Rooster Crow Surgery?

[Weeg]

Maybe you should start another thread on building a sound proof house and run? I am sure that some other members would have esteem good input! And if it works, it could be a great solution! I don't know, but you could at least see what others think? Sorry, this bus the hard, Avery

 

[dear_mo]

Hi Mary,

For sure we have four pullets, but I honestly cannot tell what my three silkie chicks are. One roo is a gold-laced polish, the other two are cute little feather-legged bantams. They seem like they are all quite attached to each other.

I realize chickens are food, I eat chicken meat, I love chicken meat...but these are my little pets. I've named them, which I probably shouldn't have done. They haven't even started their chicken lives so I don't want to consider them as food.

 

[Weeg]

I would start another thread jus too evaluate the idea of a sound proof enclosure. I mean if it works, then you can avoid a risky surgery, and keep him, I don't know, Its with a shot? And I love making designs for things, so I would totally help you with a design for the run, if you wanted! Good luck, Avery

 

[The Happster]

Moving solved some of my problems.
Since that's unlikely an option, and you won't want to eat your pets, I would try looking at multiple different places for a home.
I have googled and it seems there is surgery for cockerel crows, specifically. That would still be risky, I would imagine.
And it didn't seem to be very effective.

 

[orloffer]

Hi Mary,

For sure we have four pullets, but I honestly cannot tell what my three silkie chicks are. One roo is a gold-laced polish, the other two are cute little feather-legged bantams. They seem like they are all quite attached to each other.

I realize chickens are food, I eat chicken meat, I love chicken meat...but these are my little pets. I've named them, which I probably shouldn't have done. They haven't even started their chicken lives so I don't want to consider them as food.

How old are the roosters? If they are still fairly young, this makes sense. However when they mature fully, they will likely become more aggressive and possibly fight with each other, especially since you only have 4-7 pullets.

 

[NatJ]

I believe what you are talking of is caponization. It's not a very nice procedure for the cockerels, actually quite risky. It would also be difficult to find someone who is willing to do the op. It's completely not like neutering a cat or a dog, because their anatomy is significantly different.

Caponizing = neutering (the animal cannot reproduce afterward.)
De-crowing is a different surgery, more like de-barking a dog. Rumor has it that some vets will do that surgery, but actually finding them appears to be difficult or impossible.

In both cases, the chicken version is more complicated than the dog version, and more dangerous for the animal.

I have read in multiple places that there is a surgery that might be doable so that they can't crow anymore.

If you want to spend a few hours on the phone, you can just start calling every vet in the area. To save time, start by asking "do you treat chickens." If the answer is "no," you don't have to bother explaining what decrowing is.

 

[featheredplanets]

I'm not sure it's the same thing, but at the same time I don't think it was ever 'named'. Just from the brief research, I did on caponization, I feel like it might have been a different surgery...but it could have just been me misunderstanding things.

I think you’re talking about a thoracic surgery. The vet will modify the voice box to drastically decrease the crow volume. It’s very risky.

In my opinion, decrowing a rooster is like decrowing a dog. I think even if you’re attached to an animal you shouldn’t keep it just because you can and just because you may find a vet willing to do the surgery. Anyone getting into chickens should know they may raise roosters, understand that the roosters will crow and be prepared to rehome or cull if they cannot legally keep those roosters, or do not like the noise.

 

[The Happster]

Caponizing = neutering (the animal cannot reproduce afterward.)
De-crowing is a different surgery, more like de-barking a dog. Rumor has it that some vets will do that surgery, but actually finding them appears to be difficult or impossible.

In both cases, the chicken version is more complicated than the dog version, and more dangerous for the animal.



If you want to spend a few hours on the phone, you can just start calling every vet in the area. To save time, start by asking "do you treat chickens." If the answer is "no," you don't have to bother explaining what decrowing is.

It hadn't even crossed my mind that de-crowing was a thing. Haven't had to worry about that kind of thing. Assumed they meant caponization.
Both are risky, I can well imagine.

 

[Folly's place]

Back on page one, I mentioned both surgeries, and neither is a good option, IMO. Having a cute group of cockerels will be wonderful, until it's not. Finding homes for cute bantam boys may be possible, if the OP starts looking soon. And Silkies are difficult to sex until they are older.
Having several roosters in the house, in a 'sound proof' cage, won't likely work well, unless it's a huge space, and still won't be a very normal life for a chicken.
Mary

 

[Lil Chicken mama]

Did you say silkies? They are often in high demand for 4H, FFA, fair, and homeschool projects, where they would likely become the lap chickens they are. Rehoming doesn't necessarily = dinner for those sweet fluffs...even the roosters.