What age do cockerels usually start Crowing?

[George678]

Hi my Buff Orpington Cockerel is about 18 weeks old now and hasn’t started crowing yet and is a very quiet bird what age do they usually start making noise? Cheers

 

[thecatumbrella]

I've seen some very young chicks try to crow, so I'd say it depends on the bird! Your Buff cockerel might just be a nice, quiet guy.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Shhh…don’t jinx it

 

[K0k0shka]

It really depends on the individual and the social context. Some start as early as 1 week old, others as late as close to a year old. The presence of a dominant rooster will delay the onset of crowing for any others who are below him in the social order, until they are ready and willing to challenge him. If he's the only male, then he'll crow when his time comes, and there's no way to predict when that would be. Orpingtons mature slowly in general though, so he'll likely be a later crower.

 

[Airyaman]

Here's my personal experience:

• Oldest flock, 5 cockerels (2 BJGS, 2 CCLS, 1 Bielefelder) - all started crowing around 16 weeks, but one stopped altogether (Bielefelder, he is lowest on pecking order).
• 2nd oldest flock, one BMC cockerel - he did not start crowing until last week @19 weeks! Now he's also hounding his hens and breeding.
• 3rd oldest flock, 5 BA cockerels - started crowing @ 16 weeks
• 4 oldest flock, 2 SS cockerels - 15 weeks, no crowing yet. One of the two finally has his combing starting to turn red while the other has had it for 2 weeks.

 

[SemiSweet2391]

My cockerel Zucchini is almost 13 weeks old and found his crow this week! He was crowing like a crazy person this morning

 

[Mrs. K]

I had one that matured so late, that I thought he was a pullet for a long, long time. It seemed like overnight, he got the tail and the crow...but he was never liked by the hens. He was kind of an outcast, but he seemed to prefer it. I didn't keep him as breeding stock.

Mrs K

 

[KyCoop]

Amerucana has started at 10wks!

 

[z3lda3]

It really depends on the individual and the social context. Some start as early as 1 week old, others as late as close to a year old. The presence of a dominant rooster will delay the onset of crowing for any others who are below him in the social order, until they are ready and willing to challenge him. If he's the only male, then he'll crow when his time comes, and there's no way to predict when that would be. Orpingtons mature slowly in general though, so he'll likely be a later crower.

Agreed! My Cochin bantam rooster were born the same day. Ambrose starting crowing at 6 weeks, his brother didn’t start crowing until he was 19 weeks. I think it’s because Ambrose was doing the crowing. My primary Cochin started crowing at 10 weeks, and his son didn’t start until he was 20 weeks. It’s depends on the breed, the need to crow, and are other roosters crowing..