Crowing is the sound made by a male chicken. The lead or dominant rooster in a flock crows at different times of the day for various reasons.
What is Crowing
Crowing is the sound made by an adult rooster. Usually it is the lead or dominant rooster in a flock that crows the most.
Crowing is loud and can be an annuisance. A typical crow sound is about 90 decibels; about the same as a barking dog.
Also see: The secrets of chicken chatter: 6 poultry sounds and their meaning
When and why a rooster crows
In general, roosters in a flock will crow for different reasons, at different times, during the day.
One role of a lead rooster in a flock, is to protect the flock. Crowing is one way by which a rooster indicates safety. Additionally, a rooster crows to warn the flock of danger.
Crowing is also a sign or show of dominance amongst roosters in a flock. The dominant or lead rooster in a flock is the one that crows.
Why a rooster crows:
- To wake the flock up (apparently)
- Sign or show of dominance
- To signal safety to a flock
- To warn of danger
- In response to the crowing of a rooster in a neighbouring farm
Roosters also crow as a ‘greeting’ to or ‘communication with other roosters in neighbouring farms. If there’s another flock in a neighbouring farm or yard, when a rooster there crows, the lead rooster in your farm will crow and vice-versa.
Crowing schedule
A rooster also crows by time.
On a timely basis, a rooster makes the first crow around 3 or 4 am in the morning. This crow may be made by the lead or dominant rooster in a flock, but other roosters can and do join in.
Roosters have been relied upon as a time keeping or wake up alarm historically, in various societies.