Why are they crowing in the dark?

[kwhites634]

I've never had cockerels before, so this might be a dumb question.... but Why are they crowing while it’s still full dark out? He (one Sapphire boy) started this morning at 5:45, really picked up about 6am-7, shut up again from 7-7:30 (going hoarse?) it’s “just” starting to get light outside, sun wont clear the mountain til 8am. Mr Maran, my dominant boy in the other chicken tractor just started now at 7:30. They have very different voices with the Sapphire doing a full cock-a-doodle-do, and mr Maran just going croo croo coo. Also why mostly just the two boys crowing? Not that I’m complaining cause I’ve got 15! I’m not letting them out in the dark, regardless of how much they ask!

Mine usually starts around 5:30 - 6:00, which is fine by me; I like the "music", it tells me that all's well with the birds, & he makes a good, natural alarm clock.

 

[Kris5902]

Not complaining, just confused... I’m glad they sleep in! I like my animals lazy in the mornings Farming is an adjustment for this girl that used to work the night shifts...

I used to get up at 9, clean house and do the yard work from 10-12, shower, head into work at 12:30-1pm for a 2:30 start (city commuting, ick!) get off at 11pm, home between 12:30-1 am, watch a little you tube then to bed at 2am; and repeat.

Last night I was in bed at 9pm! Lol it’s a different lifestyle for sure...

 

[OhZark Biddies]

Some theories here:
https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/rooster-crowing/

 

[dalasgalas]

They were crowing at a Raven prancing around in front of their tractors yesterday, during the middle of the day, but that was my Mr Marans (such a good boy!) In their night time roosting area they aren’t seeing any rodents or car headlights for sure! They are in the hayfield adjacent to my trailer. The Ravens haven’t even gotten up yet (they are my usual wake up call, prior to this early rising chicken finding his voice!)

I’m way rural here... just the cliff, the Two miles of driveway through our 600 acres, and then trees and more cliffs to the ocean. It’s a one way drive and I’m at the end of it! But I hear you on the messing around in the kitchen bit! Cows can see through polarized glass! They would watch us and plaintively moo while we made coffee in the morning.

That sounds like rural heaven.

 

[CCUK]

I've never had cockerels before, so this might be a dumb question.... but Why are they crowing while it’s still full dark out? He (one Sapphire boy) started this morning at 5:45, really picked up about 6am-7, shut up again from 7-7:30 (going hoarse?) it’s “just” starting to get light outside, sun wont clear the mountain til 8am. Mr Maran, my dominant boy in the other chicken tractor just started now at 7:30. They have very different voices with the Sapphire doing a full cock-a-doodle-do, and mr Maran just going croo croo coo. Also why mostly just the two boys crowing? Not that I’m complaining cause I’ve got 15! I’m not letting them out in the dark, regardless of how much they ask!

I've got my first rooster. He also likes to crow.....alot! He normally starts about 0500hrs for about 10-15mins then is quiet until he get let out. This coincides with me getting up for work but it is still dark and no light for another hour or two. Then he crows randomly throughout the day.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

My boy crows at 2:00am. No where close to light.

Yeah, mine sometimes crow at 1 AM....... hope the neighbors are alright with it, hahaha.

 

[Kris5902]

I’m sure my closest geographical neighbor, atop the cliff can probably hear them, but I can hear her dog when he barks, so it’s all fair! (They can also hear my generator!) We can hear sirens and gunshots on neighboring islands... looking at you, Orcas and South Pender! But mostly it’s pretty idyllic. The eclipse last Full moon was spectacular, all we had to do was turn out the lights in our trailer... and I have never seen so many stars.

I’m not upset by the dumb-early-o-clock in the morning crowing, I just go back to sleep. I wanted to make sure that it was normal though, and not a problem if I just leave them in there until it’s light enough to see to let them out!

 

[Ribh]

Even if you got up to let them out they won't move until they've got enough light to see. I very occasionally, am up before 1st light & opened the coop door for my girls but nary a one even moved before the sun was actually up.

 

[Kris5902]

Even if you got up to let them out they won't move until they've got enough light to see. I very occasionally, am up before 1st light & opened the coop door for my girls but nary a one even moved before the sun was actually up.

Yep! NOT trying to stumble down the trailer steps and out across the field in the dark before I’ve had coffee. I’ve already recently proven I can’t walk without injuring myself when it’s light out.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Until I had my own rooster, I always thought that they crowed early in the morning and throughout daylight hours. Imagine my panic when I first heard my young man crowing after roosting hours! I would run outside with a flashlight, on guard, thinking that a predator was lurking. Now that I have become accustomed to his crowing behaviors, I just smile when I hear him bellow! I never thought I would enjoy owning a rooster. My flock will never be the same without one!