#41 - It's Quiet Around Here Today

Two roosters in the backyard is still not working out. A few weeks ago, we tried taking the roosters to a new home and it didn't work out. We had dropped them off at their new place, then we went to the ocean for a while to relax and on our way home we made our mistake...we decided to drive back by the roosters' new home to see how things were going. Well, they weren't going good. They would not join the flock. They were standing out in the open, quite a distance from the coop and were exposed to the various prey in the area.

I could not believe that our roosters were standing there in the dark. They were always inside their coop by this time every night. Worse, our two roosters had made their way back to the spot where we had let them out of their kennel and it was if they were waiting to go back home. We tried to take them over to the other chickens, but it didn't work, the little rooster only ran behind Deputy Dave crying with this most God-awful chicken squawking that I have never heard in my life.

In fact, Big Rooster strutted up to Deputy David and flew upward to perch on his shoulder. Yep, on his shoulder. So, we all headed back home.

However, once the roosters were comfortable in their backyard here in the city, they began to be more roosterly. Problems with loud crowing at all times of the day became worse as our roosters learned to perfect their calls. Their morning crowing wasn't as weak and feeble sounding any longer, nope, it sounded as if Big Rooster was using an invisible bull-horn, and his COCK-A-DOODLE-DO became a call to attention for our entire block of houses. Yes, he discovered the rooster within and learned to use his voice loud and clear. "I am Rooster, hear me Crow!"

So, we were back at square one...the loud roosters must go. I bought chickens because I wanted to enjoy fresh eggs. We bought 7 chickens, but after a few weeks we discovered that 2 roosters were in the group by mistake. But, I don't want those two mix-up birds to ruin the entire reason for getting chickens in the first place...for their eggs. The roosters are nothing but clanging alarms calling attention to us as backyard farmers in the city.

What are lessons learned during this ordeal? I would have to say that chickens are usually quiet and easy-going, but roosters are notoriously noisy, bossy and arrogant. A rooster is a rooster. However, for defense of my roosters, they have been entertaining and interesting to watch, and they are beautiful creatures. Yes, I found my roosters to be beautiful, but I love the color red! You find yourself watching the rooster and realize that he's watching you too. They have been amazing fun.

Here is an account of our first attempt to re-locate our roosters to a new home.
Here is Step #1...Catch the Roosters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkgmowDTjlE

Here is Step #2 - Let the Roosters Go at their New Home

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOV-mcYivjU
Desperate...Deputy Dave decides to hand carry "Speckles" to the coop area, gently tossing him into the coop with the other birds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UPnU7JFyqs

Speckles runs behind Deputy Dave as he tries to come back to the truck. I had no idea that chickens "imprinted" this severely onto people. We've hand-raised them since they were chicks and we're daily involved with their care, so we are Parentals! Bottom line, this attempt to drop off the roosters was a FAIL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0e7uiFrWR8

I didn't get it on video, but Big Rooster was ready to go home too. He actually flew up onto Deputy Dave's shoulder to perch. So, into the kennel he went and we took both roosters back their old coop in our backyard.

However, the story doesn't end here. Yesterday, we gathered the guts to make another attempt to take the two roosters to a new home...the same place as before. It was no longer a choice, the roosters HAD to leave our backyard. Their combined crowing had become louder and louder; this was not what we intended to live with when we purchased chickens to raise for eggs. We did not expect to have two roosters in the bunch. But, we grew attached to them. As the roosters grew louder, I became anxious; I didn't want the roosters to ruin our entire chicken set-up. If a disgruntled neighbor showed up, then all the chickens would be in danger. The girls are so quiet and non-intrusive; they are wonderful to have around, and I don't want our chance to have "home-grown" eggs to be jeopardized. So, the roosters had to go...REALLY...this time we had to make it work.

Last evening, we took the roosters and a bag of feed to their new home. In their new yard, I stood with my roosters, leading them with the feed until they were closer and closer to all of their new chickie friends. It worked. By the time we left, my roosters were busy pecking away at the feed loaded with goodies and they had several new friends standing with them. This time, they didn't chase after us screaming like a rooster under attack. We drove off into the sunset. My husband and I celebrated by going to Dairy Queen for ice-cream.

This morning, it is quiet. It is a rooster-less day!

I just had a thought...what if I had a Stephen King moment and suddenly heard the roosters crowing at the top of their angry lungs, from our backyard?

Thank God that my creative imagination is far-fetched. It's still pleasantly quiet around here. And, if any of our neighbor's found the roosters to be on their last nerve, well, that nerve can relax. The roosters have flown the coop...with a little help.