Author Topic: When does a cockerel start to crow? (Read 8161 times)

Bionic · « **on:** December 22, 2012, 10:31:41 am »

My 4 chicks are now 18 weeks old. Boy, that time went fast.
I have 2 french copper marans and 2 wyandottes. The marans are fairly small birds and more timid than the wyandottes. One wyandotte is just a bit bigger than the marans whereas the other is much bigger. In fact bigger than all of my adult chickens. I suspect this is a cockerel but other than size I can't see any differences. If this bird, named Gonzo, is a cockerel when will he start to crow?
From my limited knowledge any of them could be cockerels but so far no crowing at all.
thanks
Sally

deepinthewoods · « **Reply #1 on:** December 22, 2012, 10:52:26 am »

i think it varies upon the bird and their maturity, one things for sure, youll know soon enough!! my last ls cocks were about 21/22 weeks.

HappyHippy · « **Reply #2 on:** December 22, 2012, 10:57:41 am »

Around the time the hens come into lay was what I was told, so around 22 weeks. But as DITW says, you'll know soon

Another tip I was given is to look at the feathers, apparently the cocks have much sharper points at the end of them and the hens are more rounded (I don't know how accurate that is though and if it varies from breed to breed?)
The other thing I was told is to look for 'spurs' on the legs (indicating a cock) but I found that one really tricky $:-\$
HTH
Karen x

the great composto · « **Reply #3 on:** December 22, 2012, 11:30:04 am »

Do you have any other crowing cockerels around? I found mine crowed sooner if they had another cockerel around (showing them what to do).
When I say crowing the early signs were a bit of pathetic squawking. This lasted for 2-3 weeks before they got the hang of it. Mine were 18-20 weeks.

manian · « **Reply #4 on:** December 22, 2012, 11:44:29 am »

they tend to walk differently as well.
our cockerals have all crowed before their sisters have laid eggs

Mx

Bionic · « **Reply #5 on:** December 22, 2012, 12:23:20 pm »

No other cockerels around. I definitely think Gonzo must be one but he just doesn't know it yet.

Looks like I should know for certain in the next month.
thanks everyone
Sally

chrismahon · « **Reply #6 on:** December 22, 2012, 12:29:18 pm »

Our Large Fowl Wyandottes start crowing as early as 8 weeks. The latest was 12. But be aware Bionic that usually only the top cockerel can crow by order of rank. The lower ranks will be knocked into place and stopped. The top cockerel may not yet be crowing but will prevent the lower ones from doing so. The earliest crowing cockerel is our latest batch of Brown English Leghorn Bantams at just 3 and a half weeks! The slowest was our pet Buff Orpington and his son at 26 weeks and one day. Up to that point they walked and looked just like hens. After the first 'cough' they stood upright and their combs and wattles grew very quickly. Just a couple of weeks before the hens started laying.

We also had Wyandottes that initially grew much faster than others, which subsequently caught up, but never entirely. Hopefully though, Gonzo is the only late developing cockerel.

hughesy · « **Reply #7 on:** December 22, 2012, 12:54:17 pm »

I find cockerels tend to mature earlier than pullets, usually trying to crow and showing male behaviour from about 18 weeks or so. Certainly by that age with most breeds it's obvious which are which.

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #8 on:** December 22, 2012, 01:08:11 pm »

The other helpful indicator, if you've two or more of the same breed and think 1 or more may be male, is to compare the sizes of feet. Cocks always seem to have bigger, clumsier feet than their contemporary pullets.

MAK · « **Reply #9 on:** December 22, 2012, 01:17:44 pm »

Too early !

Ours fell off his perch some weeks back and since then I get what amounts to an extra nights sleep every week.

in the hills · « **Reply #10 on:** December 22, 2012, 02:44:08 pm »

I think it depends a lot on breed, with some breeds maturing much quicker than others. Oue pekins crow at about 4 wks, Friesians around 10 wks but RIR's are much older ..... don't tend to look at dates but I think 20 odd wks or so. I can sex the breeds I keep but found my fathers wyandottes (rosecombs) difficult. In the end they were all cockerels so it didn't help that you didn't have both sexes to look at/compare. The boys tend to be much redder than the girls, with bigger combs and wattles and they have a more upright stance.

harry · « **Reply #11 on:** December 22, 2012, 04:41:34 pm »

surprised to see nones said 5am but now i have

oldhinton · « **Reply #12 on:** December 23, 2012, 12:53:40 am »

Anytime from about 18 weeks, you can usually spot a cock bird by the way they stand, from quite an early age, they have a more agressive and squared up stance, feet wider apart and of course generally stockier build.