Why Do Rooster's Crow?

[urbanfarmers]

My stinking rooster crows any time he feels like it. I'm cleaning the basement and all of a sudden, at 0530, he starts signing away! I researched the chicken laws before getting my kids, a week ago today, and couldn't find anything.

One of my neighbors is a grouchy butt so I'm praying he doesn't get mad at my rooster and report us to the city!

I love the sound of my chickens talking and singing and love gathering the eggs...I think the rooster crowing is my favorite!

 

[jjparke]

They crow because they are awake

 

[chickensioux]

Janet Hinshaw of the Wilson Ornithological Society says, “Most of the crowing takes place in the morning, as does most singing, because that is when the birds are most active, and most of the territorial advertising takes place then. Many of the other vocalizations heard throughout the day are for other types of communication, including flocking calls, which serve to keep members of a flock together and in touch if they are out of sight from one another.”

The reason that we associate a rooster’s crow with the dawn is most likely because that’s when it’s most noticeable to our sleepy selves. When the relative quiet of night is disturbed by the local rooster, we sit up, take notice, and maybe grumble a little on the way to the barn.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I don't know about yall's roosters, but mine crow all day, and crow all night. They never stop! LOL

I have to tell you guys a funny story real quick! lol

Okay, one of my dad's friends came over, and we were outside and of course my chickens were everywhere and then one of the roosters crowed. My dad's friend said: " I though they only crowed in the morning! " I said: "I wish they did! lol"

 

[featherbaby]

It's possible that crowing is a "contact" sound. My Cockatoos (and all other parrots) will sound off at dawn and dusk as a way of identifying where the other members of the flock are. They vocalize then wait to hear the others vocalize. They stay in the same area because they don't stray far from the flock's "contact" calls. It is like your child calling out from the other room, "Mommy, where are you?" to which you reply, "I'm in the kitchen, all is well". In some way it is territorial because the roo's harem is warned to stay within earshot of the crowing.

I also subscribe to the Testosterone Poisoning Theory. It has reached epidemic proportions in other species as well.

 

[StormyMoon]

I just found this thread of course it wasn't what I was looking for but I thought I would comment .......

My mother in law in mexico says that her rooster crows during the day some times to tell her whether it will be windy that day, whether there will be an overcast, and whether it will be storming , she said also he will tell her when the next day will be extremely hot.

This coming from a woman who does not own a TV or radio I found she was usually right about the predictions it was interesting to watch how connected she was with her roosters.

My rooster I have found crows when he reaches different points on the property and his hens come with in eye shot of him so maybe it is communication, territorial, and some part they are very protective of their flock.

Its funny watching them though and I get a kick out of watching the chicken tube ......lol

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Roosters crow for all the same reasons that people talk.

 

[Royd]

I haven't been at this long, but I am quite observant, and it seems to me that crowing and the overloading of testosterone, seem to go hand in hand....Shortly after a crowing session, which can happen at any time of day, one of the lucky hens is going to get fluffed.