How to Stop Rooster Crowing with Lifestyle Changes or No-Crow Collars

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Plus, learn why roosters crow in the first place
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With the rise of urban and suburban farming, the presence of roosters in the city and the burbs is becoming more common. Unfortunately, this means your rooster’s trademark crowing can get on the nerves of people nearby! While you can’t 100% silence a rooster, there are ways to reduce the amount and volume of crows. Read on to learn how to adjust your rooster’s environment, use a no-crow rooster collar, and build a blackout cage to help keep him quiet with insight from poultry and livestock expert Alexandra Doss.

How do you get a rooster to stop crowing?

  1. Make sure his basic needs, like having plenty of food and water, are met.
  2. Give him space to roam around to entertain himself.
  3. Consider reducing the size of your flock or re-homing all but 1 rooster.
  4. Cover the coop windows to block out light and noise disruptions.
  5. Keep your chickens in their coop until late morning so crowing is less bothersome.
  6. Try keeping him temporarily in a cage with a low ceiling (no longer than overnight).
  7. Put on a no-crow rooster collar to muffle the sounds of his crowing.
Section 1 of 4:

Adjusting Your Rooster’s Lifestyle

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  1. A rooster is responsible for protecting his flock. He crows to inform the flock of environmental changes and potential hazards, like predators. Note your rooster’s crowing habits and note specific stimuli that causes him to crow. [1]
    • For example, he may crow to communicate with hens, to respond to other crowing roosters, when the sun comes up, when visitors come and go, or in the middle of the night.
    • Keep in mind that some roosters just have big personalities and crow when they want to!
  2. In addition to alerting his flock to potential dangers, a rooster might crow to inform you that he’s out of feed or water. Meeting his most basic needs on a consistent and regular basis will decrease his need to crow. To decrease his nighttime crowing, make sure to stock his coop with water and food before you head to bed. [2]
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  3. 3
    Keep your rooster entertained and stimulated. Roosters are intelligent and social animals that need some attention and affection, too. If they’re bored or want to play, they may start crowing to get your attention. Make sure they have plenty of room to roam around (they’ll get bored or agitated if they’re stuck in a coop all day) and consider entertainment like: [3]
    • Hiding food under a layer of hay for them to find.
    • Giving them a large chunk of food, like a corn cob, that requires time to peck apart and eat.
    • Providing toys like pool noodles that roosters can peck at for entertainment.
    • How much room does a flock need? According to Doss, “At least an acre (4047 sq m). A quarter acre (1012 sq m) is fine for just a few chickens, too.”
  4. Roosters crow to assert their dominance over other roosters and to communicate with their flock. To avoid crowing matches between roosters, only keep one in the roost. Decreasing the size of your flock will reduce your rooster’s need to crow as well. [4]
    • Doss explains that this trick may not work all the time: “It's really dependent on the behavior of the rooster, so it may not matter how many roosters you have. They will still crow at 5am in the morning. It's what they're meant to be doing.”
  5. Crowing is most disruptive to you and your neighbors throughout the night. When a rooster is allowed to roam at night or he lives in a coop with an outdoor run, he is exposed to stimuli that will likely cause him to crow. Keeping your rooster inside a closed, darkened coop throughout the night will limit his exposure to predators and light that may cause him to crow. [5]
    • If lights from a porch or vehicles are an issue, install shutters on the coop windows or switch to a windowless coop. [6]
    • Some suggest leaving the coop light on all night to minimize changes in the light. However, this isn’t a permanent solution—roosters and hens need darkness to sleep, so only do this temporarily.
    • Some rooster owners also suggest leaving a soft radio on for background noise. This minimizes other noise disturbances, like traffic sounds or dogs barking.
  6. 6
    Insulate the coop and keep your chickens inside until later in the morning. This probably won’t stop your rooster from crowing, but it will muffle the sound and make it less disturbing to you and your neighbors. Try surrounding the coop with trees or other lush plants to partially block the sound. Then, wait until the sun (and your neighbors) are up before letting your chickens out for the day.
    • Your rooster may still crow once he’s out, but it’s far less irritating in the mid-morning than it is at 5am!
  7. 7
    Place your rooster in a cage or coop with a low ceiling. A rooster needs to stretch his neck out to crow, so a low ceiling can inhibit the behavior. Make sure there’s plenty of ventilation and place a blanket over it to block light. [7]
    • Remember that crowing is a natural behavior, and preventing your rooster from crowing too long may be inhumane. Use this trick sparingly, and don’t leave your rooster in there for longer than overnight.
  8. 8
    Bring your rooster inside overnight to avoid disrupting your neighbors. If nothing else works to stop or muffle his crowing, set up a darkened, ventilated coop or cage in an area like your garage, a shed, laundry room, or basement. Ideally, the darkness and quiet will keep your rooster from crowing—but if they do, at least your neighbors won’t give you an earful in the morning.
  9. 9
    Re-home your rooster if crowing is a dealbreaker issue. If you or your neighbors can’t handle the crowing, the most humane option is to find a small farm or fellow chicken owner who will take your rooster off your hands. To find a suitable home: [8]
    • Look for chicken owner groups on apps like Facebook or Meetup. Even Craigslist may have interested people.
    • Reach out to small farms in your area.
    • Call a nearby feed store to see if they know of any chicken owners or farms that may be interested.
    • Visit local farmer’s markets and ask around to see if anyone needs or wants a rooster.
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Section 2 of 4:

Using a Rooster Collar

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  1. A rooster collar (or “no crow” collar) limits the airflow to a rooster’s voice box, which reduces the volume of his crows. You can purchase a rooster collar for a few dollars on sites like Amazon, or make your own. [9]
    • To make your own collar: Purchase double-sided velcro that’s 2 inches (5 cm) wide. Cut a 6 to 8 inch (15 to 20 cm) strip of velcro. Stick the back sides of the velcro to each other. [10] /
    Effectively silence early morning crowing. "My rooster's predawn crowing was really getting on my neighbors' nerves. After reading this guide, I tried limiting my roo's nighttime exposure to things that triggered his crowing. I also fitted him with a simple homemade collar. I'm happy to say these methods have been really effective for silencing that early morning racket. Now everyone can sleep peacefully!" - Rice T.
    Use a collar. "I had a young rooster who crowed loudly and persistently for hours on end. We tried everything to curb his disruptive habit short of rehoming him. As a last resort, I attempted the rooster collar method described here. Although it took some adjustment, the collar has significantly reduced how long and loud he crows. It has made a world of difference for us and our neighbors!" - Samuel M.
    Meet rooster's needs to reduce crowing. "At first, I assumed my rooster was just ill-mannered and loud. But after reading this, I realized perhaps his frequent, boisterous crowing was due to some unmet needs. I made sure to keep his coop stocked with food and water. I also reduced the size of his flock. Meeting these basic care requirements has led to notably less crowing. Simple adjustments made a big difference for his contentment and my sanity!" - Rachel M.
    Explore humane anti-crowing methods. "My family cared deeply for our backyard rooster, but his incessant crowing all hours of day and night was fraying our last nerves. As much as we adored him, we worried we'd have to rehome our feathery friend. Before taking that step, I was glad to find this guide's humane ideas like lifestyle changes and collars to manage the noise. We're so grateful we explored alternatives first before having to say goodbye!" - Ann W.
    Did you know that wikiHow has collected over 365,000 reader stories since it started in 2005? We’d love to hear from you! Share your story here .
  2. Place the rooster in your lap—keep his head facing away from you and tuck his feet between your thighs to keep him still. Circle your thumb and index finger of your non-dominant hand around his neck. Lift his feathers by moving your hands up his neck. [11]
  3. Use your dominant hand to grab the collar. Lay one end of the collar on the back of the rooster’s neck. Use the thumb encircling the rooster’s neck to hold the collar in place. [12]
    • It might take some experimenting to find the best spot for the collar. Some roosters crow less when it’s higher on the neck, while others crow less when it’s lower.
  4. As you continue to hold the collar with your thumb, use your dominant hand to wrap the collar around the rooster’s neck. Overlap the collar and secure the velcro. Carefully align the lengths of the collar. [13]
    • Double check that no feathers are caught in the velcro. It can be uncomfortable for your rooster and make taking the collar off later more difficult.
  5. A too-tight collar can be uncomfortable, but may also affect the rooster’s ability to breathe, eat, or drink. To check the fit:
    • Insert your pinky finger between the collar and the rooster’s neck. Your pinky finger should slide under the collar’s top and bottom edges without a problem. [14]
    • Listen to the rooster’s breathing. If he is struggling to get air, loosen the collar. Continue to check on him often.
    • If your rooster is not crowing at all, it probably means the collar is too tight.
  6. When you first put on the collar, your rooster may jump backwards and try to remove the collar. Work with your rooster to help him get used to wearing the collar.
    • For the first day, keep the collar loose.
    • As you gradually tighten the collar, reward your rooster with treats.
  7. It may be necessary to adjust the fit of the collar after some time. Check the fit of the collar weekly (or every other week) by sliding your pinky underneath it. [15] Pay special attention to your young rooster—adjust the collar as your rooster grows.
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Section 3 of 4:

Making a Blackout Box

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  1. A blackout box provides your rooster with a dark, non-stimulating sleeping environment. You can find raised dog crates and blackout drapes on Amazon or at local pet supply stores. [16]
    • Where should you put the blackout box? If you plan to keep it outside, find a shady location. If you prefer indoors, place the blackout box in your garage or an outbuilding.
  2. A raised dog crate serves as an ideal blackout box because the raised platform has ventilation holes and you can easily cover the cage’s side holes to block light. Assemble the crate in the location you selected with the instructions provided by the manufacturer. [17]
    • Remove any dog bedding (if you’re using an old or used cage) and cover the floor of the crate with a layer of hay.
  3. The walls of your dog crate may be solid, slotted, or wire. To effectively block out light, drape the top, back, and side walls with blackout drapes. [18]
    • To cover the front where the door is, cut a piece of plywood that is the same dimensions as the front wall and lay it against the front of the crate.
    • To let your rooster in or out, just slide the plywood out from in front of the cage.
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Section 4 of 4:

Why do roosters crow?

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  1. Roosters crow to protect their flock and assert their dominance. A rooster’s main duty is protection, and he crows to communicate important information to his hens. He may crow when danger is lurking nearby, or again once the danger has passed to signal that it’s safe for the rest of the flock to come out of the coop. If there are multiple roosters in a flock, then the crowing may also be to assert dominance over the other males. [19]
    • Some other reasons your rooster might crow include changes in the environment (like sunrise), to lead the flock to forage, or to establish territorial boundaries.
    • Doss clarifies that a lack of crowing doesn’t always mean a lack of danger: “If they're not crowing, then there could be predators or something stressing them out to not crow.”
    • Do roosters only crow in the morning? No—roosters can crow anytime during the day or night! Their earliest crows of the day usually start before sunrise (when we’re sleeping and sensitive to noise disruptions), which might be why we always associate them with the crack of dawn.
    • How loud is a rooster’s crow? An average rooster crow is 80 to 90 decibels (for reference, a chainsaw is around 120 decibels). When roosters throw their head back to crow, their ear canals close slightly, protecting them from the loud noise. [20]

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  • Question
    What does it mean when a rooster crows?
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    Roosters crow as a form of communication, just like humans talk to each other. Crowing can mean many different things, such as letting other roosters and hens know where they are, establishing dominance in the face of other roosters (telling then "this is my territory"), scaring away potential predators, showing off to the hens, responding to sounds they’ve heard (including roosters heard far away), reacting to light, etc.
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    Why do roosters crow in the middle of the night?
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    A rooster crowing in the middle of the night might be responding to another rooster he has heard or perhaps he is dealing with a disturbance in the coop, like hens getting upset for some reason, a flash of a car light, or to warn the coop inhabitants of an intruder, like a fox. Roosters have an acute sense of hearing, so they’re easily disturbed and if so, they’re usually making a noise to either warn of or ward off possible dangers in the dark. Or, a rooster may just decide that having a bit of crow in the middle of the night will alleviate his boredom, especially if he wakes up early and the other chickens are still asleep.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Do roosters crow all day?
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    Yes, roosters can crow all day. However, it is more noticeable in the morning, as some roosters really make a good show at this time of day. Roosters often crow in response to a number of things, like hearing other roosters, getting into a fight with other roosters or hens, showing off in front of the hens or warning off a competitor rooster. Of course, on occasions, the rooster might just feel like crowing!
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      References

      1. ↑ http://animals.mom.me/keep-roosters-quiet-night-9250.html
      2. ↑ http://animals.mom.me/keep-roosters-quiet-night-9250.html
      3. ↑ https://morningchores.com/rooster-crowing/
      4. ↑ http://animals.mom.me/keep-roosters-quiet-night-9250.html
      5. ↑ http://animals.mom.me/keep-roosters-quiet-night-9250.html
      6. ↑ https://morningchores.com/rooster-crowing/
      7. ↑ https://www.chickenkeepingsecrets.com/keeping-chickens/keeping-a-young-rooster-from-crowing/
      8. ↑ https://www.mypetchicken.com/blogs/faqs/how-do-i-find-a-new-home-for-a-rooster-i-dont-want
      9. ↑ http://www.weedemandreap.com/how-to-stop-rooster-crowing/
      1. ↑ https://www.weedemandreap.com/how-to-stop-rooster-crowing/
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/SwMXH6raTTY?t=19
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/SwMXH6raTTY?t=56
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/SwMXH6raTTY?t=63
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/pVY4ZiOtoVs?t=109
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/pVY4ZiOtoVs?t=98
      7. ↑ http://www.blokespost.com/house-family/pets/stop-chickens-clucking-in-the-morning/4252
      8. ↑ http://www.blokespost.com/house-family/pets/stop-chickens-clucking-in-the-morning/4252
      9. ↑ http://www.blokespost.com/house-family/pets/stop-chickens-clucking-in-the-morning/4252
      10. ↑ https://www.almanac.com/why-do-roosters-crow-10-riveting-facts-about-roosters
      11. ↑ https://www.almanac.com/why-do-roosters-crow-10-riveting-facts-about-roosters

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To stop a rooster from crowing, make a collar out of double-sided Velcro to restrict the flow of air to its voice box and reduce the volume of its crowing. To put on the collar, place the rooster on your lap with its head facing away from you. Then, push up the feathers around its neck, wrap the collar around it, and secure the Velcro. Afterwards, check that the collar isn't too tight by sliding your pinky between the collar and the rooster's neck. For more advice, like how to stop your rooster from crowing by adjusting its lifestyle, keep reading.

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