Roosters are birds known for their volume. Previously, each farmer's day began with the first cry of a rooster. Nowadays, the noise these birds make is often an annoying problem. Consider why roosters crow, what to do if the bird has stopped doing this, as well as methods for weaning the rooster from crowing.
Why do cocks crow
To the question of why cocks crow, it is possible to give a definite answer: for these birds, crowing is a way of communication and roll call. Moreover, among the birds there is a certain hierarchy. The leader (alpha male) casts his voice first, and only after him do other couches begin to crow. Interestingly, if a rooster subordinate starts crowing first, the leader attacks and often kills him to death.There are times when the coquets begin to scream constantly. If your rooster cries all day, with short breaks for meals and sleep, this indicates negative mutations in the bird's genes. It may also be breed dependent. One of the loudest is May Day.
Kochet, like many other birds, has a biological clock, so their crowing also depends on the time of day.
Did you know? Roosters crow even when they are blind and deaf.
In the morning
The crowing of roosters in the early days is due to their natural instincts. It was at this time of day that their cry was the longest and loudest. What time the birds begin to cry does not depend on the time of sunrise and lighting, as it might seem at first glance. Kochetas voice their internal clock. So they show themselves masters of their territory, communicate with each other.
Roosters are divided into first, second and third, depending on what time they start to sing. The first and second shout at night, while the third vote at 4 o’clock in the morning.
During the day
Males during the day can sing for several reasons. The main thing is that they call their family when they find food to share food. Quite often you can hear the shout of a cooch when there is some danger for him and for the chicken coop (in this way he warns other birds). Sometimes they use crowing as a way to support chickens during egg laying. And also in the daytime they can do the roll call.
At night
Biorhythms of the koches make themselves felt at night. The aforementioned first and second roosters start screaming at the first and third hours of the night, respectively. At night, the likelihood of meeting a predator that preys on birds increases. For this reason, the kochet can also shout at night.
At what age does a cock begin to crow
The first attempts at crowing a young cockerel can be heard at the age of two and a half months, when he only learns to make himself felt by this sound.When learning, males sing every half hour. The number of crowing birds increases by three months of life, at 4-5 months, most individuals begin to crow, and at the age of 6 months, all males already crow.
Important! If the bird is silent after six months, you must consult a veterinarian.
What to do so that the cock does not crow
Frequent and loud cries of birds can interfere with farmers. And sometimes the neighbors may complain about the annoying "crow." There are several ways to rid the males of this habit:
- Plant a male that is older (about 3 years old) and stronger than a young rooster. Hold them together for a month. After this, the young cockerel will lose its authority as an alpha male and stop screaming so often.
- Use a special collar that is worn on the bird’s neck, preventing it from collecting enough air for a loud scream, blocking the larynx. With such a collar, the cockerel will begin to wheeze, but this will definitely help get rid of unwanted noisy.
- Choose breeds of cockerels that are less prone to noisy. The loudest breeds are considered to be: Adler silver, Zagorsk salmon, Moscow black, May day, minor and leggorn.
It is important to understand that crowing is the norm for a healthy coquette, so before you start a bird, you should consider whether you can endure loud cries of birds.
Did you know? A chicken can distinguish its owner from other people from a distance of 100 meters.
Why did the bird stop crowing
You can get used to the roar of the rooster, but its silence is an occasion to think about the health of the bird.A cockerel can stop crowing for several reasons:
- Infectious bronchitis - This is a disease of the respiratory organs, which, unfortunately, is not treated. However, the meat of a sick bird will not harm a person.
- Bronchopneumonia - with this disease, the kochet begins to wheeze. The patient cockerel is isolated, treated with antibiotics, and after a week is returned to the chicken coop.
- Colibacillosis - The cause of the disease is E. coli. It affects the internal organs of the feathered. It is treated with antibiotics.
- Molting - the cockerel falls silent only for the period of molting, after which it begins to sing again.
- Aging process - With age, the birds begin to wheeze and can completely stop screaming.
- Hormonal changes.
Important! If you are not sure why your cock stopped singing, be sure to contact your veterinarian. If an infectious disease is detected, this will help prevent infection of other inhabitants of the chicken coop.
What does crow signify?
It has long been believed that this bird can predict disaster. A lot of folk signs are associated with crowing. Consider why a cockerel can scream, according to popular beliefs:
- If the feathered one screams very loudly and beats through the windows - a fire may soon occur in the house.
- The cockerel lost his voice - to the disease of loved ones.
- If during lunch, the Kochet ran into the house and jumped onto the table, to the death of one of the family members.
- The bird shakes its head for no reason - to trouble.
- Wake up from the cry of a cob in the morning - to good luck and a good day.
- Kochet bathes in the dust - to rain.
- Molting was considered a warning of good and warm weather.
- Cock cry in broad daylight - to unexpected changes in the life of the owner.