My spoiled roo is crowing non-stop

[partsRheavy]

If your flock has enough hens and/or large pullets (i.e. 20 +) consider getting 1 or 2 more roos. I know that sounds counterintuitive like getting MORE dogs because ONE dog barks a lot!!

My observation is that roos no. 1 and no. 2 crow whereas roo no. 3 and 4 in the dominance order are silent. Roo no. 1 and 2 only crow a couple times when they wake up (lights-on at 3) and then a few times on and off during the day as they relate with the flock.

Recently we adopted a new Brabanter roo who was quite vocal in his former home. He was no. 1 or no. 2 there. (I watched him strut and crow). Due to some computer problems I don't have his pic uploaded yet but he is the cutest little topknotted guy in a cape (hackle feathers) with BIG red wattles and great big Brabanter eyes! However, he is now no. 3 in dominance order here and he's become very quiet.

My guess is that the one roo is acting sort of like a lonely barking dog that continually wants to interact with its master (you!). I'm sure he loves feeding time and any time you go out there but gets bored otherwise.

I have also observed loose Leghorn roos that roosted in trees or a workshop and did not associate with a henhouse flock. They had only a few "girlfriends" but they were LOUD!! All day....every day....

Maybe your roo has too few hen friends??

 

[BrattishTaz]

Dogs definately seem to be a trigger for my boys. I'm just glad I do not have worry about the neighbors complaining. We are allowed as many roos as we want. One neighbor has a bunch of them too. The other neighbors grew up on farms and like the sound.

Edited to say: I have 7 roosters. 5 freerange together. They all crow.

 

[Tammy N]

Dear Abby: I have raised chickens in the city of Tucson for 25 years. However, once when I lived in the country, I had a neighbor who complained about my rooster's crowing at dawn.
I solved the problem by placing a leather band (actually, it was a lady's wristwatch band) around the rooster's neck. When he tried to crow, his voice box was restricted and all he could manage was a croak. - Louise Chernetz in Tucson, Ariz.


I might try this LOL

 

[Adorkable]

He crows like a dog barks: at strangers walking by, at me pulling out of the driveway, at me pulling into the driveway, at me if he sees me and I haven't let him out to free-range, and at any point that he wants attention.


The problem:
He also starts crowing very early (5:30am? maybe sooner) and when I go to look, he looks half asleep.
1. Is my rooster crowing in his sleep?
2. He is 5 months old. Will he start crowing less as he matures?
3. Why does he crow non-stop from 5:30am - 7:30am
4. Is there anything I can do to keep him silenced during the sleeping hours?

I understand that he is going to crow. I'm okay with that. It's the before daylight crowing that is the problem. The sun doesn't rise until after 7am.

You're lucky if he starts at 5:30. Mine starts at 4:30 and does it throughout the day and like someone else mentioned he teaches other roosters that are normally quiet throughout the day to pick up his crowing habits. Whenever he sees me doing something outside he crows non-stop. I let him out to free range with the girls once a week and when he is out with them he stands right at my door or window and crows incessantly. My Buddha is about 2 years old and his crowing seems to have gotten worse. The only reason I don't keep him in the hen house with the girls is because of the crowing. The chicken house is right next to our house and back when I kept him in with them I counted his crows in the morning and stopped counting at 48 non-stop crows. I keep him around because he is a sweetie and I really do like him. The first rooster I had was a mean butt-head that wanted to rule everyone including me, but Buddha is really a good rooster and has never shown any aggression toward me. Plus he's excellent with the girls. I would rather have a crowing rooster over a mean aggressive one, but yeah it's pretty annoying and chances are it isn't going to get any better

 

[phalenbeck]

I eat all my loud roosters. My current Roo is not silent, and keeps it at a reasonable level. There are lots of Roos around.