abwsco Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 in an eglu question. Will they work in a similar vein to a cockerel box or is there enough room for them to throw their head back. DH has just announced that he wants to try and keep both of our big boy chicks. Ta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 The Eglu didn't work with my pekin boy although he is very short obviously I am doubtful that it wouldwork even with a large boy though as a cockerel box means that the bird is pretty much squating inside not even being able to stand up properly. Besides-I have read about lots of cockerels who still manage to crow even whilst inside a cockerel box I have houses all around me but I have a cockerel. At night I put him in a cat box and keep him in the shed until 8am. The windows and cracks are covered so it's very dark inside and the cat box is also covered. He starts to crow at about 7-7.30am but the sound is very muffled due to the fact that he is in the shed. I would suggest to anyone that if you can manage to have a cockerel then go for it as Kev is a real character and adds a whole new dimension to the flock. We LOVE him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted September 11, 2009 Author Share Posted September 11, 2009 Thanks Jay I think we are going to try. Actually, just realised they could perhaps stay in the plastic rabbit hutch that the four are sleeping in now. At least we've got less daylight now-lol We also think that we heard the makings of a strangled crow from one of the boys tonight when there was the usual perch position rumpus going on from all the girls in the coop. Assuming a rumpus is normal for everybody elses chickens of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 The eglu is perhaps better than the cube for keeping a cockerel quiet in my experience. Especially if its a green one which is darker. The triggers for the crowing as I have found out through experimentation this last year is light, followed by noise ( cars, people, not other birds interestingly). So you can leave them in the eglu if you cover both the eglu and the run - right down to the ground. You have to make it as black as possible. I also used to throw over a thick rug to muffle him iand a bag of compost. And the door must be closed. Not elegant, but it worked by keeping him out the noise and so keeping him quiet until a decent hour e.g. after 7.30am. Oh, and you have to fill him up so he lasts the night. So mixed corn as a treat before he goes to bed. From what you say, you have more than one cockerel. Be aware they will start to fight at an early age so need separating quite quickly once they have crowed. Good luck Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 I recently went to a ladies house who kept 7-8 cockerels together with no problems. Maybe if they are together from a young age and there are enough hens to go round-you won't have any trouble keeping the two. My Eglu is green and on night one of having Kev, I covered the Eglu with countless blankets etc and he still managed to crow at 5.30am He's happy in the shed though and it works for us so I think it all comes down to experimenting until you find what works for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 I currently have four cockerels together. They are only 12 weeks old, and were hatched and brought up together (with three girl chicks). Two of the boys have been crowing since week 8, but the other two have remained silent. Because they are Bantam Pekins, they are still small and their crows are not that loud yet and actually quite fun to listen to . Fighting has not been a problem to date. Quite a bit of posturing first thing in the morning when I let them out of the (dark purple) Eglu at 7:00am, but no major problems. I've two 'big girls' in the WIR with the chicks and they are all much more concerned about keeping away from grumpy Fifi (our old ren hen), than fighting between themselves. Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 I think they are Ok for longer if they were brought up together, but we returned one cockerel to its former home a few weeks ago. He and his brother from whom he'd been separated for no more than 4 weeks set to straight away. They had to be separated immediately. Phillip had a brother too and they were fine at first - best friends but started fighting at about 16 weeks. We were told that they would fight to the death in time. I guess it's when the hormones start raging. Phillip went beserk when the young cockerel we returned crowed for the first time. He attacked the run fiercely and I can now confirm its cockerel proof! The ideal ratio of cockerel to hen is 1-8 so you'd need a lot of hens to keep more than one happy! There may be a breed difference but I'd be careful Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 Yes, we'll only be keeping one (the now quite famous Black Frizzle we call Liquorish). The other three boys are off to new homes in the coming weeks. One's not going far away, to a flock at the other end of the village, the other two will be off to new homes that are somewhat further away. Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue and the Spice Girls Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Before I kept my cockerel I went to all out neighbours and asked them to tell me if thier crowing disturbed me. Bertie crows about 3am but I only hear him if I'm awake anyway, if you're asleep he doesn't wake me.....but.....he's at the end of a 200 ft garden but we do sleep with our window open. The neighbours all say its a nice country sound and they don't mind a bit. He's such a character and well work keeping a cockerel if you have space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 The comment about the nice country sound is one I get a lot. Thank goodness for good neighbours! Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokiechicken1969 Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 does omlet ever think it will develop a blacked out eglu or cube especially for cockerels? and maybe charge bit more for the privelage? light is definately a trigger for mine crowing. i forgot to draw the blackout blind across one night and he was off like charlotte church at 5am the next day. sounds like there could be a market for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
