Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Kitten]

My hen is sitting on three eggs. I know that chances are oy two may survive plus I know that there is a 50% chance that I could get a boy. My husband thinks that a cockerel is a good idea for my 8 hens but I'm worried about the noise as I live in a semi detached house with neighbours on both sides.

 

Someone told me that they only crow if they can hear another cock, is that true?

Advice please.

 

Kate

[Egluntyne]

No, that isn't true. They cockadoodle all day long too.

[Daphne]

No. I'm afraid it isn't They crow because its their instinct, because somebody turned a light on, because they heard a noise, because its morning at dawn at ridiculous o'clock, because they are happy, because they can, because they have found some food, because its 4 in the afternoon, because they saw a predator... the list goes on. Although it is true they may crow more if they hear another cockeral

 

Your hen may hatch 3 boys, there are no guarantees about hatch rates and gender percentages at all I think you do well to be concerned, you need to have some idea about what you would do if this worst case hatching scenario happens.

[Kitten]

Mmm I presume boys arent the easiest to rehome. Really did not think this through.

[chuckmum6]

We hatched out a cock called 'Mr Meat', so the children knew his function, as he became our Christmas dinner. We did keep one cock, but he was very noisy and we were very lucky to be able to rehome him after a couple of years. Others were dispatched once it was clear they were boys, a sad reality of being a male.

 

You need to make plans now for any males, keep, dispatch or fatten for dinner, it is very hard but not impossible to re home.

[Kitten]

Like the idea of mr meat. Not sure my hubby has the stomach to do the deed though.

[sjp]

I've got 2 cockerels Boris is or 4 years old 125 is just over a year old they do crow any time from about 5:30 am and at times set each other off and don't always now the difference between the I've laid an eggs song and I think there's danger in the garden song from the girls so give out the run for the hills alarm call. they don't make any were as near as much noise as the girls who will stand and scream/complain about something and nothing for 15-20 minutes or until they get a sore throat the boys more often than not it's a few seconds then they get board and go back to filling their beaks or chasing girls or in 125's case running away from Boris when he gets court with one of the old man's favourite girls

[Kitten]

My girls used to make a lot of noise the first year I had them but I never hear them crow when I'm in bed anymore. I have 5 hybrids and 3 bantams and they are pretty quiet. That may very well change if a cock comes along. Talked to hubby about changing out mind regarding hatching eggs but he's adamant he wants to give it a go.

[kinsk]

Did anyone see this, I laughed and laughed, it still makes me laugh

 

 

cockerels crow whenever they feel like it

[coco]

They all crow although some louder and more often. I have a little bantam cockerel who luckily is not too loud and doesn't crow too much. I hatched four bantam chicks earlier this year, one died at a few weeks old but of the remaining three two were cockerels. Luckily I knew some one that would take them and rehome them for me. Hatching is lovely but cockerels are very hard to get rid of and you do have to face the possibilty of having to dispatch them.

[Snowy]

Yes they do crow all the time and for any reason. Bolt is a blue laced wyandotte bantam with a very big beak. The neighbours put up with his vocals through the day, but did have a moan to hubby when he started at 3am!

He now sleeps in a cat carrier with a blanket over it, under the dining table, and doesn't get let out until about 7am.

[Patricia W]

yes, they crow all the time, and as Snowy says, some start at 3am. The chances of boys are 50% on average, but some hatchings are 100% boys. That's why I've never hatched. You need some contingency plans in place. More than one cockerel together also is one way to guarantee fights. Each cock needs a ratio of about 8 girls to one male - otherwise he can wear them out!