Backyard chicken keepers

[Pooh's Pixie]

For anyone that has chickens, I have a newbie question. We have 7 chickens that are about 4 months old. Basically as pets, to get eggs, etc. Well, we ordered all hens (girls). We are starting to suspect one of the silkies is a rooster! He does a weak "****-a-doodle-doo" in the morning. Not loud, and not until we let them out (they stay in the hen house for the night.)

If this is true, and our she is a he, is there any problem with keeping him? Other than local ordinances (which are ok)...the kids would be devastated if we had to get rid of him, but I don't want to have problems. We obviously didn't anticipate this!

Thanks!

[Boo'sMom]

Not a problem at all...he just won't lay eggs.
We have a flock of 6 BPRs and we love raising chickens.
We did have a rooster but had to send him to freezer camp because he started crowing around 3:30 every morning and the neighbors were getting irritated.

[Tarheel Tink]

I have had a flock in my backyard for 4 years now. Sounds like a rooster- I too noticed an adolescent crowing going on but physically couldn't tell at that age (I have a mix of 6 breeds so combs, etc. vary in them) until that. I keep 1 rooster who guards the hens rather well from hawks, etc. I had more than 1 rooster and found it wasn't easy to place them (who knew? ).

"Mulan" renamed "Mushuu" rules over the hens we have; Cinderella, Jasmine, Beauty, Merriweather, Fauna, Ariel, Belle,etc.

[Pooh's Pixie]

Was he inside the coop/henhouse and crowing? My DH thinks that maybe if we keep him in the henhouse until a reasonable hour of the morning (7?) he won't start crowing...but I'm not sure. Thanks

[Tarheel Tink]

We don't have a fully enclosed coop so occasionally he will crow when we turn a light on in the kitchen or outside in the middle of the night- stops when the light goes off. We don't hear him unless we open a door or window.

[Pooh's Pixie]

Anyone in the evening crowd want to chime in?

Sounds like maybe it will be okay. I just don't want anyone complaining. Granted, my neighbor's dogs definitely are more annoying, but people are more tolerant of dogs than chickens...

[Pooh's Pixie]

bumping, I thought there were more chicken keepers out there! LOL

[golfgal]

Is it legal to have chickens in your backyard? I know it isn't here. DH's parents had some neighbors that had chickens-and a rooster. I think the town was about ready to lynch this family because that stupid rooster crowed every morning. I would NOT keep a rooster in town if you want to have good relationships with your neighbors.

[Pooh's Pixie]

Yes, it's legal. Lots of people in our town have them, it's become quite a movement. I even know one family that has a steer!

I do have a concern for my neighbors, which is why I am posting to see if people have had problems. We have approximately two acres of land. It is not a city lot. Like I said before, I know the dogs across the street are far louder and more of a nuisance than a rooster would be, but some people have issues with non-traditional pets. Our property abuts one of the richest people in the country (according to Forbes Magazine) and I don't need trouble. Of course, they keep to themselves and their constant construction is also a nuisance to me, but I wouldn't make a big deal. Just wondering if any chicken keepers have had this happen and have they been able to deal with keeping a rooster.

Thanks!

[clarabelle]

I can't help you -but I would love to see pictures!
This is a fantasy of mine to keep chickens some day (right now we live in the burbs and can't )

I know that you can get books on chicken keeping -I have seen them on amazon

[Pooh's Pixie]

Here are some pics! This one is when they were just babies.







Here is the coop my DH made, and my DD playing with them.




And a picture of them getting bigger.



ENJOY!

[Jockaroo]

My husband grew up on a farm and for a 4-H project he raised chickens. Like you he ordered hens, but was sent an additional "bonus" bird--the rooster. I don't remember him talking about issues with crowing, but I do know he said that the rooster grew huge spurs on his feet and these were quite a danger. I believe he said the rooster was quite protective of the flock. A neighbor's dog got loose, got in the chicken enclosure and killed most of his chickens. He was devastated. Just wanted you to be aware of the dog problem. I'd hate for your daughter to see something horrific like this. I know it still bothers my husband. He really cared for these birds--took good care of them and had a small profitable venture selling fresh eggs to neighbors.

Good luck with your chickens.

[clarabelle]

oooh
Thanks
I like the gray one. What variety are they?
Which one do you suspect is a rooster?

[tileman]

Yep if you have a chicken run make sure the wire is at lest 18" in the ground kind of at a angle. So the dogs can not dig in.

Here's a good site here full of info http://www.backyardchickens.com/

Ron.

[mtdevine615]

Sorry can't help but it does sound like a rooster in the making. We had bad luck this year. We got new chicks and all were wiped out during one night. Not sure but we think it was a fisher.