How to stop a rooster from crowing? It’s a common question for the people who have roosters in their flock. If you also have this question, then you are in the right place. Here we are trying to answer this question.
Chicken keeping is becoming popular gradually in both urban and suburban areas for fresh food supply and also for fun.
And the presence of roosters in the city is become increasingly common. If you are an existing chicken keeper or if your neighbors have roosters, then you must know roosters do not just crow at sunrise.
On an average, a rooster may crow between 12 to 15 times or even more per day. Understanding why actually roosters crow will help understanding how to stop a rooster from crowing.
Crowing is normal for the roosters, it’s their natural habit. And you will not be able to quiet a rooster completely without surgical intervention and reducing territorial and protective triggers from it’s life.
How to Stop A Rooster From Crowing?
Some people find the vocalizations of the roosters charming and enjoyable, while others disagree. If you don’t like the vocalizations of your rooster, then you have to know how to stop a rooster from crowing. Actually there are a number of ways you can reduce the amount of time a rooster spends crowing.
If you really hate the crowing of rooster then why keeping them? Roosters are not necessary to keep in order for your hens to lay eggs. You can raise hundreds of hens without a single rooster. You will need a rooster if you want to have fertile eggs.
However, if you want to keep some roosters in your flock, but want them to stop from crowing, then there are some ways you can reduce the amount of time a rooster spends crowing. Here we are describing more about the ways of ‘how to stop a rooster from crowing’.
Step 1. Bring More Hens
If you have less hens in your flock, then add some more hens. Some roosters crow mainly because they are not satisfied with the size of their flock. A rooster may calm down if you give him a few more hens to boss around. Then he will spend more time directing the hens and spend less time crowing.
It’s also important to let the roosters roam freely with the hens. And if you separate the rooster from his hens, then he may start to crow even more.
Step 2. Keep Single Rooster
You should keep only one rooster for keeping your flock calm. But if you have multiple roosters, keep them well apart. But if your neighbors have roosters, consider setting up designated areas for each rooster and his flock to reduce conflict.
Step 3. Confusing Roosters
Roosters naturally have a very finely tuned internal clock. And they generally crow as they sense daylight approaching. Although you can trick your rooster’s internal clock with the use of an artificial light source and an enclosed chicken house.
You can use a light to extend the daily lighting period when you bring your chickens into your enclosed chicken house at evening, tricking the chickens into thinking it’s light when it is actually dark outside.
And turn the light off before you go to bed. In the morning, your roosters will think it is earlier than it is, because the house is still dark. Even, your roosters may be confused enough to wait to crow until you let them out.
Step 4. Feeding
You will probably be able to get your roosters to start crowing later in the day if you distract them with such foods that require some effort to eat.
Corncobs and puzzle cubes of food like those used to train dogs can be useful for this. Hiding the food under some straw will also help to keep them calm for sometime, because they will be busy searching the food.
Step 5. Change the Environment
Contrary to popular belief, chickens are intelligent animals and they can get bored just like everyone else. Your roosters may be crowing out of boredom or restlessness.
You can add something in the coop for changing their environment. You can keep some toys, cubbyholes to explore and also move things around periodically so that their known environment does not remain static. Your roosters will remain busy exploring the new environment and they may crow less.
Step 6. Use Rooster Collar
You can also use a rooster collar for reducing the sound. A rooster collar actually limits the airflow to a rooster’s voice box and reduces the volume of it’s crow. You can either purchase a ready-made rooster collar or make your own. Place the collar on the back of the rooster’s neck and secure it. But ensure the collar is not too tight and adjust it as needed.
These are the common ways to stop a rooster from crowing. There are also surgical method, but we don’t recommend the method. Thanks for reading 🙂
