Rooster crowing (house, chickens, fence, property)

[tarajane2013]

I am in the process of getting 6 chicks and one rooster. I love to hear them crow. It takes me back to a place that has peace and comfort to it. Should I ask my neighbors first if they mind crowing ? They are counrty people too that get up early to go to work. If they say they DO mind it I need some suggestions for the crowing to stop. Please don't say the crock pot.... I need real suggestions. Maybe when they start getting free brown eggs they will change their tune but till then I need help Thank you all

[Annuvin]

Do you live in the country proper or a small town? If it's the latter, expect to have problems with your neighbors in short order. Seriously, if some clown beside me bought a rooster and I had to listen to it go off every morning (especially when working shifts), I'd immediately report them to the township.

However, if you are in the country proper I can't see it being an issue.

[MisfitBanana]

I don't think roosters only crow in the morning. I think they often do it throughout the day and sometimes the night.

But Annuvin is right. If you are in a city or town, make sure that roosters are even allowed. I know that where I live (in a city) chickens are allowed, but roosters are absolutely not.

[harry chickpea]

Roosters don't lay eggs.

[ABQConvict]

How close is your neighbor? I find that just a couple hundred feet is enough. You can hear the crowing but it is not that loud. Way, way, way better than a barking dog at the same distance and that is thousands of times more common than crowing *****. <edit for stupid censorship: c ocks>

And if your neighbor does complain, offer to eat it within the week. It is not like you really need it.

[JustJulia]

Some roosters are temperamental and crow all day. It's a myth that they only crow at dawn. And yes, check your city regulations. We have eight chickens, the maximum number allowed in our city, but roosters are forbidden. Your city may also have rules about your coop, such as how far from the neighbors' property it has to be.

By the way, unless you keep your rooster separate from the chickens, you'll be eating fertilized eggs (chick embryos) rather than unfertilized ones. I thought I'd mention it because I've noticed that many people don't know the difference. You can still eat them but your neighbors might not care to.

[duster1979]

Originally Posted by tarajane2013

I am in the process of getting 6 chicks and one rooster. I love to hear them crow.

Let us know if you still feel that way after six months of hearing it crow every day.

It takes me back to a place that has peace and comfort to it.

Somehow I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of "peace" and "rooster crowing" being synonymous.

Should I ask my neighbors first if they mind crowing ?

Only if you want them to continue to like you.

They are counrty people too that get up early to go to work.

So none of your neighbors work second or third shift? None of them ever take days off when they might want to sleep in?

If they say they DO mind it I need some suggestions for the crowing to stop.

Stopping a rooster from crowing is simple: Just turn it's head until you hear a click.

Please don't say the crock pot.... I need real suggestions.

Unfortunately that is a real suggestion. There's no way to stop a live rooster from crowing.

Maybe when they start getting free brown eggs they will change their tune but till then I need help Thank you all

If you're getting the chickens because you want eggs you don't need a rooster.

My neighbors had a rooster. It would crow 24 hours a day, usually from 2 am to 5 am. I was not a fan in spite of the eggs they gave us and was not the least bit disappointed when he got its head stuck in the fence and hung himself.

[duster1979]

Okay, if I didn't scare you away from the idea with my previous post, here are some serious suggestions:

Roosters tend to crow less as they age, so if you get an older rooster you may have less trouble. If you're not planning on raising pullets the fact that he might be less fertile won't really matter.

Roosters often crow because they have nothing better to do. So getting him a few more hens might keep him busy enough that he won't crow as often.

As mentioned in several posts above, roosters can crow any time of day. However, they pretty much always crow when the sun comes up. To a rooster, the headlights of a car passing by or a light coming on in the house might be an indication that the sun is about to come up and set him off. If you put the flock in a shed at night that's visually sealed from the outside you might be able to keep the rooster from crowing until you let him out in the morning.

I admire you in some way for wanting to pursue this venture, but just go into it knowing full well that many neighborly relationships have been destroyed by the presence of a rooster.

[Cali BassMan]

You don't need a rooster to get eggs!
If your getting a rooster because you like to hear it crow, I hope you don't have close neighbors...
If you don't, and live out in the country, they probably already have them

[itsMeFred]

I've *never* had a rooster that only crowed in the morning. They've all crowed off and on all day long.
I currently have two, but that's only because my hens free-range, and the roosters protect them. If I kept them cooped, or had less trouble with predation, I wouldn't have roosters.


If you live where this might cause a problem with neighbors, just don't get a rooster. Simple solution.