Poor chickies. It sounds as though you have a plan of action and have it under control. They will definately benefit from your good care. Yes, we live in a rural area. I feel your pain about getting a coop completed! Things were pretty stressful prior to the completion of the bachelor pad. The pullets were on their last nerve and so wasn't I. Those darn male hormones! The change was literally over night. One day they all could co exist and the next the boys were a nuisance. It will come together. Until that time, do the best you can.Thanks, for now I go over to my neighbor's every couple of days to bring them my scraps and soaked goodies. They are looking a little rough and tumble right now. You must live in a rural area. I'm definitely not happy about the shorter days but what can you do? My husband stayed home from work to work on the coop. I'm hoping he can finish up this weekend. I really want to get them into shape. Poor girls are looking a bit neglected.
Oh, yes, they crow at night. The super moon we just had appears to have affected them. They were crowing at 1 a.m. It was so light outdoors. They usually begin crowing ~3 a.m. But this isn't always the case. I wish I could tell you definatively what causes them to crow earlier or later so you could control it. Initially, I thought perhaps it was due to the drop in temperature. Maybe they weren't as comfortable and it makes them wake up earlier some days. Or are the neighbors roosters waking them and I don't hear them crow first. Their's I don't hear unless I am outdoors. I don't worry about it too much because everyone's roosters go off in the morning so theirs are just as guilty. There's no finger pointing going on...it is what it is. For us, it has become a sound we are used to and not bothered by it. A factor to consider is how close to your house would they be? Night time crowing might not be an issue for you or your neighbors. Their coop walls and our house walls plus distance lessons the actual sound heard. It's the quiet of the night so of course something inadvertently can be heard. With that being said, do they also crow during the day. Of COURSE they do! It's not constant but it does happen and does it sometimes seem like a contest is going on to see who can crow the loudest and the longest....yup. But I enjoy my rooster's so I'm okay with it. My closest neighbor who does not have animals of any sort has not complained about the crowing they may do during the day in the wide open. Our roo we named The Rebel used to frequent their property, hence the name The Rebel. I used to apologize profusely but was told it was ok, provided he doesn't poop in their in ground pool. I would be angry too. Plus, I was worried he would dig holes in lawn or flower garden....It didn't occur so....for their inconvenience I leave cartons of eggs at their doorstep with a note from the pullets apologizing for the roo's tendencies. Because this will make it all better....right
