your beautiful boy. If they don't have a problem with it, that will be a point on your side when you have to face your dad about it...also, just a point, not all roosters are that noisy...and he may not be noisy since he's the only boy. Mine only crows in the morning, and after that, only if there's something going on (if my dogs bark at him, he crows back, for example). Now, when there's more than one, they do tend to have crowing matches...
And ask dad to compromise and at least hold out until you see what his "adult voice" is going to be like, and whether or not you'll even be able to hear him from inside the house...even with my windows open, my boys don't wake me up even though the coop is only about 30 yards from the house...

GOOD LUCK!!!!

ETA: If you do have to rehome him, contact your local 4H office, I'm sure they would be more than happy to help you find him a reputable home with someone who will love him very much!!

 

[jenni2142]

My hens make far more noise than my standard roo. My banty roos on the other hand have a higher pitch that carries farther. Roosters are important, they watch over the hens sometimes giving their lives for them, keep the peace, and find them treats. Once you get used to the crow you barely notice it. Mine crowed alot as a teenager but calmed down once they got the hang of it and matured a bit. I now have 7, they have such great personalities. Roosters are an asset.

 

[Warfrost]

Love my chickies!! :

I don't know how old you are, but you sound very articulate...go and speak with your neighbors, and make sure they do not have a problem with it first...if they do, don't argue the point with them, just realize that you will probably have to rehome your beautiful boy. If they don't have a problem with it, that will be a point on your side when you have to face your dad about it...also, just a point, not all roosters are that noisy...and he may not be noisy since he's the only boy. Mine only crows in the morning, and after that, only if there's something going on (if my dogs bark at him, he crows back, for example). Now, when there's more than one, they do tend to have crowing matches...
And ask dad to compromise and at least hold out until you see what his "adult voice" is going to be like, and whether or not you'll even be able to hear him from inside the house...even with my windows open, my boys don't wake me up even though the coop is only about 30 yards from the house...

GOOD LUCK!!!!

ETA: If you do have to rehome him, contact your local 4H office, I'm sure they would be more than happy to help you find him a reputable home with someone who will love him very much!!

I'm sorry but I completely disagree with this. If they are on 2 acres, and are allowed to have livestock, what the neighbors want is a moot point. By asking, you run the risk of deciding to do it anyway and causing bad feelings. Better off to get the bird and not worry about it.

 

[Warfrost]

I live on 2 acres in the country, like you do. The folks behind us kept their rooster right next to our fence. To be honest, even though he crowed whenever he felt like it, it really wasn't that big if a noise. Now, at 4 o'clock in the morning, it sounds like every rooster in the county is crowing...BUT they are so far away- it really is barely noticeable if you are awake. I think you ought to keep your rooster around and see how it goes. I think your Dad will be surprised at how little noise the roo actually makes.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Take your roo with you and knock on the neighbors door....cry! Tell them that it's a roo and snivel some. Tell them that you love him and cannot bring yourself to get rid of him and that it's only one roo and pulllleeeeeese (this is where you fall down on the ground and curl into a ball) pullllleeeeese give him a chance!!! They will grow to love his crow.

 

[MaggieRae]

Well so far the boy can't crow at all. He's still a baby.

But unlike his sisters Dora and Ginger, he understands the use of an inside voice and is only loud when I put him down. The lazy boy likes to be carried every where.

Due to the age of the chickens I haven't tried to compromise with Dad yet. I'll probably wait until Lucy is older. I just need as many pros on my side as possible.

And I knew the perfect place to go!

So far the super neighbor has promised not to complain and I'm sure he would help me with a solution if Lucy was ever a problem. He and Dad are good friends as well... I see a future ally!
Then the elderly neighbors. Well, we've informed them of the chickens and invited their grandchildren to come over and see them. They didn't come over, but the weather was poor that day.

The Mr. wouldn't be bothered, I don't think, but the lady would complain on a dime's notice.

I just have to

and hope she doesn't get a bur under her saddle.
I haven't met the other neighbors. They're not very friendly folks. There's a doctor and the invisible man, but I've never seen or met them. The doctor I know has a very yappy dog. Good thing she gets along well with our dog. Her dog is in a little fenced yard and barks at everything! Our dog of course thinks nothing is better in this world than racing that dog down the fence.

*Sigh*...

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:
I'm sorry but I completely disagree with this. If they are on 2 acres, and are allowed to have livestock, what the neighbors want is a moot point. By asking, you run the risk of deciding to do it anyway and causing bad feelings. Better off to get the bird and not worry about it.

I agree with the fact that on 2 acres in the country, they can rightfully have them...my point was that if dad has an issue with "noise", and the neighbors don't mind, that's a point on her side...which is why I also said that if the neighbors don't like the idea that would be a point for dad, and she would probably would have to get rid of him. At the end of the day, if dad says no, he says no...regardless of what the neighbors think...

 

[phalenbeck]

I keep my flock in the shed till 10-12 a.m. Not because I have to, just because I sleep late, and do not want the Roo making noise early. As others have said some Roo's are not so loud too. Donations of eggs help too. I am feeding the close neighbors. My neighbors knew I have chickens, but had no idea I have 12. I would have a hard time telling a kid (holding a tame chicken) that they bothered me. My banty Cochin Roo is mostly quiet days.