These tips to keep your rooster quiet may work for some roosters but may not work for all. Several ways to keep your urban rooster quiet such as keeping him in the coop until after the hens lay their eggs, several other neat tips, and as a last resort, you could use a rooster collar (never unsupervised). However, keep in mind that a rooster collar is simply a way of choking your rooster with a cute collar to keep him quiet. Not a humane way to keep a rooster quiet. Standard size roosters generally crow much louder than Bantam chickens.
Easiest way to keep your neighbors from hearing your rooster crow
Mr. Brandy (Rooster at CHOE)
The easiest way to keep neighbors from hearing your rooster is to keep the rooster indoors until after egg laying time. He will still crow if someone approaches your home or vehicle but being indoors the sound will be muffled.
Roosters crow less if they have access to several hens. An imitation mate can be used if he does not have any hens. A stuffed teddy bear for larger Roosters and a balled up sock works nicely for bantams. Be sure to wash their imitation mates at least once a week to prevent bacteria from accumulating.
Roosters will crow if they need something. Make sure your rooster has plenty of fresh feed, scratch, fresh water & vegetables to keep him busy.
Sound proof your chicken coop.
Black out curtains can be used on windows if the rooster is kept indoors during the wee hours of the morning and when the hens are laying eggs. This works for some roosters but not all.
Play a radio or television for him so he does not hear the cries from the hens while they are laying eggs.If your rooster can hear other roosters crowing he will crow too.
The Real Reason Roosters Crow in the Morning
The fact is that roosters have an internal clock that tells them when to crow, so if you have nearby neighbors that are bothered by crowing or do not like the crowing sounds a rooster naturally makes you should consider giving him to someone who lives in the country where a rooster can crow as much as he likes.
Identifying When Your Rooster Crows
Identify the pattern of your roosters crowing and you can reduce or eliminate the problem.
Roosters will crow (for the most part), early in the morning to announce the dawning of a new day. They will crow again, around 11am-1pm CST to announce the arrival of their hens laying new eggs. In the evening, the rooster will call out to their ladies and babies (and even to you) to get to shelter for the night and to warn their hens if a predator is near. If you listen to their crows and watch to see what they are trying to show you, it is much easier to figure out what they are crowing about.
Insulate Your Chicken Coop
Insulating your chicken coop with sound proof acoustic insulation can reduce the sound of your roosters crow and the sounds your hens make after they lay an egg. (see below).
Check for Predators
They will call out to warn you if company has arrived, a prowler or uninvited animal or hawk is in the area. It is a good idea to use security cameras so you can find out what your rooster is crowing about. Roosters crow for a reason, if there is a predator such as a hawk, snake, or fox nearby you may not see them but your rooster knows they are there.
I keep mine confined during peak crowing times like early in the morning and at egg laying time. All afternoon they play happily and quietly in their rooster runs with their preferred hens and in the evening I bring them back to their pens in the hen house.
Roosters crow less if they have access to several hens. An imitation mate can be used if he does not have any hens. A stuffed teddy bear for larger Roosters and a balled up sock works nicely for bantams. Be sure to wash their imitation mates at least once a week to prevent bacteria from accumulating.
Roosters will crow if they need something. Make sure your rooster has plenty of fresh feed, scratch, fresh water & vegetables to keep him busy.
Sound proof your chicken coop.
Black out curtains can be used on windows if the rooster is kept indoors during the wee hours of the morning and when the hens are laying eggs. This works for some roosters but not all.
Play a radio or television for him so he does not hear the cries from the hens while they are laying eggs.If your rooster can hear other roosters crowing he will crow too.
The Real Reason Roosters Crow in the Morning
The fact is that roosters have an internal clock that tells them when to crow, so if you have nearby neighbors that are bothered by crowing or do not like the crowing sounds a rooster naturally makes you should consider giving him to someone who lives in the country where a rooster can crow as much as he likes.
Identifying When Your Rooster Crows
Identify the pattern of your roosters crowing and you can reduce or eliminate the problem.
Roosters will crow (for the most part), early in the morning to announce the dawning of a new day. They will crow again, around 11am-1pm CST to announce the arrival of their hens laying new eggs. In the evening, the rooster will call out to their ladies and babies (and even to you) to get to shelter for the night and to warn their hens if a predator is near. If you listen to their crows and watch to see what they are trying to show you, it is much easier to figure out what they are crowing about.
Insulate Your Chicken Coop
Insulating your chicken coop with sound proof acoustic insulation can reduce the sound of your roosters crow and the sounds your hens make after they lay an egg. (see below).
Check for Predators
They will call out to warn you if company has arrived, a prowler or uninvited animal or hawk is in the area. It is a good idea to use security cameras so you can find out what your rooster is crowing about. Roosters crow for a reason, if there is a predator such as a hawk, snake, or fox nearby you may not see them but your rooster knows they are there.
I keep mine confined during peak crowing times like early in the morning and at egg laying time. All afternoon they play happily and quietly in their rooster runs with their preferred hens and in the evening I bring them back to their pens in the hen house.
No Crow Rooster Collar Warning
Though I have never used a collar on any of our roosters many people have told me that the The No Crow rooster collar does work but doesn't stop the rooster's crow all together.
WARNING: If you decide to use a rooster collar it is important that you do not put the collar on so tight that it restricts the roosters breathing or eating. Do not leave your rooster unsupervised while wearing this collar because it could get caught on something like a branch, if you put it on too tight you could strangle your bird to death. I personally do not recommend using rooster crow collars. Partially strangling a bird to keep him quiet does not sound like a humane way to stop a rooster from crowing to me.
WARNING: If you decide to use a rooster collar it is important that you do not put the collar on so tight that it restricts the roosters breathing or eating. Do not leave your rooster unsupervised while wearing this collar because it could get caught on something like a branch, if you put it on too tight you could strangle your bird to death. I personally do not recommend using rooster crow collars. Partially strangling a bird to keep him quiet does not sound like a humane way to stop a rooster from crowing to me.