Conditioning a Rooster not to Crow

[katescountryfarm]

I have a rooster (or 10) for three reasons. I'm HORRIBLE at sexing chickens, I LOVE their crow, and they protect the few hens I (think) I have. I SERIOUSLY need to learn how to tell boys from girls here!

Ha Ha Ha!!! Sounds like me with the last chickens I bought.

 

[downsm75]

Lol the first FIVE I bought were ALL roos, I traded up for 6 more and I now have 1 roo, 2 hens and 3 not sure about... all were GUARANTEED to be hens. I'm ordering from a hatchery next spring.

 

[downsm75]

Plus one BO roo I can't part with

 

[katescountryfarm]

My first flock I bought 6 straight run that were all females and 6 pullets which one ended up a roo. Everyone said I was lucky. The second round I bought 25 straight run! I was not so lucky. I have a chorus of cockerels!

 

[Kansas Prairie]

There is nothing like the sound of Roosters in the morning, I LOVE it!

 

[geekulus]

Thanks for the replies.

Long story short, I bought a batch of immature "pullets" and 2 turned out to be roosters. I really didn't want to eat them because they seemed to have ornamental value, and plus I don't like killing animals, even for meat. The older roo has been eaten and junior might be next.

But if you say that this rooster instinct can't be tamed, I'll accept it. I don't mind the crowing, but unfortunately I live in the suburbs and the sound is bound to attract complaints. No real need for a rooster's protection because the hens are in a fully fenced run and there are no hawks in my area.

 

[geekulus]

I actually had my hopes quite high with the older roo. It was very quiet, had been mating the hens for a good 2 months without crowing, and it was the boss so junior didn't dare crow. Junior started mating the hens 1 weeks ago but started crowing not soon after, so he really cut his fun short.

At least my roosters had a better life than they would have in a commercial poultry farm/factory.

 

[TXchickmum]

There is nothing like the sound of Roosters in the morning, I LOVE it!

Agree 100%!!! -best "good morning" around!

 

[downsm75]

My first flock I bought 6 straight run that were all females and 6 pullets which one ended up a roo. Everyone said I was lucky. The second round I bought 25 straight run! I was not so lucky. I have a chorus of cockerels! 

lucky

 

[donrae]

I actually had my hopes quite high with the older roo. It was very quiet, had been mating the hens for a good 2 months without crowing, and it was the boss so junior didn't dare crow. Junior started mating the hens 1 weeks ago but started crowing not soon after, so he really cut his fun short.

At least my roosters had a better life than they would have in a commercial poultry farm/factory.

This is quite true. And speaking of quality of life, there are worse things than a quick, humane death.