Single hen

[peta]

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

[Janty]

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.

[Patricia W]

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

[feemcg]

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.

[peta]

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

[Patricia W]

Tom123 also mentioned somewhere in, I think, Wiltshire, that accepted unwanted cockerels. But I can't find the post now....