Teaching Cockerels to Crow

[WallyBirdie]

I know a lot of people can't have crowing cockerels, but for those who can and enjoy those roo noises, do you teach them to crow? Or does an older roo teach them?

Is there an average time frame for them to learn?
Will they learn sooner if exposed to the sound?

I've had to teach mine in the past, and I coached them separately out of curiosity. I coached them in different syllables- and each became consistent with crowing in 3, 4, and 5 syllables. Every time I heard a crow, I knew who crowed.
My favorite crow was the 5 syllable crow because it sounded like my boy was yelling "ALL THE POTATOOOOES!" It became a running joke to greet my boy and ask him about spuds.

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

Never had to teach a cockerel to crow nor noticed a difference in how early they crow with or without another rooster or cockerel around I did notice they learned at different ages though, every rooster/cockerel I've had have been different breeds so I don't think I can accurately make assumptions on when I've had one of each ;D

 

[WallyBirdie]

Never had to teach a cockerel to crow nor noticed a difference in how early they crow with or without another rooster or cockerel around I did notice they learned at different ages though, every rooster/cockerel I've had have been different breeds so I don't think I can accurately make assumptions on when I've had one of each ;D

Thanks for the response.

I have had 3 sibling cockerels, same age and breed, and they all crowed differently- likewise, my first rooster was almost 2 years old, never crowed, until my grandmother visited and started crowing at him. After a while, he imitated.
I know it sounds odd, but I think they can pick up different crows.
I had one that crowed a count of One, Two, Threeeeee. Another went One, Two, Threeee- Fouuur. Another went: OneTwoThreeFour- Fiiiiive.

Has anyone done a legitimate study on this? Maybe my boys and their crows were coincidental?
I have a new boy on my hands. I might see if I can influence his crow when he gets a bit older.

 

[Kaarlo76]

My top bird crow already, he is only two fortnight of age. He attack me.

 

[WallyBirdie]

My top bird crow already, he is only two fortnight of age. He attack me.

Wow. Sorry he attacked you. Hope you can do something to work with him and his behavior. He is probably hormonal.

 

[Kaarlo76]

He is true Asil.

 

[NatJ]

I've never tried to teach a cockerel to crow; they all seem to figure it out on their own.

I've certainly noticed differences in how they crow.

I once had 7, and I think there were only 2 that crowed alike (6 breeds, and the two that matched were not the same breed.)

If they learn by listening, then I would expect their crowing to sound more alike with time-- but mine did not. Each one changed a bit as they were first learning to crow, but each settled into a particular sound in not too long, and after that they seemed to just stay consistent.

So I assumed the differences were not anything they could control.

 

[WallyBirdie]

I've never tried to teach a cockerel to crow; they all seem to figure it out on their own.

I've certainly noticed differences in how they crow.

I once had 7, and I think there were only 2 that crowed alike (6 breeds, and the two that matched were not the same breed.)

If they learn by listening, then I would expect their crowing to sound more alike with time-- but mine did not. Each one changed a bit as they were first learning to crow, but each settled into a particular sound in not too long, and after that they seemed to just stay consistent.

So I assumed the differences were not anything they could control.

Thank you for letting me know. I've only had a few breeds of roosters, so my experience isn't all that vast. But after my first roo (a Brahma) took do long yo crow and didn't start until my grandfather attempted to coach him, I just assumed some needed a push. So I've worked with all my boys since then. My results may be purely coincidental.

You are probably right about there being no control over it. But I am curious about the range of differences and how it works.

 

[NatJ]

Thank you for letting me know. I've only had a few breeds of roosters, so my experience isn't all that vast.

It's been something over 20 years since the lots-of-breeds time, so I've forgotten some of the details. I remember there was only one bantam (Dark Cornish), and his crow was very different than the rest--shorter, missing a syllable, seemed to emphasize a different syllable than I'd expect.

The other roosters included a White Leghorn and several dual-purpose breeds. I think they must have all crowed the same number of syllables, because a change in syllable count is one of the big things that can make a crow sound strange to me. There were enough differences I could tell them apart. I would compare it to recognizing human voices: even if they say the same thing, I can usually tell who's talking.

 

[piminuse]

I LOVE when the little gents figure out their voices. I don't want to cramp their artistic style and let 'em grow into it. Right now one of my cocks has the most unsure voice like he's shy--never knew a rooster needed permission to crow before lol