Why Do Chickens Make Noise In The Morning?

Ever wonder why chickens make noise in the morning? The sound of a rooster crowing has been a trademark of mornings across the world for thousands of years. This sound is something we may all be accustomed to but really aren’t sure why they do it. Turns out the answer is more simple than you think.

Noisy Chickens

Chickens make noises in the morning for a variety of reasons.

If you’ve ever been to a farm or lived near one, you know roosters can be very loud animals. Their crow has been known to reach around 140 decibels which is comparable to a chainsaw.

In fact, they’re so loud they cover their own ears when they crow. When a rooster’s mouth is open part of its ear canal is closed by flesh. This prevents the guy from hearing his own voice at maximum volume.

While a rooster’s crow is the most common chicken sound heard in the early morning, hens can also let out a hen song.

It’s something most chicken owners are used to, and really don’t question.

Recently my neighbors and I were laughing about our boys crowing back and forth to one another early in the morning. It had me thinking, what makes them crow in the first place?

I did some research and found the top reasons why chickens make noise in the morning.

Why Do Chickens Make Noises in the Morning?

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Circadian Rhythm

Chickens have a natural sleep/wake cycle just like humans. Their bodies are programmed to go to bed and wake up during certain times of the day.

This is why you can train them to put themselves back into the coop at night. They naturally know when it’s time to go to bed.

When a rooster knows it’s time to wake up, they’ll send out a crow first thing in the morning. This is a communication with the rest of the flock that it’s time to wake up and get their day started.

Roosters play an important role in the flock and are at the top of the pecking order among flock members. The sound of a rooster crowing in the morning is an important signal for the rest of the flock to start their day.

Roosters Crow When They See Daybreak

It’s understood among backyard chicken keepers that light plays an important role in their life and laying cycles. Chickens are very sensitive to light, even low intensity that humans can’t see.

When a rooster senses the first light of the break of day, they’ll let out a crow to announce the morning.

Even a small amount of light can signal that it’s time to start eating and drinking. Oftentimes, I’ll go out to check on my flock after dark with a flashlight. When shining the light into the coop, many flock members will jump off their roosts to eat and drink.

The sound of a rooster crowing in the morning generally means they’ve seen the first light of the new day.

Hens Sing an Egg Song

Male Chickens aren’t the only chickens that make noise in the morning. Female chickens can also be very chatty. It’s not uncommon for a noisy hen to make a lot of rackets while you’re trying to sleep in.

One of the biggest reasons hens make early noise is their egg song. Hens tend to lay their egg in the morning hours. After completing their task, you’ll hear them squawking and carrying on.

This “song” isn’t as nice on the ears as the rooster crow, it can be quite offensive.

Why do hens sing their egg song? There are several different reasons.

Hens will sing an egg song just out of pure satisfaction of laying an egg. They’re very proud of what they’ve accomplished and they want everyone around them to know.

They’ll put on a grand performance to let the rest of the flock know about their new eggs.

This song tends to get everyone else worked up too. It’s not uncommon to hear several other hens join in excitement.

I’ve found that the roosters come running at the sound of the egg song. They’ll dance around their lady to mate, then head back to wherever they came from.

The egg song is also a way for the hen to deter predators from their hidden nests. They draw attention to themselves instead of the fresh eggs which would be a nice treat for unwelcome guests.

Their Voices Carry

Roosters sometimes make noises in the morning because they can hear other roosters. This is especially true if you live in a rural area like we do.

It’s not uncommon for my rooster to crow back and forth with our neighbor’s rooster in the morning. It’s almost like they’re having a full conversation.

This is because their voices carry more in the mornings. They send out their early crows to warn away other roosters or predators. It’s like establishing dominance over everyone around them and letting any potential threats know they’re on high alert.

Roosters are known for keeping their eyes on the sky and their surroundings. They send out specialized sounds to warn their ladies, or just to communicate.

My flock consists of chickens and ducks. I always find it entertaining that the ducks respond to the different rooster sounds just like the hens do. The whole barnyard will respond to the warning sounds of a vigilant rooster.

How to minimize chicken noises

While you can’t completely eliminate the noises your chickens make, you can minimize them to make your neighbors happy.

Sound Proof Coop

A sound proof coop can decrease the amount of noise you hear from your flock. Sturdy walls that house their nesting boxes will help to draw your flock in and contain some of the noise they make after laying their eggs.

Making your coop dark is another way you can help deter your roosters from crowing in the morning. It won’t eliminate this altogether because roosters have a natural internal clock that tells them when to crow.

However, a dark coop can keep some of the “first light” crows to a minimum.

Don’t Own Roosters If You Want a Quiet Flock

It’s not completely necessary to have a rooster in your flock. Your hens will lay eggs just fine without one.

There are a lot of great reasons for keeping guys with your girls, but if noise is an issue for you it’s probably best not to have one.

Quiet chicken breeds

Choosing quiet chicken breeds will help to minimize the amount of noise your flock makes. While each individual chicken is going to have a different personality (much like people), there are some breeds that are notoriously quiet.

Some of my favorite quiet breeds are Australorps, Orpingtons, and Brahmas. I own all of these breeds in my flock and they are the sweetest and quietest of the bunch.

They’re also excellent layers and probably some of my favorite all around.

It’s probably best that you avoid the noisier breeds if you’re looking for a peaceful backyard. The chatty breeds include Polish and Leghorns.

I also find Leghorns to be the flightiest of all my girls, but they lay eggs like crazy!

The size of the chicken doesn’t really affect the amount of noise they make. My bantam bunch is just as noisy as my full-size flock members. Those little roos can pack a punch with their full-volume crows!

Distance Coop From Your Home

Try to distance your coop as far away from your house as possible. This can be hard if you live in a neighborhood with a smaller backyard.

However, the further you place your coop from the house, the less sound you’ll hear from your flock first thing in the morning.

Having your coop right outside of your backdoor is almost guaranteed to cause an increase in the noise you hear.

Also, try placing your coop on the opposite side of your house away from your bedroom. While this won’t decrease the chicken noises you hear throughout the day and can allow you to sleep in a little.

Crow Collars for Noisy Roos

You can purchase a crow collar for your rooster that will decrease the volume of his crow.

It works by decreasing the amount of air in the rooster’s airway, thus limiting the amount of sound he can get out. The effectiveness of the crow collar totally depends on the proper fit.

If it’s too tight it can restrict his breathing and even result in death.

If the crow collar is too loose, it won’t be effective at decreasing the amount of noise it produces.

I don’t personally use crow collars because I keep my boys around mainly to be predator alarms. I want them to give a healthy warning to the flock if they see a potential threat.

Black chicken making noise in the morning

Why Do Chickens Make Noise in The Morning FAQS

Do chickens make more noise if they’re hungry in the morning?

Light definitely stimulates chickens to wake up and start searching for food. It’s not necessarily a hunger cue more than it is an instinct to eat during the day. However, feeding your flock first thing in the morning can help to decrease the amount of noise they make.

Is it normal for chickens to wake up before the sun comes up?

Yes, chickens can sense light that we can’t yet see. So while it may seem like it’s very dark to use, the chicken may be able to see daybreak.

Chickens will also sound the alarm before daybreak if there is a disturbing noise or a predator.

Final Thoughts on Why Chickens Make Noise in The Morning

Roosters crowing in the early morning is just part of their nature. They may be waking up to greet the day, letting others around them know they’re on watch, or just listening to their very loud voices.

No matter the reason, they’re just following their natural instincts to communicate, just like we do. Hearing their silly chatter, or being greeted by your rooster during your morning coffee is one of the great things about being a chicken owner.

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