Training roosters to not crow?

[diamondsilkies]

I live in an area that allows roosters as long as none of your neighbors complain. When I started my breeding program, I asked my neighbors if they would be OK with roosters, and they said they actually liked the sound of a rooster crowing because it reminded them of their childhood. I told I would probably have about 3, and they said no problem. Fast forward to now, several years later. I am trying to find some homes for a couple of my roos, but after that I'll still have 3 or 4, since I'm getting some new chicks. I think my neighbors are starting to get irritated by them, since they keep dropping hints about too many roosters. For example, the other day I got some hatching eggs and my neighbor knew that I was, and later she asked if I had received them. I said yes, and she said "Well I hope there aren't any roosters. 3 roosters is enough" I told her there would be, but I would be re-homing most, if not all of them.

Anyways, I've been doing some research on how to keep the noise down, and I don't really want to do the No Crow collars. However I did hear mention of training your roosters not to crow as much and I was wondering if anyone had any ideas/tips on how to do so? Thank you!

 

[sylviethecochin]

You could do what some parrot owners do, and keep the birds in the dark until crowing is acceptable. Roosters do not usually crow if they cannot see light, and if you make them a special dark box or hutch for morning and evening, you might be able to cut down on the crowing. Also, it might muffle any crowing they do inside the box.

That said, I think there's a point where it's easier to just butcher the extra roosters.

 

[Grenadianexpat]

I shall definitely be following this thread. Mine seem to kick off at about 10pm, Midnight, 4am, 5/6ish, plus instigating the hen dawn chorus and multiple times during the day. I have been working on the chopping block solution, but training them... I'd like to see how that one works.

Thanks to your mention of the no crow collar I may be going along that route... I wonder what you found to put you off? The you tube clips seemed to be all positive as far as I checked.

The price seemed a bit high, but other than that..

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The only way to train a rooster to NOT crow involves the sudden application of a sharp hatchet to its neck, preferably just back of the poor fellow's voice box.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

3 is enough, once your neighbors complain it will be 0.
Be a good neighbor, you said 3 (they did not hear the "about 3")

Gary

 

[Jemma Rider]

I have the same problem, i just got my chickens a few months ago after a year of obsessive research on roosters and crowing. I don't know if you can train a rooster not to crow I've looked into that. I got two roosters one of which who hasn't crowed who i am keeping and I'm going to try making him a blackbox out of an old dog cage and keeping him in it until morning (or until my neighbors leave) otherwise sometimes it's the specific animal some are just noisier then others. I've also been looking into getting a collar for my roo, it seems like a viable option as well from what I've read it's approved by the SPCA. The basic thing is separate your roosters at night into a blackout box and keep all light out until the desired time. My rooster crows at three in the morning because of car lights so it could be as simple as installing curtains. Overall keeping light to a minimum should work if your goal is to stop them from crowing at dawn. As for throughout the day then the collar would be the best option. I've heard about interrupting crowing with treats but i don't see how that would work since it would be sort of like a reward.
What makes you not want to use a collar? I'm just wondering because of my boy, i don't want to put anything on him that could hurt him.

 

[TalkALittle]

Trying to train out an instinctive behavior that is driven by internal hormones and triggered by things in the environment that are beyond your control? Yeah, good luck with that.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

... I got two roosters one of which who hasn't crowed....

I am assuming that this silent bird is a rooster and not a cockerel. If he is a rooster and he has not crowed then he is very likely under "hack" or a underling to your other rooster. Never fear, as soon as you remove the ALPHA rooster your non-crowing rooster will likely make up for lost time in the crowing department. I know that you don't want to hear this but that does no good.

 

[orrpeople]

So, more bad news... even a blackout "box" (some place dark), although it may help, will not stop your roosters from crowing. That middle of the night crow? It has everything to do with his ears. If he hears something that causes him alarm, he will respond - whether he sees it or not. Mine will even sometimes crow when they hear house noises - like a toilet flush. They also can hear roosters from other places - miles away at night - who just heard something, crowed about it, and then your roosters feel the need to pick up the call.
In the long run, I am actually glad they respond to noise, because they also sound off if they feel threatened - and they very well might be. Sometimes I go out and check - finding evidence of predator activity. Or sometimes I go out and check - finding evidence that it has begun to rain and that little tic-tic sound of the raindrops has set them off.
Best of luck with your endeavors, and your neighbors!

 

[Talithahorse]

I would also develop a plan for all your future roosters so you don't get into this bind again. Maybe work with someone who lives in the country and is willing to process your roosters, or getting breeds that are sex linked and clearing out the roosters prior to their crowing stage. The other option is to stick with day old chicks of the sex linked breed where you can get only pullets. I live in the country so I have no problem with neighbors. I work with several families who live in the city and provide them with pullets only so they can refresh their stock, avoid roosters, etc. Personally I process my extra roosters b/c it is so hard to rehome roosters (and I love chicken noodle soup).