Why Do Roosters Crow?

You know you're in the country when you hear a rooster crow at the crack of dawn (or at three in the morning). However, what actually makes a rooster crow? Is he warding off possible intruders or what he perceives as intruders?

  1. Size

    • Roosters come in a multitude of breeds including the Golden Laced Wyandotte which is the rooster pictured on a certain breakfast cereal box. Growing up to 8 1/2 pounds the rooster is one of the most handsome of all breeds. The Black Jersey Giant is a prized show-bird weighing in at 11 pounds; standing out from the crowd, his black feathers have a green sheen and he has greenish-blue legs. Both these large breeds have good lungs for crowing at length and are extremely protective of their harem of hens. Acting as "look-outs" you will find these breeds frequently up trees scanning the horizon for danger.

    Theories/Speculation

    • Theories as to why roosters crow vary from disturbances in the coop at night, to neighborhood sounds that may seem to the rooster to be a sign of impending attack on his flock. A car starting will set the rooster crowing and perhaps this may be a territorial crowing similar to the barking of a dog protecting his territory. Switching on a light in the middle of the night will start a crowing fest; this may be because roosters believe the sun is rising.

    Features

    • A capon is a rooster that has been castrated. The rooster's reproductive organs are mainly internal although a short organ is produced from his body for mating purposes only. Once these organs are removed through surgical procedure, the capon will develop a buff, meatier appearance; the meat will not be stringy and tough like a regular slender rooster, but melt-in-the-mouth tender dark and white meat. The capon loses his aggressions and territorial instincts that he once possessed and acts more like a hen; he also loses his need to crow. The capon's dark and white meat is considered a delicacy to connoisseurs of fine meats.

    Warning

    • Rooster's crow to ward off what they see as a threat or trespassers to their coop. Roosters that are roaming "free range" with their hens will use their "spurs" located behind their claws to defend their territory. Never turn your back on a rooster because if he thinks his hens are in danger, he will attack by puffing out his feathers and flying at your back; spurs first. Hens will lay eggs without the help of a rooster; however, roosters fertilize the hen's eggs for the production of chicks.

    Types

    • Bantam roosters as well as standard roosters crow as loud as the other despite their small size. Rooster's start crowing at around five months of age and crow regularly until they die of natural causes or get put in the crock pot, which is the only way to cook them tender enough to eat.