It is with sadness that I write this post. In my last post I was very excited about getting 3 new hens and a bantam rooster who I named Mr Darcy.
Well, as it turns out, Mr Darcy was a very noisy rooster, and didn’t just crow in the morning, but during the day and just before sunset as well. Kim was stressing to the max, because our local council laws do not allow a rooster in suburbia, however we are allowed to have up to 12 hens. She was so worried that someone would complain, that in the end I took up the breeders offer to give him back which I did today begrudgingly. Note the sad face before I had to put him in the box to transport him. Ironically, he hardly made a sound today. Maybe he knew that he was returning back to his other harem.
I was so amazed that the little bugger grew on me so quickly. He is one cool pint-sized rooster and really loved those two little hens in the few days he knew them, and I really mean loved ;-). After all Jane Austin is so right when she wrote in Pride and Prejudice, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Mr Darcy by name, Mr Darcy by nature!
Maybe I am sad because he bought order to the flock so quickly and stopped all of the infighting straight away that you normally get with introducing new hens to an established flock, or maybe because I could relate to his blokeyness! Oh well, you win some, you loose some.
Adieu Mr Darcy.
Oh, how sad…
Oh dear. Know how you feel, I just gave away two roosters from my lot that I hatched myself. Interesting you say Mr Darcy pulled all the hens into line. I reckon my chooks are happier with the boys gone.
Ahh … that’s so sad! I’m sorry you had to send Mr. Darcy packing. Like you, I live a bit too close to my neighbors to be risking the noise of a rooster (although my dog is pretty loud, and no one’s complained … hmm …).
Hi Gavin,
Sorry to hear your news about Mr Darcy…
We dont have this problem where we live because we are rural. Still we have had roosters and the ruckus that goes on out in the chook yard is unbelievable. Now the roosters have gone, the chook house has returned to a nice peaceful haven again. Your Mr Darcy didn’t get time to settle otherwise it would have got a whole lot noisier.
Tania
Sorry to hear about Mr Darcy, he’s very lucky to have you as an owner, personally, I would have eaten him, I hope that doesn’t offend….. xxxxxx
That is a sad story…
I get very attached to animals I have bought/adopted. I would like some chickens too, but my city-bred-blokey-hub isn’t online with the idea right now. But then 11 years ago, he wasn’t ready to move to rural Florida (USA) either…..”Time is on my side..” smiles.
I”m sad for you that Mr Darcy had to go because he was just being himself. What is sadder still is that we city dwellers have becomes so disconnected from where food comes from that we can’t tolerate even the most innocent of rooster crows. Would we not be better off following the natural cycle of waking up to the crow of the rooster rather than creaming electronic alarms?
Jane
Sorry Gav, to read your news. I know how you feel. Yesterday I opened my bokashi bin to feed the worms. There is a bit of an organic / vinegar smell when you open the lid but it only lasts until the lid is closed again. I only do this about once a month.
Yesterday my next door neighbour blasted me for the smell (which lasted less than 5min). This same neighbour uses her garden hose often to clean down her courtyard – which in Sydney is against the law due to water restrictions. Not sure if the water restrictions are still in play after all the water we are getting but at the height of the restrictions when you could only use a bucket – she is out there hosing down her courtyard (no grass).
I mentioned that I didn’t want her to get caught and have to pay a fine (talk to her from her point of view) but alas I just get blasted.
Living a sustainable life is simple but Gav at times it isn’t easy especially in the City.
Thanks for sharing your story today. I am really sorry to hear about Mr Darcy.
It’s a pity it didn’t work out, Gav. Our local council sees roosters as just another pet – you’re allowed to have them as long as they don’t disturb others. Same as for a barking dog, if someone complains about your rooster and you can’t fix the problem, he has to go. I think it’s a sensible approach, and I’m surprised other councils don’t use the same system.
You could potentially try ducks and a drake instead – Indian Runners are good layers.
We’ve eaten most of our roosters over the past few months, but we always keep one around. They do bring order to the flock, as well as some level of protection.
I gave my first rooster back when he started attacking us. The current one, Wren, is going to the guillotine and becoming coq au vin as soon as my husband can do the deed. He (the rooster!) has attacked me repeatedly, and I have had to send him flying (as in a bat hitting a ball) on four occasions. I’ve defended myself with whatever is handy–an aluminum ladder, a piece of 2 x 4, a metal stick, and just today, my purse. I’m sure I looked like the proverbial little old lady–and I was screeching for my husband like one, too! That horrible rooster stalked me and pinned me against the garden fence, and he waited to do it till the dog was nowhere around. We have a two-year old grand-daughter, and I won’t risk harm to her–nor do I want to live in fear of the rooster if I ever dare go out to the barn without a weapon in hand!
I really liked Wren at first. I guess he wasn’t mature yet. And yes, he keeps order among the chickens. But as far as I’m concerned, he’s turned into the Idi Amin-Joe Stalin of the poultry world, and I am going to effect a regime change!!!
I have a very large Cochin rooster and he has a crow that is quite deep and sounds as if he has a touch of laryngitis. I accidentally (don’t ask) picked up two other small roosters recently…both with loud screechy crows. One would set the other off and they had crowing matches. I took the two small ones off to a free range chook farm today. I may be able to sleep tonight. The Cochin is a placid breed and he, Brewster, takes good care of his girls. Luckily he hasn’t attacked anyone yet.
Too bad! He looks almost as sad as you do in the picture!
That is so sad!!!
That is sad. I read somewhere that the best way to keep roosters quiet until a civilised hour is to putt hem to bed in a box where they can’t stretch their necks to crow…. but that seems cruel as well. I agree with Jane – I’d rather hear a rooster crowing then hoons or barking dogs.
Aww and he looks so cute
I saw this and thought you might be interested.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12881779
Oh poor Mr Darcy, and poor you Gavin, (that IS a sad face.) Maybe Mr Darcy was quick enough to leave a parting gift to your lovely ladies? Any broodies?
Hope you are feeling better too.
xx
Indeed you look upset for your Darcy. I love dogs and I also come across such similar situations in my life. But at the end we have to compromise with our life. So no hard feelings, just move with your life 🙂
Helen
What a shame. We are lucky because we are so rural that we could probably keep a T-Rex out the back and nobody would notice! Our cockerels are a noisy pair and they have a tendency to fight too. But I love lying in bed and hearing them call, they are a lot better to listen to than the crows who I would cheerfully dispatch in one fell swoop if I could.
The Indian runners are a good suggestion. We used to have a few and not only are they good layers they are a hoot to watch as they run around. The girls used to call the big vans without the artic lorry attached, Indian Runners because they were tall thin and fast like the ducks!