Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[WildeWoman]

My kids would like to hatch some eggs...if I hatch Orpingtons with fertilised eggs from a local breeder, she will take back any subsequent cockerels, so I think I might give it a go as I quite fancy Orpingtons anyway. That being said, the Orpington Cockerels that she has are absolutely stunning and round here, we are all quite used to hearing crowing from cockerels kept locally, so I am tempted to keep a boy. Had a word with my neighbours, of which I have three and they all seem to be up for it, but I don't want to have to move a boy on if they change their minds! What I basically want to know is how many decibels an Orpington Cockerel will produce compared to other breeds? My Silkie cocks are no problem, but Orpingtons are obviously much bigger! What could I do to stop him crowing at 4am? Thought about his own Eglu draped in blackout curtains!!

 

And are they aggressive??? Would be free ranging most of the time and in a WIR during winter evenings.

 

Any suggestions or thoughts most appreciated!

 

[Griffin]

Orpingtons have a very deep, loud voice. We kept our black Orp Boris for as long as we could because he had such a lovely personality. My children could pick him up and he loved cuddles, he had the best temperament of any cockerel we've ever had here. The day after I culled him I received the offer of a home for him He is the reason I cull all but the dinner boys as soon as I know they're boys now because I don't want to feel that awful again, me and the kids will always remember him.

[Daphne]

Orp boys are usually fabulous and gentle with humans and look after their ladies well. In my view there is no nicer sight than a cockeral squiring his ladies about You'll need saddles for the ladies to protect them during the mating season - otherwise his spurs/nails will mean that their feathers often get pulled out.

 

However, the biggest drawback is that their size = enormous lungs. Its a proper farmyard cock-a- doodle-doo, but it is very very loud. The biggest problem is early sunrise on a warm night when neighbours have windows open. You can try blackouts but check the ventilation is OK - I just have to put my henhouse physically as far away as poss; which is about 200ft. However, you can still hear him; but so far luckily I don't get complaints (I did before I moved him). Some people do put their cockerals to bed separately, in a cockeral box, sometimes inside their house - eg under the stairs. This is a relatively small box - the idea is that he can't put his head up to crow. An orp boy will fit in an eglu, so you could try that - its always seemed a lot of faff to me tho and I don't like the idea of separating him from his girls. He goes to bed first with Top Hen!