I have a 4.5 month old Silkie X Brahma rooster, Rod Stewart, that within the past two weeks has began crowing and mating with the hens.
Rod Stewart begins "singing" earlier and earlier, and more often. I don't mind it here and there, but my mother-in-law had a rooster that began crowing at 4 am. I don't want that.
I attempted to use a baby sock on the his neck as a no-crow type collar, but he was panting and struggling to remove it, I cut it off. I noticed though that when I grabbed him on the back, he submitted, like a hen would.
I have a theory that maybe if I do that enough to him (hand on back, slight pinch on neck, hold in place until he stops struggling), maybe he will let me be role of "dominant" roo and stop crowing so much, or at least first thing in the morning? (Based on studies that "dominant" roos seem to break the morning silence, immediately followed by other flock members.) I did it a few times today, including once after he crowed around 2:30. He hasn't crowed since then. I guess we will see what tomorrow brings.
Anyone else ever try this?
I also have 8 hens. Aged 4.5 months to 3 years. One of my 1 year old hens became ostracized around 3 weeks ago. She had a flesh wound/missing feathers on her neck (cause unknown) and has been hiding in the coop waiting to escape, even though the wound has healed. Every time she leaves the coop, the rooster immediately chases her around trying to mate, she refuses to escape and runs back into the coop. I try to let them out every day to free range a few hours a day, she always goes her separate way on other side of yard, by herself.
Anyway, not sure if this sudden rejection of her is due to the rooster's maturity or not.
Maybe the forcing the roo to submit would fix this as well?
Rod Stewart begins "singing" earlier and earlier, and more often. I don't mind it here and there, but my mother-in-law had a rooster that began crowing at 4 am. I don't want that.
I attempted to use a baby sock on the his neck as a no-crow type collar, but he was panting and struggling to remove it, I cut it off. I noticed though that when I grabbed him on the back, he submitted, like a hen would.
I have a theory that maybe if I do that enough to him (hand on back, slight pinch on neck, hold in place until he stops struggling), maybe he will let me be role of "dominant" roo and stop crowing so much, or at least first thing in the morning? (Based on studies that "dominant" roos seem to break the morning silence, immediately followed by other flock members.) I did it a few times today, including once after he crowed around 2:30. He hasn't crowed since then. I guess we will see what tomorrow brings.
Anyone else ever try this?
I also have 8 hens. Aged 4.5 months to 3 years. One of my 1 year old hens became ostracized around 3 weeks ago. She had a flesh wound/missing feathers on her neck (cause unknown) and has been hiding in the coop waiting to escape, even though the wound has healed. Every time she leaves the coop, the rooster immediately chases her around trying to mate, she refuses to escape and runs back into the coop. I try to let them out every day to free range a few hours a day, she always goes her separate way on other side of yard, by herself.
Anyway, not sure if this sudden rejection of her is due to the rooster's maturity or not.
Maybe the forcing the roo to submit would fix this as well?
