How to Make a Rooster Be Quiet?

If there's one thing roosters are famous for, it's their loud "cock-a-doodle-doo" wake-up call every morning. This alarm clock can get too loud and come too early for rooster owners. Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to discourage your rooster from crowing. Blacking out his coop, keeping him in a small cage at night and giving him plenty to do during the day should help your rooster stay quiet.

Things You'll Need

  • Tarps or covering for the coop
  • Small cage
  • Corn cobs
  • Straw bales
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Instructions

    • 1

      Create a "blackout" effect in your rooster's coop. Ensure the coop is sealed and there aren't any cracks allowing light inside. Cover the coop's windows with a tarp or blanket, but make sure the rooster can still get air. Keep the bird inside this blackout coop until you're ready to wake up. By leaving him in the dark, it will trick the rooster into thinking it's still night out, and he won't crow as soon as the sun comes up.

    • 2

      Entertain the rooster. Keeping the bird active will help him sleep longer at night, and therefore keep him from crowing too early in the morning. If your roosters lives in a small yard, give him plenty of nooks and crannies to explore. You can also create tunnels out of straw bales, give him corn cobs to peck or bury scraps of food for him to find.

    • 3

      Handle the rooster during the day. Pick him up, preen his feathers and make him feel loved. This will keep the rooster active and wear him out for the night, while also giving you some time to enjoy him.

    • 4

      Place the rooster in a low-ceiling cage at night. This cage should be large enough for him to stretch his wings horizontally, but not high enough for him to stretch out his neck and whole body. In this type of cage, the rooster will have a hard time stretching out his neck to crow.