Rooster

[Judy]

The obvious approach would be to talk to your neighbors about a rooster. If I lived next door to you, I'd say great, I love the sound. Is it a problem t talk to them about it?

 

[sheilawagner]

Maybe you can offer your neighbors regular rounds of free eggs from your hens. Sway them with kindness and persuasion, and be really nice. It is hard for someone to be mean to you if you are so nice to them.

I agree, 1 nice roo is really awesome for a flock. I have 2 now, but I live in the country and my neighbors don't mind. One of them has roos too. My cockerels are the best guardians over the girls. He will watch over them while they forage, and he will call them to him when he finds bugs or worms, or treats. Its so cute to watch. The cockerels are also the most handsome and physically outstanding to look at. Their feathers are so beautiful, and their posture is really nice to watch too.

Mine are Cochin bantams, so they crow less loudly. And they are very sweet by nature. If you want to choose a roo, I think it is best to choose one from a breed that is docile, friendly, or known to be less aggressive or aloof.

 

[misschickenlittle]

I have a Roo that crows before I think it's even close to light outside... I guess 4:30 / 5:00 is light to him! Our coop is really pretty close to our house but I can barely hear him. He's very loud though when you're outside. How close are your neighbors? I agree with talking to them and offering to be nice and giving them eggs or maybe selling for really cheap... Whichever... But what's the worse that could happen? They say No and because you REALLY want one, you do it anyway? Then what are they going to do? It's legal...

It's not like you want to have 30 of them strutting around.

Good luck!

 

[VA Lady]

I love my rooster. He was a surprise because we were only getting 4 chickens and didn't think it wise to have a rooster with only 3 hens but he snuck in pretending to be a girl...

As great as he is I can't imagine having him in the suburbs. He is a young bird (from around March/April of this year) and he is LOUD! lol Also, at least 3 or 4 times a week right now he'll start crowing around 3:30 or 4 am (a number of times he's crowed off and on for hours too!). We are on 10 acres out in the middle of nowhere and I can still hear another neighbor's rooster that is well over half a mile away (and I've had others mention hearing ours) through a hilly forest. Our house is really well insulated so I don't hear him inside as much as you would think though. You should consider that once your rooster starts crowing every neighbor for around a half mile square will be able to hear him so, depending on the size of your neighborhood, that might be a lot of people to worry about!