Cluck, cluck, cluck.

Brattleboro allows homeowners to raise chickens in neighborhoods around town. It's a great way to increase the local food supply and learn about raising chickens.

We have a few chickens in the 'tree streets." In general, the chickens are relatively quiet. A few clucks here and there, but they make for pretty good neighbors.

Recently, though, some chicken owners in Brattleboro have heard a different sound from their henhouses.

Cock-a-doodle do!

Yes, despite best efforts to determine the sex and sort out the males, at least two chicken coop owners have watched chicks grow into roosters. Our neighbors are one of the lucky ones.

It was kind of funny for all of us. We had gotten used to the chickens and their quiet clucking over the summer. My own thoughts were turning to what happens to them as it gets colder outside. Tiny scarves?

Last week an odd sound came from the direction of the chickens. Odd for a chicken, but not for a rooster. It was the tell-tale sound of a proud male crowing, and the sound was confirmed as the sun came up the next day.

He's a young fellow, and not that loud yet, but his owner was soon at our door apologizing and promising that a new home would be found for him as soon as possible. No problem.

A few days later, I got an email from another friend, looking for a home for another newly-discovered rooster, also in town. I wrote back to find out more. It was a similar story.

A rooster, like nudity, is not allowed in Brattleboro. This puts chicken coop owners in a tough spot. The rooster has to go. As one rooster-discoverer put it, "We are all sad, as he is hand raised, and very friendly!"

She didn't want to see her rooster end up in a stew. "He is doing great.  As he is immature, he doesn't know yet that he has to leave.  He hasn't started cockadoodle doing yet, and his cocky comb just sprouted up last week!"

According to chicken raising sites, there are four main ways to sex a chick - by color, by noticing differences in its feathers, by looking at their...uh.. tiny parts, or waiting until it is old enough to see an obvious difference.

Many sites say waiting and seeing is easiest, reliable, and fun.

If you do wait until the chicks start to grow, you can identify a rooster by looking for a larger comb. It can also have shinier, more pointed tail-feathers, and will crow. Females have smaller combs, rounded tail feathers, and lay eggs. The males will begin attempts at crowing as their voices change.

Chicken-raising sites warn against old wives tales, such as watching which way an object spins when it is held over the chick to determine sex, and encourage chicken-raisers to enjoy the process of watching the chickens grow while keeping a close eye out for signs of male development.

Where will these young roosters go if they aren't allowed in town? Rooster discoverers are asking area farms, contacting friends, and placing online ads to find roosters legal residences outside of Brattleboro.

Roosters can be difficult to place. They have a reputation.

One owner described his situation this way "He's docile.  He even jumped up on my lap yesterday.  I've seen him open doors for the hens.  We have offered him to several chicken-keeping people, but they have declined, mentioning roosters hurting other chickens."

Rooster raising sites remind people that the birds are good protection for a flock, they eat bugs, can fertilize eggs, and act as a good alarm clock. Others add that rooster tail feathers can be sold if they fall out, and that they are fun and funny birds with interesting personalities.

If you have a home for a rooster or two, let us know. If you've discovered a rooster, tell us your story. And if you raise chickens in Brattleboro, consider contacting Tad Montgomery. He'd like to get Brattleboro Chickeners to tour each others' coops, pet the birds, and talk shop from time to time. You can reach him at eco@TadMontgomery.com.