"Put a baby sock over the rooster's head"

[IamRainey]

A co-worker in my husband's office says that a chicken keeper he knows swears by this method of keeping her rooster quiet. He says she slips it over his head at night when the roo's on the roost and takes it off in the morning when she's ready to let him crow.

This chicken keeper says her rooster is able to breathe normally. He just doesn't see the light until she removes the sock.

I have never heard of this method. I don't know what I think about this method. I just know I have neighbors who are trying to figure out if it's my rooster or me they want to throttle. When they figure it out someone at my house is in trouble!

 

[Notaneggspurt]

I use a baby sock turned inside out when I have to handle and treat flighty birds by myself. Works great though my rooster would crow when he'd hear something well before dawn. And I'd probably would have needed one of my socks for his big noggin

 

[chickens really]

No, I have never heard of that. Almost sounds a bit cruel to me..

 

[aart]

I have actually contemplated this, just to keep them calmer when exam time comes around. Now I just drape a towel over their heads.
Not sure it would be good longer term, like overnight...
...I would think that if it blocks all light not much air exchange is happening.

But am betting that a baby sock would be flicked or worked off in short order,
just like with babies.

ETA: If you try it, please take pics...or better yet video!

 

[Rammy]

What about chicken blinders? Or those things they put on falcons? Then he could breath but cant see. Maybe if you use the sock, cut a slit for his beak but it still covers his eyes.

 

[EverythingZen]

I’ve recently taken to using an upturned rectangular laundry basket over my roosters. It gives everyone peace from about 6:30am until 7:30am some mornings. They eventually figure out its daylight, but it buys us an extra hour or 2.

I’m intrigued by this sock idea. I’m not sure I’m comfortable with it entirely.

 

[Sea Wolf]

One shake of the head and it's going to come off. If you have a rooster and want to be respectful to your neighbors, either keep him locked in until a reasonable hour of the day or invest in a crow buster. You can buy them, though I made my own with materials from Joanne Fabrics. https://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Chicken-Supplies/No-Crow-Rooster-Collar-p1580.aspx

It does work. The trick is you have to get it tight and as low on the neck as possible. I used a 2 to 3 inch wide strip of velcro. He did not like it at first and fought it. I left him alone and, in a few hours, he was back to normal. Continued to be normal and still crowed but it was faint, squeaky crows that didn't carry very far.

 

[IamRainey]

I am keeping them penned up in the coop until 8 or 9am. He's wearing a No-Crow collar (which makes him more hoarse than quiet).

My first response was negative too but the woman (whom I haven't spoken to directly) says it's the same principle as a hood on a falcon or a cover over a parrot cage and that part, at least, makes sense.

I may see if I can find a falcon hood and if it would fit a rooster. It will be a certified PITA to put it on and remove it every day but as least it will restrain only Maurice and allow the girls to go up and down and feed at will again.

 

[Sea Wolf]

Falcon hoods are species specific and usually altered for each individual bird. You will have to measure across the top of the birds head and allow for distance for the leather to clear the birds eyes so the leather of the hood inside does not rub on his eyes. You will also have to measure from the base of his beak to the back of his head. Falconry hoods are made to fit hawks which have roundish heads. Chickens have a longer skull so a hood maker might have to custom make one for you. It might be easier (and less expensive) to try the sock or put him into a small cat carrier for the night. If he's in a carrier you could probably safely bring him into the house at night. If the collar isn't working, it is probably still too loose. A chickens neck isn't very big and the collar has to be low down to keep him from inflating the air sacs on each side to belt out a crow. I put mine on tight and then worked the feathers out from underneath it at the top so they helped hold it in place and kept it from working it's way up. If you want to try a hood, there is some useful info here. http://www.themodernapprentice.com/hoods.htm

 

[IamRainey]

Thank you for that info, Sea Wolf. I didn't realize it would be such a big deal.

Some of those hoods are beautifully crafted and I've no doubt they're expensive.