Rooster Crowing "too" early?

[CaptainSamH]

My Welsummer Rooster who is approximately 24 weeks old has been crowing for about a couple weeks now and at first it was just when I let them out of the coop in the morning, usually right around 7 or 8 AM, then one or two more times throughout the day.

Well he's been crowing earlier and earlier it seems. Yesterday he was crowing about 5:30 AM, this morning I heard him crowing at 4:00 AM, the sun doesn't even rise until almost 7:30 AM.

Did he maybe just see a predator (or a deer, lots of those around) or something, or can he not read a clock? Lmao

Honestly the noise doesn't bother me even a bit, and legally I am allowed to have roosters. However the ordinance regarding chickens is very vague. It doesn't specifically exclude roosters but it doesn't specifically include them either. It just states that it is legal to own chickens.

And even still, there are noise ordinances and while I don't think I could get in any real trouble over it, it wouldn't take much for one of my neighbors to call Barney Fife on me.

So is this normal? Abnormal? Is he just at a hormonal age and feeling a need to squawk a lot?

I a total newbie, with one (unplanned) rooster who regularly crows at 0400 and even 0300, pitch dark, then shuts up for an hour or two then crows throughout the day. We're out in the boonies, so the noise isn't an issue for neighbors, but oy...

 

[CamTheChknKeeper]

Same here with the neighbor dogs

I can imagine!
I’m lucky to be in a very rural neighborhood, on the edge of a small town and the back of 10+ acres.
I grew up in Jersey! On the northern vacay coast, around Gateway Natl Park.
Ari, Are you allowed chicken keeping where you are??
@CaptainSamH that’s Exactly!! what happens here! *rueful grin* I actually went out at 5am one morning and opened the coop thinking they wanted Out, but of course! they stayed right where they were, LoL on me!

 

[ariri30]

I a total newbie, with one (unplanned) rooster who regularly crows at 0400 and even 0300, pitch dark, then shuts up for an hour or two then crows throughout the day. We're out in the boonies, so the noise isn't an issue for neighbors, but oy...

My neighbors are not a big problem. I’m allow roosters but my biggest issue is my own kids.

 

[ariri30]

I can imagine!
I’m lucky to be in a very rural neighborhood, on the edge of a small town and the back of 10+ acres.
I grew up in Jersey! On the northern vacay coast, around Gateway Natl Park.
Ari, Are you allowed chicken keeping where you are??
@CaptainSamH that’s Exactly!! what happens here! *rueful grin* I actually went out at 5am one morning and opened the coop thinking they wanted Out, but of course! they stayed right where they were, LoL on me!

Yes even roosters. But my kids are not too happy about all the crowing at 4am. It doesn’t bother me. I’m out to work at 4am and I can hear them crowing. No every morning but sometimes.

 

[CaptainSamH]

I actually went out at 5am one morning and opened the coop thinking they wanted Out, but of course! they stayed right where they were, LoL on me

Yup...did the same thing. :/

 

[member 158781]

My Welsummer Rooster------------------he's been crowing earlier and earlier it seems. Yesterday he was crowing about 5:30 AM, this morning I heard him crowing at 4:00 AM, the sun doesn't even rise until almost 7:30 AM.
----------------------------there are noise ordinances and while I don't think I could get in any real trouble over it, it wouldn't take much for one of my neighbors to call Barney Fife on me. -----------------------------------
-----------------So is this normal? Abnormal? Is he just at a hormonal age and feeling a need to squawk a lot?

Well, Roosters don't seem to work on a time table. Mine crows a hundred times a day and night, starting at around 3:Am. He doesn't bother me.

It's a very individual behavior. Some will crow almost constantly. Some will crow hardly ever.

If your "boy" is a sweet critter and a good rooster to his hens and people, I wouldn't make too much of a problem of it. There are ways to dampen the sound from the coop without impeding air flow too much. Other than that, I wouldn't know what to do about your neighbors. Usually, people get used to it.

We live out in the country but several years ago, a new subdivision was built very close to us. We've had people complaining about donkeys and roosters and Guineas. My steadfast answer is that they moved to the country. The rooster, donkeys and Guineas were here before them. If they don't like it, they can move back to town.

If several of your neighbors have dogs that bark during the night, you can point out how rich it is to complain about a rooster when their dogs are making noise too.

If you wish to be very people friendly, at the expense of your wallet, you can have his vocal cords fixed. Personally, I hate to alter an animal just to please people. But these are your choices:
Ignore the people,
Fix his vocal cords,
Sound "proof" your coop
Get rid of the rooster.

Perhaps others have better advice for you.
Good luck.

 

[JillD413]

He is a very handsome fellow! Sounds like he is doing what he is supposed to do. . He’s so majestic, surely no one could get irritated at him...

 

[steveneggs]

Well, Roosters don't seem to work on a time table. Mine crows a hundred times a day and night, starting at around 3:Am. He doesn't bother me.

It's a very individual behavior. Some will crow almost constantly. Some will crow hardly ever.

If your "boy" is a sweet critter and a good rooster to his hens and people, I wouldn't make too much of a problem of it. There are ways to dampen the sound from the coop without impeding air flow too much. Other than that, I wouldn't know what to do about your neighbors. Usually, people get used to it.

We live out in the country but several years ago, a new subdivision was built very close to us. We've had people complaining about donkeys and roosters and Guineas. My steadfast answer is that they moved to the country. The rooster, donkeys and Guineas were here before them. If they don't like it, they can move back to town.

If several of your neighbors have dogs that bark during the night, you can point out how rich it is to complain about a rooster when their dogs are making noise too.

If you wish to be very people friendly, at the expense of your wallet, you can have his vocal cords fixed. Personally, I hate to alter an animal just to please people. But these are your choices:
Ignore the people,
Fix his vocal cords,
Sound "proof" your coop
Get rid of the rooster.

Perhaps others have better advice for you.
Good luck.

THE PEOPLE THAT COMPLAIN NEED THEIR VOCAL CORDS FIXED

 

[member 158781]

THE PEOPLE THAT COMPLAIN NEED THEIR VOCAL CORDS FIXED

I like the way you're thinking.