What to do with a roo?

[Fritzen]

It's starting to seem like one of my big girls is a rooster...
Living within city limits, I can't have more than 4 hens, which, a rooster is perfect as it sets me at 4 hens and 1 rooster! But... I don't think I'm allowed to have a rooster within city limits, or at least within the proximity to other residential houses that I'm at.

Does anyone have tips on how to handle this situation..? I'm very attached to my chickens. I raised them from itty bitty chicks of course, and it's heartbreaking to have to part with one of them.

It's either Optima or Cordula, I haven't seen or heard them crowing myself, but both of my parents have testified to it. Optima, though, has iridescent feathers around her (or his) hackle, so I'm suspecting it's her (or his...). Are iridescent feathers exclusive to roosters, or is it just a helpful indicator or coincidence?

> Are there ways to keep a rooster from crowing? I don't want to lock my girls inside the coop at night, as their run is secure and locked itself, but I've heard it's when they see the sunrise that they crow.
> If that isn't possible, has anyone had success in keeping a roo as a house chicken?

I don't want to part with him, whichever he is, and I'm trying to figure out if I should get my hopes up or not...

 

[CHlCKEN]

Post pictures of these birds and we can help decide if they really are males.

 

[CHlCKEN]

Many dominant hens will crow too.

 

[Fritzen]

Post pictures of these birds and we can help decide if they really are males.

Here's Optima! ^ (plus Juno photobombing)

This is Cordula! ^

Here's all three of them for comparison against each other. Juno, the white one, is a pullet, so she's not a suspect.

EDIT: Later today when I'm tending to them, I'll take more pictures up close and personal with them!

 

[aart]

Are iridescent feathers exclusive to roosters, or is it just a helpful indicator or coincidence?

No, but there are specific males feathers that show up around 3-4 months old.
How old are your birds, in weeks??

Are there ways to keep a rooster from crowing? I don't want to lock my girls inside the coop at night, as their run is secure and locked itself, but I've heard it's when they see the sunrise that they crow.

Not really. They can crow any time of night or day.

If that isn't possible, has anyone had success in keeping a roo as a house chicken?

Uhg, some do, but crowing in a house is REALLY LOUD....
and betting your parents won't agree to that anyway.

I don't want to part with him, whichever he is, and I'm trying to figure out if I should get my hopes up or not...

It's one of the hardest, but inevitable, parts of chickeneering...not all birds fit into the flock or situation.

 

[CHlCKEN]

Also keeping house chickens is just not right, they aren’t house pets.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I would think it's the one in the first pic, but the coloring is female and I don't know the age. I'm thinking it's a dominant hen

 

[Tonyroo]

If there all the same age. Optima is a Golden Laced Wyandotte cockerel. Your birds look similar to my own pair. Except when my cockerel was developing his comb and tail he got sick and died. So I'm left with Lucy. BTW your glw pullet will start laying eggs at 30 to 34 weeks. Slow maturing chickens.

Keeping a rooster in the house is not practical unless you have a basement for sleeping only. You still need him to be outdoors during the day. And some people in your situation will try a (no crow collar). It lessen the volume of there crow, it sounds more like a screech. There's youtube videos of people's roosters with the collar on and shows what it sounds like for comparison. I hope you can make the best, with your situation.

 

[Fritzen]

I would think it's the one in the first pic, but the coloring is female and I don't know the age. I'm thinking it's a dominant hen

If there all the same age. Optima is a Golden Laced Wyandotte cockerel. Your birds look similar to my own pair. Except when my cockerel was developing his comb and tail he got sick and died. So I'm left with Lucy. BTW your glw pullet will start laying eggs at 30 to 34 weeks. Slow maturing chickens.

Thank you both for your input!

And some people in your situation will try a (no crow collar)

I'm definitely considering this, I'll have to check them out soon! Thank you!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You might look up threads about the no-crow collars, or start your own asking sbout them. I will warn you, it is a very controversial subject and people tend to have strong opinions about them. But before you invest, it may be wise to at least read both sides of the matter and then make up your own mind, so you can make a decision with the best interest of your bird in mind. Best of luck!