peta Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 We got 2 new hens several months ago and one of them turned up to be a cockerel!!! It is a problem as he now started crowing early in the morning. We don't let them out until 8am to prevent this but for the last 2 morning he started at 5:30AM even though he is in the eglu and some days he will go at it all day. is there anything I can do??? does anyone know of someone that is looking for a bantam cockerel??? The problem is that I have neighbours that are not happy to be up early morning. any help or info on someone wanting to give him a new home will be welcomed Thank you Talya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Where are you? You could call a rehoming organisation in your area. Are there any farms near to you that you could contact? Will the breeder take him back? They usually will if there has been a mistake. There are some hen rescue organisations that might take him. Little Hen rescue were kind enough to take a cockerel that I had from the lorry crash in Essex. LHR are based in Norwich which might be a bit far from you but there are other places that might take him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 This happened to me! We've kept him though with the intention of re-homing him if neighbours complained. So far, a year later, fingers crossed, they haven't. I keep them all sweet with eggs now and again ! To delay his morning chorus, we do a number of things. - we make sure he has a full crop before he goes to bed so he has a handful of mixed corn to get him in the run and to fill him up - we exclude as much light as we can - we have put him in a quiet spot so that he's not wakened by cars, etc going past ( and when I have to get up early I tiptoe around!) - the eglu has a large thick rug on top plus a bag of compost to absorb sound! The fall back is a large dog crate in which we would put him in and take him into the house overnight (under the stairs I think!). The ultimate last resort is that I've researched places that would take him in or I could advertise him as free to a good home. It sounds a lot of fuss, but he is beautiful ( a white crested polish bantam) and he does look after his two girls. Hope that helps Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 I've heard of people putting cockerels in well ventilated small crates/boxes in a garage or shed.......it need to be small enough that they can't stretch their necks up to crow. Apparently it's not cruel as the boys get used to it quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peta Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 Thank you for the info. I have asked around today at the farms in the area and no one wants him, so will contact the LHR and for now I have a blanket over the eglu to stop the light and will try the carpet and compost bag tomorrow with only 2 hens now and one on a 'strike' we do not have enough eggs to go around so that will not work in keeping the neighbors happy Thanks again Talya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Tom123 also mentioned somewhere in, I think, Wiltshire, that accepted unwanted cockerels. But I can't find the post now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
