Venting about Roosters

[Jamited]

Surely all farm animals don't have to end up as near or derivatives. I got my four bandana purely as pets. I choose not to eat meat but that's my personal choice and I don't foist my opinion on meat eaters. I have always wanted chickens and only now in my retired years have the time and space for them. I would love to have a rooster barman as they are so beautiful but would worry their growing would disturb my neighbours. Years ago cockerel used to be neutered and raised as capones - big chickens with a lot of meat on them. I don't know how they were neutered, but I read somewhere that they became passive birds who didn't crow or have the normal aggressive traits.I would happily offer a home to one or more of these birds possibly to show them but mainly to enjoy them. Each one of my chickens has a different personality, they respond to bring stroked and are so curious and tame. I have a completely different attitude to serious chicken farmers. I don't think I'm doing anything wrong -I'm just enjoying my birds along with four rescued mistreated dogs and a cat! I'm sorry your son has not taken advantage of using your birds -as a chef knowing the pedigree of your ingredients is so very important. The fact your chickens have had the best food and a lovely life must make them far superior to the poor pale flesh bought in supermarkets. Keep on at him. He must see sense eventually!

 

[Jamited]

That should read meat not near. Bantams not bandanas. Rooster bantam not barman. Crowing not growing. Being not bring. Sorry -predictive txt!

 

[jspeese]

I second the idea of getting pullet chicks (of a non-broody breed) if you don't want or can't have a rooster and don't intend to hatch your own chicks (which by the law of averages will be half roosters). But sexing isn't 100% accurate 100% of the time. I have occasionally wound up with a rooster (never many, usually only one, and not every time) when I got "sexed" chicks. In fact with my present flock, I ended up with one who turned as mean as the devil (rough on both me and the hens) when he got older, so I re-homed him. Getting sex-link chicks is a more foolproof option, but I understand and relate to the feelings of many folks about sex-linked chicks...i.e., they are designed for commercial production and often "burn out" after a season or two, and are more susceptible to reproductive diseases and disorders. But even heritage breed hens eventually stop producing. If you want chickens purely for pets, fine. But if you want to keep getting eggs, eventually even with heritage breed hens you will be faced with the problem of getting rid of the old ones and restarting your flock. All things to consider when getting chickens. Most people only have room to keep but so many.

 

[Jamited]

Remember everyone has an opinion and mine isn't wrong at all. We travel over an hour to get to work one way, it's a choice we all make to where we live. I feel like uneducated people ruin it for the rest for the most part. When you have people who are keeping roosters in areas that they are banned, they are ruining it for others. I'm completely against people keeping roosters in an area they are not allowed and using torturous devices on those animals to make sure they get away with breaking the law... It's completely wrong!

I agree entirely. We have slightly different laws here in UK but if someone complains about noise from any animal you are given the option to re train your animal or rehome it. Of course, if living away from others then animal noises are fine. I would far rather hear a cockerel crowing than some idiot speeding down the road or a siren but I'm by the sea and not too far from the fields but my husband is a townie!. I've just been out putting my birds to bed and it's a cold clear night. Temp is 6c but dry thankfully. Don't like the idea of your metal knees getting cold. I've got ceramic hips but a titanium did in the thigh holding it in but never noticed them getting cold. Wear thick pants!

 

[Jamited]

Thank you for posting this. When I first started raising a flock, I ended up with 3 cockerels and they did not get along. I found a family with a great many hens that wanted to start raising their own chicks. POOF the problem was solved. It does make me sad that so many people want to keep animals (of any kind) but are totally unprepared for the what-if's. Collars are terrible- I'd no more put one on my rooster than I'd put a shock collar on one of my dogs. Irresponsible people make it so much more difficult for the rest of us to live in so many ways. End of sermon

I've never heard of a collar for a rooster but have heard of the dog one. I suppose they both do the same thing ie. Shut the critter up! Dreadful dreadful and cruel....

 

[Palerydr]

So, I get where everyone is coming from, but there's another side of the coin..surprise ! ... In the town nearest to me there's a "Market House" where a couple times a week the areas farmers can take their produce/livestock to sell. Years ago there was always this one guy that had fresh unfrozen Capons for sale. Once in a while, (we must have ran out of our own in the freezer) Mom or Grandma would buy one for Sunday diner. I remember them to be the plumpest, juiciest, best eating chickens I ever ate. Not only that, but the meat was of a fine texture that seemed to actually melt in your mouth. So fast forward several decades. Both of my young sons were in 4H poultry and had to figure out a project to do with their poultry that they could enter in the county fair. Now, I know a lot of you are about to think I'm some kind of a monster in a minute here. But, my youngest son (they had heard me mention how great Capons were a few times) asked me if I could help him (which was allowed) and we could do Capons. So we researched it some and decided it didn't sound like that big of a task so we sent to Murray McMurray hatchery and bought the kit that has the tools you need to do the job. It's a very simple operation to do that only takes a few minutes. It needs to be done when the cockerels are young and once they're settled down from being caught and picked up, they don't fuss of even peep when the tiny incision is made to do the job. If it's done properly it doesn't even require any stitches. Once it's done, just set em down n they run off n join the rest of their buddies. Anyways, we did 5 Barred Rock cockerels that spring day and come fair time, the last week of August they all were right around 11 to 12 pound birds that never crowed or chased other birds, or each other. Had no interest in hens or breeding. All they wanted to do is eat..lol.. and follow ya around everywhere you went. We had to be sure to get the door shut real quick or they'd follow us right on into the house. Oh.. btw.. the judge that day at the fair commented on what a nice looking flock of Capons that was. When raised for their exceptional meat I really wish they were more available like they were back in the day.

 

[Skippersnh]

a dog bark collar gives a little shock it not too bad but the rooster crow collar is on so tight to stop it from having a voice the roosters do backflips and fall all over the place trying to get it off

 

[Skippersnh]

@paleryd wow those poor roosters you could have just got hens if you didnt want roosters

 

[Palerydr]

@paleryd wow those poor roosters you could have just got hens if you didnt want roosters

Ya don't understand. It didn't matter to us if we had roosters or hens really. Back then we had a pretty good sized flock and kept our freezer full. I'm old and live here by myself now and just keep a small flock of 10-12 hens with one rooster. Back when we did this project, we did it for my son's 4H.... ahhh... anyways, he got a nice 4H blue ribbon and I wish ya could still buy fresh Capons cause I'm too old to wanna mess with them anymore. Good luck (y) Edit to mention... they need to be done at around 3 weeks of age, or as soon as you can tell they're cockerels and folks have always used extra large breeds to make Capons with. I'm not saying to just grab some rooster because he's crowing more than you like and do this with him. It's too late then and he would still keep most of his adult male dispositions... he would just be sterile.

 

[aart]

@paleryd wow those poor roosters you could have just got hens if you didnt want roosters

Not the point Capons are about meat production.

Ya don't understand.

No, they don't...nor do many others.
I understand.... and applaud your efforts, and rewards!
How long ago were your boys in 4H?
Were there other capons in the show?
I assume you are in the US, but what state?