How To use these bands!

Putting a collar on for the first time should take just a few minutes. And once you get the hang of it, it takes only a few minutes.

It will go more quickly if rooster is comfortable. With the rooster in your lap, gently groom his hackle feathers up towards his head and hold them there. The collar should be placed with the soft side against the skin on the mid- to upper-neck, just below the long hackle growth. With the feathers restrained and the throat patch on the front of his neck, wrap the two straps around the neck and secure them to the throat patch. Avoid trapping feathers beneath the straps. Make certain there are no obstructions in the hook-and-loop connection of your straps. Once the collar is secured in place, fluff his feathers back into position (he will groom them to perfection later) and monitor his reaction.

HOW TIGHT SHOULD IT BE?

Leave it AT LEAST loose enough fit your finger underneath the throat patch- this is usually sufficient to cripple a loud crow. If you cannot fit your fingertip behind the throat patch you risk interfering with blood circulation and air flow! The looser you make the collar, the less it will upset him initially. A loose collar can always be tightened later as he gets used to the feeling. Take your time, monitor the bird, and give the boy a couple days to adjust. Do not rush and do not try to silence a crow. This collar CAN kill a bird if used improperly! We are not liable for any loss or damages associated with your use of this collar. Be patient, gentle, and kind as your roosters adjust to the collar!

*GASPING FOR BREATH is NOT okay! If your rooster is gasping your collar is too tight! Be sure to monitor your rooster after tightening or putting a collar on! Loosen or remove the collar if you see lethargy, difficulty breathing, or discoloration in the comb or wattles!

HOW WILL MY ROOSTER REACT?

It is normal for a rooster to panic and "fight" the feeling of the collar. He thinks something has grabbed him by the neck! Scary! Backing up, thrashing, and hiding behind things are typical response behaviors. Keep an eye on him and ensure he can't hurt himself while he adjusts to the new sensation. Keep him away from other male birds that may attack him during his time of stree. It can take minutes, hours, or a full day for a rooster to acclimate to the feeling. If a rooster does not calm down, loosen the collar and let him wear it for a few days without any throat restriction. Once he's accustomed to its presence, begin tightening it incrementally.

We've found that growing cockerels adjust to the collars much more easily than seasoned roosters.

HOW WILL IT AFFECT HIM LONG-TERM?

The collars are simple and easy, low-profile, and cause very little disruption to a rooster's life after the initial stress of putting it on. His hackles will rest naturally around his neck, though there may be a gap in the hackles in the front. At a glance you should not notice he has a collar on. He should be able to eat and drink normally, talk and squawk, dust bathe, breed, roost, and run around with ease. Your rooster should be a fully functional, albeit quieter, chicken!