The Fraggles

[Ladybird CA]

Congrats on your new flock! First time I’ve seen silkied EE’s. You got them from MPC though? They’ll refund you guys if there’s a rooster. Doesn’t take away the problem of having to rehome him though of course

 

[sean_wonder]

You're on the right track with the treats. Just sitting quietly with them works, too. That's how my Yukon got so tame. The first batch was all hand-raised, and I was lonesome for the peeping when they went outside. I used to sit outside with my book or paperwork, or let them out to wander with me while I worked in the yard. Most would come up to investigate, and would end up on my knee (or my head!) Yukon and my Yosemite Sam (a Nankin Bantam) ended up riding around on my shoulders. They even stay put when I go in and out of the house. It's pretty cool!

Already they’ve become so much more tame since I offer a mealworm once I put my hand in. The 3 culprits that come sprinting for it first are Beaker, Chickie, and Badonkadonk. Now I can put my hand in and they’ll explore it for treats
naturally I’m giving them some choice grit too. When they get super rowdy I let them have a chick cake for thirty minutes or so and that usually calms them right down. As soon as I’ve caught them, though, they’ll perch on my arms or shoulders and fall asleep regardless of what I’m doing or where I’m going. I’ve gone outside and inside and danced to music and they still stay right on. My lovable little ticks

 

[BY Bob]

can we get pics of poops? on chick starter my chicks usually all are giving a wet brown slimy poos. are you giving any probiotics? we do that in their water for I think it's 4 to 6 weeks till we boot out to the outside brooder.

Mine as well. Not always slimy but definately brown.

 

[BY Bob]

Tell 'em not to worry. My roosters never crow at dawn. They start a half hour earlier ... Dawn is when they STOP!
On second thought, maybe you'd better NOT tell 'em that. It'll be our little secret. Ours and everybody else here on BYC ... !

Jabber crows all night. The sun is NOT required. 3 AM last night woke me up. He was exceptionally long winded.

 

[jsr5]

They do make crowing collars for them that are supposed to greatly reduce the length and volume of crowing. I've never tried one yet I"ve kinda gotten to like it and I have AC running summertime drowns it out in the bedroom and a cpap machine which also drowns things out. But if you are attached to one who is a roo you could try it. And then your crazy chicken friends will have a supplier

 

[BY Bob]

They do make crowing collars for them that are supposed to greatly reduce the length and volume of crowing. I've never tried one yet I"ve kinda gotten to like it and I have AC running summertime drowns it out in the bedroom and a cpap machine which also drowns things out. But if you are attached to one who is a roo you could try it. And then your crazy chicken friends will have a supplier

We tried the crow collar. Unfortunately I could not get it tight enough to stop him from pulling his neck into his body and thereby sliding the collar up his neck. It would sorta quiet him a little but I was going to have to strangle him in order to make it work. Therefore we gave up on it. My brother does believe that his rooster kept growing after he put it on him and that it did strangle him. I don't agree with him; it was something else. I personally just couldn't get it to work for Jabber.

 

[jsr5]

Would a dark box work kinda like putting a blanket over a canary cage? If you kept it dark enough would he wait till you pulled the cover to start in crowing. I know I hear mine at all hours but only if there is some light. Definitely if they are getting supplemental light for the layers. An experiment I have yet to try myself.

 

[MROO]

Would a dark box work kinda like putting a blanket over a canary cage? If you kept it dark enough would he wait till you pulled the cover to start in crowing. I know I hear mine at all hours but only if there is some light. Definitely if they are getting supplemental light for the layers. An experiment I have yet to try myself.

Most roosters will crow not only when they see light, but when they are disturbed by a sound or movement. A cover should help mitigate your crowing issues significantly - but if you have worrisome noises, your roo will still alert. Likely it won't be as often, and hopefully not as early!

Most of my boys are outside in a converted playhouse. We've kept the sunrise-side windows small, so they don't get the full impact of sudden morning light. Still, they eventually see the sun through that little window ... and they crow. A bigger issue for us is that they also hear all of the night sounds - foxes, opossums, a neighbor letting his dogs out at 4:30 Every. Blessed. Morning ... and they crow. The breeding pair on my porch wakes a bit later, when the sun hits the front of the house. When Fella crows, the "Boys In The Back" start all over again and it's a tag-team crowing match for most of the day. I am truly blessed with tolerant neighbors!

 

[jsr5]

I know about the intermittent wake up calls. My son gets home from working at pizza hut around 10:30 or 11pm and my bantam roos get going and yeah they set off the full sized roos on the other side of the house and it takes around 2o or 30 minutes for them all to get quiet. +1 for the great neighbor.

 

[jsr5]

sean_wonder here is that "puppy pile" I was talking about. there is 25+ bantam and bantam mutt chickies in that picture and of course Gimpy Mama the black all the way right. That by the way is her spot always that is here place when scratch and meal meal worms or tomatoes or lettuce or what ever is the treat dijour. She always gets her pinch right there. She earned it look at the mob she is raising!!