my 20 week old barred rock is making sounds all day - rooster?

[likethemall]

My 20 week old barred rock is making kinda weird sounds all day long, starting early in the morning. It's a healthy bird otherwise. It does not sound like rooster crows, but is laud and annoying - especially in the morning. I have another barred rock of the same age - she is already laying. The laying one makes sounds too, but quite different from the one in question, and does not start early in the morning either. Besides, the second one already started laying about two weeks ago, but the the one making the weird sound does not lay yet... Maybe rooster? I checked the widely known signs for for the young barred rock to be a cockerel/rooster, and so far it appears inconclusive - one day i think it may be a cockerel, another day it seems to be a pullet... If it's a rooster, i will have to give him away, as my neighborhood does not allow for rooster sounds. Even with the sound this one is making right now i'm just waiting for my neighbors to start complaining... Being quite new to the enjoyable adventure of having backyard chickens, i certainly can use a good advise here! Help!

 

[haylee]

It could very possibly be a rooster and it's just starting to crow and hasn't gotten the hang of it or it could just be a hen who is taking the place of a rooster and attempting to crow if you don't already have a rooster. It could also be because she's hurt. Does she seemed hurt or in pain?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Post a picture of it. At this late age the difference between pullet and cockerel should be clear especially with the two side by side and one confirmed pullet. It's likely a pullet rather discontent with reproductive cycle kicking in. They can get very vocal when coming into lay but will calm down as she settles into it.

 

[likethemall]

Here are my two barred rocks. The one with the larger comb is definitely a pullet - she is laying. The noisy one is right behind her. They are same age, about 20 weeks. Cockerel?

 

[likethemall]

This is the noisy one! Some features include:
1) A bit lighter than the other one, but not much
2) Smaller comb, sorta turned on a side. A different shape of the little pieces on the top of the comb - they are thin and "sharp"...
3) Legs are a bit thicker and seem a bit more yellow that the other one has, but not by much. There is less black color on the front part of the legs, but still some...
4) The two longest feathers are a bit curved and just a little longer, but not much. The other one has straight longest feathers on her tail.
5) not laying, while the other one is laying one egg almost every day.

This bird is healthy, not hurt - but keeps making those sounds all day long, most of the time.

Cockerel?

 

[MakettleFarms]

I have 2 rocks and 2 reds. My rocks are noisy; chatter, whine, complain etc... all day! One is laying one isn't. But the layer is the noisiest one.
Maybe it is just a "teen" cockrel? Time will tell!

 

[Mtn Laurel]

One of my 9 week old barred rocks honks like a goose. Does it all the time. At first I thought she had a cicada stuck in her throat but she doesn't. And I'm very sure she's a "she". Have a feeling that the barred rocks are rather talkative and interesting birds!

 

[likethemall]

Folks - appreciate the comments. Looks like i'm not alone dealing with an especially noisy barred rock! I'm hoping it's not a cockerel after all. Though barred rock roosters are gorgeous birds and i'd be happy to keep one, my neighbors i'm sure have different opinion. Besides, some extra sleep in the morning is something i can use as well...

Here is what i posted on YouTube - it is my noisy barred rock. This is the noise which goes on and on all day long, almost non-stop. Starts at around 6am, and is in fact quite loud. The movie does not reproduce the sound level too well... Cockerel? Or a pulled struggling through her days before she finally starts laying?

Here is the YouTube link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCCmmnLfFao

 

[Mtn Laurel]

She sure is a pretty gal. Saw your video and she sounds just like my other adult hens when I approach the run. They greet me and will "talk" to me, they're usually looking for a hand out! I think you just have one very talkative lady there.

 

[realsis]

I could be wrong but I'd say she's a pullet comming into lay. When my birds were comming into lay they were so noisey! My cockerals usually started crowing at around 16 weeks although a pitiful crow its sounded like a crow. She sounds more like a pullet that might be laying soon. I've never raised that breed so I could be wrong here but my guess is pullet. And my guess is she will be laying soon. She's beautiful! Roosters sound more like er er eeeer. That's a little girl I'd say! No worries she will lay very soon