Quietest dual purpose rooster???

[tragic59]

Reading some of the threads about everyone's favorite breeds got me thinking about the flock I hope to have someday soon.

We want about a dozen hens of various breeds. The list isn't firm yet, but so far I am thinking:

-Black Australorps
-Barred Rock
-Americauna/EE (either one or both)
-Delaware
-RIR or NHR
-Wyandotte

We're hoping to have 1 or 2 of each breed, maybe more of our favorites...

I would also like to have a rooster to keep the girls company and produce chicks from time to time. I understand that roos will be roos, and expect him to crow... BUT, are there some breeds that are quieter than others?

We are on a 1 acre lot and zoned to have chickens, but keeping the peace with the neighbors would be easier with a quieter roo!

Any insights?

 

[walkswithdog]

You want HONEST insight???

Roosters are NOT quiet. That's like wanting a non-shedding, non-barking dog, non-digging, non-chewing dog. Why get one if you don't want the normal living animals?

Roosters are going to make noise - within a breed their noise level varies SUBSTANTIALLY so much so there is no predictor of the noise level of any given roo of any given breed. They're roosters, they MAKE the noise they make, especially the dual birds.

If you want fertile eggs you deal. If you want happy neighbors give away eggs to neighbors. That generally makes them happy with your chickens. Just don't tell them you can have eggs without Roo's and you're golden. Most people don't know that.

 

[nicalandia]

I have heard that Wyandotte are the nicest breed on your list...

but all rooster crow and make noise, unless they are capons....I am part of another chicken forum, where a guy is creating a NONcrowing rooster breed, he is very ahead and his rooster´s crowing is almost NON(less frecuent and very very short crows) how he did it? well he looked at the Long Crower oriental breeds, and learned how they did it, so he applyed backwards....

 

[MaggieRae]

I accidentally got an australorp roo when I ordered 8 pullets from MPC this year.

I'm hoping he's the quietest cause' he's one of my favorites.

 

[tragic59]

Thanks for the info.

I don't expect a mute rooster.

But, I'm new to chickens and thought that they might be like dogs where some breeds bark more or less than others.

Since I don't have a preference on breed, other than "dual purpose", I thought it would be worth a shot...

 

[MaggieRae]

I'm sure if this thread gets a little bit more attention someone with more experience than I will be able to give you their own personal preferences.

 

[walkswithdog]

Nope chickens even by breed are individuals though I will SAY if you go to shows you can certainly pick out the breeds of roo really driven to competitive crowing - Langshans are LOUD, the GAMES all competitive crow.

Rocks are calmer, the Dels - more likely to make some noise, cochins often aren't as noisy. But again it's often more personality than breed. Some in almost any breed just won't shut up. Think of men... which men are loud and braggerts? Tends more to family(individual breeders birds) and individuality than type... unfortunately the chick won't tell you how big an a** he'll be when he grows up - though there ARE early indicators, combativeness, bullying, constant strife, and restlessness all indicate one of the louder more persistent of the group.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I can only give you my experience. We have two roos right now and it's not so much how much they crow, it's *when* they crow and how loud.

We have a young Barred Rock who is soooo incredibly loud. He crows all the time, but likes to start around 4:30 in the morning. This is the problem. If I can't get him to sleep in a bit, I'm going to introduce him to my friend the stew pot. It's too bad, b/c he is a lovely boy and we need a roo that will throw brown egg layers.

We also have a true Ameraucana rooster. Sweet boy, good with the hens and stays way away from us. His crow is MUCH quieter, and he doesn't start up until 6:30 - 7:00 in the morning. He's a keeper, but we need another roo that will throw brown egg layers.

I don't know why they start crowing at different times. It's pitch dark when that BR starts up. They are in the same pasture and share a hen house. Maybe age? The Ameraucana is a year older.

I would say that you don't want a Delaware roo--my Delaware hens are incredibly loud. Their bawk bawk bawking is louder than my Ameraucana's crow.

It's unfortunate that an Ameraucana won't work for you, since they are not dual-purpose. And mine might be an anomaly.

I have been told that if you can block the light in the henhouse windows the roos might sleep in. Usually, no one cares about crowing sounds once they're awake in the morning. We can't block the light in our henhouse--too many windows.

Good luck! I like having my Ameraucana boy. He's great with the flock, keeps them safe and breaks up hen fights. Never challenges humans, and I bait him sometimes by petting his favorite hens with my back to him (while keeping a close eye on him to see if he makes a false move). And I have some really cute chicks running around.

 

[Beekissed]

I don't think its so much individual to the breed, as individual to the roo, with the crowing thingy. I have two roos of separate breeds that crow a little in the morning, usually the dominant one more than the other. Then, depending on the weather, they may crow some during the day. Haven't figured out exactly what triggers the days with more crowing......

I have a Partridge Rock and a RIR and they are pretty quiet compared to a Blue Orp that I had who crowed incessantly....well, he DID crow alot...not anymore.