Oh no, the crowing has started!

[frias]

i feel really sorry for you, I'd feel the same way...what about children's farms? there must be somewhere...bon courage

I've tried the children's farms and garden centres that have poultry. Adverts in papers and poultry magazines. I accept their fate now but I don't have to like it. I'm a wimp. Cried when the cat had kittens and they had to leave home. Cry everytime we go to Spain and I end up feeding a dog and then have to re-home it. Cry when my chooks are ill or have to be put to sleep. 'Cry me a River' is my song. Strangely only with animals though. My OH says I'm as hard as nails until it comes to animals.
All suggestions are welcome but I think I've tried everything. Don't you just know though that someone will call to re-home one as soon as they have gone.

[petal]

I don't know what to say to you. Are you vegetarian? If so eating the cockerels is out, obviously. I love animals too and cried my heart out when our favourite hen had to be culled - however I am breeding chickens and realise 50% will be male, therefore I intend to go on a course to show me how to despatch and prepare their meat effectively, which to me feels right. I know they have had a good life, I will be cutting down on packaging and all that global warming stuff, so I rationalise that I am doing the right thing. Also, we might get to taste real chicken for once!

[frias]

No not veggie. In fact I've tried most things. Have to eat all sorts when in Spain as my Catalan neighbour cooks me snails etc. Don't want to offend her! Just the thought of eating one of my boys is like eating the cat. Don't worry though they will get eaten, just not by me.

[Suechooks]

I too go off in floods when anyone elses chooks are sick so can sympathise! I really DO feel for you and just wish I could take at least one off you!

[HayleyB]

Oh dear a real shame for you, maybe someone will crop up..

[its hilly]

Dont know if it works but..I was told that a roo has to stretch his neck up to crow (well ok I know that bits true) so if you put the perch close enough to the roof, or sling a suspended roof over them so they cant reach up they wont crow.
Only time Ive tried this was a poorly roo in a box with a low lid. He didnt crow while in it, or onlt a strangled quiet one, but that could just be because he was ill anyway.
You have my sympathy, they do sneak under your skin dont they!

[MrsC]

Trevor started crowing this morning! He's a Polish Bantam, not sure how noisy they get, I could cope with it today, any suggestions anyone? Frias I know how you feel

[RichmondHens]

Bantams are higher pitched and more shrill than large fowl. Generally the smaller the bird, the higher pitched the crow. I have 20 + cocks all crowing for England but fortunately all housed well away from the house so cannot generally hear them until I let them out (except if I get up in the night can hear one or two from the bathroom crowing at 3 or 4 am). They are all very distinctive too. I can pretty much tell each and every bird apart as all the crows are different. My large Light Sussex cock sounds like the Hound of the Baskervilles - a really long, deep baying sound. Some of the bantams just let out a sort of shriek, and one of my Araucana crosses has always had a real whoo hoo sound. Quite a chorus really. Just as well I don't have any neighbours!!

[Polly Fouracre]

My cockerels go into boxes at night and are let out after 7. 30 a.m. No-one complains as they only crow once or twice then but when left to their own devices were starting at 5a.m. or before!! They go into their boxes quite happily, one even waiting for me at dusk.

[Nicos]

They are all very distinctive too. I can pretty much tell each and every bird apart as all the crows are different.

Ha!...I can tell my 2 lads crows apart....but 20????..flipping heck- that's brill!

[RichmondHens]

Well, it probably means I'm a bit of an anorak! I can tell most of the girls eggs apart too - quite sad really. I should get a life ............ !!!!

[woody2k4]

how did you get on?