When do roosters start crowing?

[2mnypets]

Now Poopybutt started crowing at about 2 months old, but Henry started crowing the week I went into the hospital which was the 27th of June. So that would make Henry almost 1 month old when he started. But he had Poopybutt to listen to and learn from. Henry's group was all born on the 30th of May. Poopybutt and his girls were born the 10th of March and he started in mid May.

 

[rosyposyosy]

Quote:
i love that name - poopybutt

 

[JDH]

My mille fleur and black cochin bantam started sounding like strangled squeaky toys at 5 weeks of age. At 9 weeks, the mille fleur has almost a perfect crow but the black roo is still a strangled queaky toy. :|

 

[nutmeg]

HI, I am brand new to the forum and very new to chickens.
Last year I incubated several eggs and had one hatch. He is a magnificent rooster. (also noisy and obnoxious sometimes)
When he was about 3 months old he started crowing. I was given a small black hen of unknown origin ( she laid light green eggs) They became best buds. Unfortunately a predator grabbed the hen one night before I got the coop closed up. Chickie, the rooster was traumatized and still misses her.

I tried again this year with 2 eggs (from the two mentioned above)and both hatched in mid May. At first I thought they were both hens but now I suspect that one is a rooster.

My question is can I keep two roosters together and should I get at least one more hen? I don't want a huge flock but a few more would fit just fine. Right now they are all getting along fairly well.

 

[marie_martin]

I have a sizzle roo that is 15 weeks old and started to crow last week. He does sound quite funny though. And I thought it was funny when they first started to cluck cluck. I have 13 chicks ranging from 7 weeks to 15 weeks and some are starting to try to cluck instead of peep and it is so cute, but the early crowing has to be the funniest. And when they stretch that neck out like someone is choking them trying to get it out. Man, is it cute.

Marie

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
Well, two roos and one hen is going to be rough on the hen... two roos and 6 hens is still rough on the hens... I think the ideal ratio is one roo per 8-10 hens or so. Varies by rooster

 

[cheeptrick]

Welcome NUTMEG!
I have 2 maybe 3 roosters to 21 hens. They do keep predators away and keep the hens 'very' happy

My roos have not started crowing yet, but I am getting the squeaky toy sound (not sure who is doing it) but I'm sure I'll know soon enough. Its a very high pitched almost bird like chirp. My Easter Eggers are 17 weeks Friday.
No eggs yet.

 

[McSpin]

I have 4 Penedescenca cockerels. Two of them started crowing at around 3 weeks. All four were crowing by 5 weeks. I'm guessing it's a trait of this variety.

 

[nutmeg]

Thanks for the replies. I have contacted a local breeder ( the one I go the original eggs from) about buying a full grown hen or two. I am still not sure about the 12 week old bird. It has some features that say rooster but none of the behaviors that my first exhibited. Since he was an only one I gave him a stuffed dog as a companion from day one. He slept on it and cuddled under it. Then one day at about 10 weeks he woke up and jumped on that thing and well ........"did his thing". He started crowing at about the same time.
I am moving my coop from one aide of the house to the other. It will have more yard for them and more sun. I go back to work in a week and will need to keep them in the run most days. They will NOT like that.
Thanks again. I've learned a lot in my short time here.