Roosters & Cock Collars

[MeyMus]

Hi all!

Just wanted to get some thoughts on cock collars.

I would love to have a little man in the yard guarding my girls, but don't want to upset the neighbours. We have a goshawk who regularly comes to visit and freaks my girls out. Ive had 2 chicks disappear on me, and 1 hen injured... sometimes the dogs (or myself) are not quick enough to go out for the scare off...

Anyone used a cock collar before? Any ideas/tips to share?

 

[adstowe]

They are generally frowned upon and honestly, you're rooster would likely just be the first to die. Then you'd be back to where you are now. Kind of blunt, but that's my take on it.

 

[MeyMus]

They are generally frowned upon and honestly, you're rooster would likely just be the first to die. Then you'd be back to where you are now. Kind of blunt, but that's my take on it.

Ive got a hawk sitting on the clothesline right now... chased a dove into the back bedroom window. Dove dead on green bin. Hawk hanging around to get it. Can't wait for it to leave!! Stupid thing...

 

[MeyMus]

Photo

 

[lazy gardener]

Brazen beasts. I agree that a roo will not solve a hawk issue. Northern goshawk took out 3 of my full grown hens several summers ago in a very short time period. Forced me to change my management style to closed run with supervised free range only. For weeks at a time, within 10 minutes of letting my flock out to range, the hawks would show up. They are fearless, and will sit in the trees taunting me. Have seen them walking on the ground around my grow out coop trying to figure out how to get in for a chicken dinner.

As for the no crow collars, I would never consider using one. I consider them to be cruel.

 

[adstowe]

I haven't free ranged my chickens in probably a month and a half. I used to leave them out all day (I live on acreage out of town). Then my favorite little hen disappeared and I went with the "only when I'm home" approach. One snagged my little banty X standard mix roo, while I was home. I expect an occasional loss free ranging, but there have been tons of red tailed hawks around most of the summer and after losing those two so close together I just kept them locked in the run. The hawks have started to dissipate (I assume they were this years hatchlings) and I will probably start letting them out again. Point being that I had a roo. Yes, he was a 3/4 size roo (he's the one in my avatar), but all I was left with was some scrapes in the dirt and some feathers. I still keep a roo and I do it because I want to. Not because I expect him to do much. This one's ridicules anyway. He's a bantam polish that I got as an impulse buy from the assorted bantam bin and didn't even know what I was buying till I started looking up pictures of bantam chicks. As far as the collar goes. If I had to put something around my rooster's neck to choke off one of his natural actions I'd just go without. It just seems wrong to me. That is (of course) my opinion. It doesn't mean you can't have one of your own.
Just because everyone loves pictures... He's a current picture of my little "freak chicken". In the event a moth or maybe a lizard threatens my hens I have the utmost confidence in him. Beyond that I'm not expecting much. LOL

 

[MeyMus]

I haven't free ranged my chickens in probably a month and a half. I used to leave them out all day (I live on acreage out of town). Then my favorite little hen disappeared and I went with the "only when I'm home" approach. One snagged my little banty X standard mix roo, while I was home. I expect an occasional loss free ranging, but there have been tons of red tailed hawks around most of the summer and after losing those two so close together I just kept them locked in the run. The hawks have started to dissipate (I assume they were this years hatchlings) and I will probably start letting them out again. Point being that I had a roo. Yes, he was a 3/4 size roo (he's the one in my avatar), but all I was left with was some scrapes in the dirt and some feathers. I still keep a roo and I do it because I want to. Not because I expect him to do much. This one's ridicules anyway. He's a bantam polish that I got as an impulse buy from the assorted bantam bin and didn't even know what I was buying till I started looking up pictures of bantam chicks. As far as the collar goes. If I had to put something around my rooster's neck to choke off one of his natural actions I'd just go without. It just seems wrong to me. That is (of course) my opinion. It doesn't mean you can't have one of your own.
Just because everyone loves pictures... He's a current picture of my little "freak chicken". In the event a moth or maybe a lizard threatens my hens I have the utmost confidence in him. Beyond that I'm not expecting much. LOLView attachment 1122706

Woahhhhh! Check out the hair style! Hahaha...
Most of my girls are bantams who go bolting into their beds/coops when they see the wildlife go flying off... poor things.
Hmmm okay. So i suppose i should only get a rooster if my neighbours are ok with it and i want to breed!
Thanks all

 

[The Moonshiner]

Cock collar..... Lol, I'd be careful googling that.

 

[MagpieDucks]

@azurbanclucker

 

[azurbanclucker]

I use them on my 3 roos in an urban setting. They do not completely stop the crowing, but they do significantly dampen the volume. Mileage varies per individual roo and sometimes they're just so stubborn that a no crow collar won't work at all. Properly applied and cared for, they're fine for your boys. One caveat though, use crumble feed. pellets have the potential to get lodged in their throat with a collar on and can put your roo at risk. I got mine from https://nocrowroostercollars.com/, and they work as advertised. I know they're a touchy subject here on BYC, but myself and a lot of folks in my area use them quite successfully. I have no idea what shipping costs to OZ might be from that site, but you can probably find some DIY examples on the internet and make some for yourself.

Maybe talk with your neighbors first. See if they mind you getting a roo. Bribe them with fresh eggs and ear plugs, it goes a long way.