The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: OhLaLa on January 12, 2011, 11:28:18 am

Title: Cockerels - 2am wake up call - now these are early birds!!
Post by: OhLaLa on January 12, 2011, 11:28:18 am

Has anyone else got cockerels starting to crow at 2am?   >:(

Darned if I know the reason why........

Title: Re: Cockerels - 2am wake up call - now these are early birds!!
Post by: northfifeduckling on January 12, 2011, 12:01:36 pm

I'm not up at 2 but I heard mine at 4. Usually only my neighbour hears him and she doesn't mind, must be an early bird herself  ;D :&>

Title: Re: Cockerels - 2am wake up call - now these are early birds!!
Post by: Hermit on January 12, 2011, 12:02:55 pm

My cockerels go all night, my sister who is a towny could not stand the noise as it kept her up all night. She lives in a block of flats with a church clock tower outside her window! I dont have close neighbours to bother about and the ones I have have their own cockerels anyway.

Title: Re: Cockerels - 2am wake up call - now these are early birds!!
Post by: tazbabe on January 12, 2011, 12:08:58 pm

our christopher crows at differing times, day and night.

in the afternoon he likes to find something high to sit on and have a crowing frenzy!

Title: Re: Cockerels - 2am wake up call - now these are early birds!!
Post by: piggy on January 12, 2011, 12:15:43 pm

I had never noticed it before but on new years eve we went out around 1am to wish the horses happy new year and 1 of the cockerals was crowing away,kids thought he was saying happy new year!

Title: Re: Cockerels - 2am wake up call - now these are early birds!!
Post by: Helencus on January 14, 2011, 08:21:22 am

I did have 3 which made me very unpopular with neighbours. They crowed at varying hours and Set each other off. I managed to give 1 away to womble but had to see to the 2nd the 3rd is fine as he was always the quietest.
What I have found is they will crow very early if the moon is bright, darker the night the later they start.

Title: Re: Cockerels - 2am wake up call - now these are early birds!!
Post by: Elissian on January 15, 2011, 07:46:25 pm

In the past some of mine have crowed on a full moon. Funnily enough quite few of mine have been crowing in the early hours since the new year, I've no idea why.

Title: Re: Cockerels - 2am wake up call - now these are early birds!!
Post by: ambriel on January 21, 2011, 05:51:30 pm

Daft question now. We're getting our first cockerel tomorrow - my wife's idea, I'm happy with just the girls.

Do cockerels crow even if they're locked in a coop over night?

Title: Re: Cockerels - 2am wake up call - now these are early birds!!
Post by: dyedinthewool on January 21, 2011, 06:58:40 pm

Yes ;D ;D ;D

Even if you try darkening the coop - I have read that some people put them in a box and then in their garage overnight - so they are in total darkeness - don't know if it works - seems a bit cruel to me, especially as I suffer from claustrophobia.

Title: Re: Cockerels - 2am wake up call - now these are early birds!!
Post by: ambriel on January 21, 2011, 10:08:44 pm

Thanks. I wouldn't go that far. The hens are locked up at night as anti-fox protection. The rest of the time they have free roam of the garden.

Title: Re: Cockerels - 2am wake up call - now these are early birds!!
Post by: northfifeduckling on January 21, 2011, 10:15:49 pm

I heard to keep the boy somewhere where he can't stand up properly works - can't try it, it would not be practical  :D :chook: :&>

Title: Re: Cockerels - 2am wake up call - now these are early birds!!
Post by: ambriel on January 22, 2011, 08:39:43 pm

Well we locked him in the henhouse all afternoon and he was quiet enough unless he heard someone talking, when he'd let rip. Will have to see what happens in the morning.