[grahamj]

Hi we need urgent help.  We have for the first time just bought two Roosters - Rhode Island Reds.  The noise is horrific.  They start at 4.30am and continue all day. We only have them 3 days .  We will purchase hens by the end of the week but are now having second thoughts.  The roosters are housed in a barna shed which is dark at night.  They also have a very adequate run and have been out in the garden roaming freely however nothing seems to stop them.  Please advice.

[Vecten]

Hi we need urgent help.  We have for the first time just bought two Roosters - Rhode Island Reds.  The noise is horrific.  They start at 4.30am and continue all day. We only have them 3 days .  We will purchase hens by the end of the week but are now having second thoughts.  The roosters are housed in a barna shed which is dark at night.  They also have a very adequate run and have been out in the garden roaming freely however nothing seems to stop them.  Please advice.

There is probably only one way to reduce the noise. Get rid of one, they are kicking each other off in competition. You could also build a small light proof coop inside the shed. Cockerels don't generally crow if there is no daylight and they are perched.

[joyfull]

mine can hear other peoples cockerels in the far distance crowing early in the morning and this sets them off - it doesn't bother me. Your boys will fight though when you introduce hens to them unless you have them in seperate runs. Mine all free range but they all know where they are in the male pecking order - it just gets nasty when one tries to upset this order.

[Casey76]

Can I ask why you got two roos?  Vectan is right, and one will usually set the other off.

Roos will generally be much noisier when moving to a new home as they lay claim to the territory... however one roo is quite enough to look after 10 - 12 girls; and if you are not going to be breeding them, then there is no reason to have a roo at all.

Hens are generally quieter than roos, but they can still have their moments!

Once the hens are intorducned you are much more likely to have problems with the roos fighting amongst themselves as they try to establish dominance and treading rights.