cockerels: any recommendations for breeds that aren't all that noisy???

[overthemill]

ok, after 12 years of chicken keeping we have finally decided we want a cockerel, a) for the baby chicks and b) cos we think they are lovely. BUT cos we have huge garden in the country but do have next door neighbours, we need one that isn't massively noisy! Is it an impossible dream? Does anyone have a cockerel that is neighbour friendly - ish? Bantam?

Some noise will be fine as we are after all in the country but don't want to be really annoying!

[mummymeister]

No one seems to mind cockerels crowing during the day it is the early mornings that cause the problems. Best way round this is to do a couple of things depending on your situation: site the coop as far away from neighbours as poss so they can't hear him, keep him locked in until a reasonable time particularly in the summer. Crowing can only take place if they can stretch their necks so as a v last resort they go into a coop with a false ceiling that is exactly head height and then they can't crow until outside. as for quiet breeds we have aracuanas, silkies, dutch bantams, marans, heinz 57's and some of the little ones make a heck of a racket whilst my 2 big boys who are 3 times the size make strange little muffled squawks. Like humans - you can't tell who is gonna be noisy!

[overthemill]

thanks! yes it is the early mornings i'm worried about. chickens are 250 ft down the garden - is that far enough away do you think?

[mummymeister]

Hmm - well if i am honest we are a lot further away than that and i still hear them crowing! Its all to do with the fact that there is no background noise first thing in the morning and therefore this stands out like a sore thumb. if you are going to get a boy then i would say just go for it and see what the noise is like. speak with your neighbours first so they feel comfortable about approaching you if the noise is really irritating. Ours do start around 4.30/5 ish at the moment. Be aware though that you might have to move him on. If you want baby chicks had you thought about an incubator. we use a brinsea 7 that is idiot proof . Our next batch are due to hatch in 6 days and all we need is this, a box and a heat lamp. Might be your answer if you don't want to deal with the noise issue.

[overthemill]

we've had chicks twice, once from a friend's fertilised eggs under a broody and then in our incubator. but the incubator failed 3rd and 4th time.

but we fancied the real set up, all natural! and cockerels are lovely we think. have enquired after a trio of pekin bantams. will talk to neighbours too.