The rooster is one of the most popular home-raised animals. A novice farmer will find useful information about his habitat, nutritional habits, reproduction. Few people know that there are a huge number of rooster species, and with regards to some there are heated discussions. Well, scientists do not know whether to consider this particular bird as a rooster or to rank it among other species. The article will consider which bird can be considered a rooster, the lifestyle of this animal: habits, nutrition.

Who is a rooster

The rooster is a solid bird. Everyone knows this. There would be no chicken, no chickens would breed, and people would not be able to enjoy steaks or legs cooked on the grill. Some people wonder if the rooster is an animal or a bird. In general, such a statement is fundamentally wrong. Any living organism that has the following characteristics can be called an animal:

  • They feed on plants and other animals. Of course, there are some plant species that feed on insects, but these are only rare exceptions.
  • Lack of fiber.
  • Growth up to a certain limit.

Who is a rooster

Well, and the most important difference between animals and other organisms is the ability to move around the planet. The rooster falls under all these signs, like any other bird.

What does a rooster look like? The appearance may differ: have a different number of fingers, color, beak appearance, scallop size. The habits of different types also differ. Some are herbivores, others eat worms and meat.

The appearance of males is very well described in comparison to chickens. The former are characterized by a significantly bright color, more beautiful plumage, and a long, bushy tail. Also, the rooster can be recognized by the pointed feathers on the neck and back. And they are often compared to cowboys due to boots with spurs. Adults have a comb and a kind of "beard".

The first birds were domesticated for cockfighting in Asia, Europe and Africa. They began to be used as a food product in India. They were tamed long ago, 5000 years ago. Then they were not yet roosters in the form that they were used to seeing. It was an Indian wild chicken. Only the nobles could own this animal. Cockfighting was a popular fun in various ancient countries: India, China, Persia, Babylon, Greece.

Especially against the general background, English breeds of chickens and, accordingly, roosters stand out. This is primarily a fighting breed due to its aggressiveness.

English rooster

Life span

In the wild, chickens can live on average 13 years. But with proper home care, birds can live up to 30 years. In practice, this rarely happens, since everyone makes mistakes in care, and the bird itself may be genetically weak or reared in conditions conducive to the occurrence of diseases.

Guinea fowl: what kind of bird?

It also depends on the purpose of raising the roosters. As a rule, this is the continuation of the genus of chickens. Therefore, the roosters live as long as the period of active fertilization lasts. On average, this is 4 years. As soon as the rooster becomes a weak male, it is sent along with the chickens to the slaughter. Well, after all, there is nowhere to put it, so useless, and so it will be useful. Normally, 1 male should fertilize 10 females.

Note! How old roosters live depends on the quality of nutrition, the temperature in the hen house and many other factors (a skilled poultry farmer must prevent fights between roosters, as they negatively affect the psyche of animals).

Why do roosters crow in the morning

Black cock

Many are interested in how the rooster crows. In fact, this is the familiar "crow". And in different countries they hear completely different things. This is probably why birds do not understand people when they try to portray the voice of a rooster.

The reason the rooster crows in the morning is in the hierarchy of animals. The proud alpha male makes a sound first early in the morning, and then low-ranking individuals. Thus, the places in the hierarchy are distributed among the males. In addition, crowing is a way to mark territory and warn enemies that they will be in trouble if they decide to be intruders.

Why do roosters crow in the morning

What time do the roosters start crowing? The time when they make the first sounds is determined by the biological clock of the birds. The first roosters start singing at 1.00, the second at 2.00, and the third at 4.00. But depending on the conditions and biological characteristics of a particular rooster, the time may differ. The researchers also noticed that the time of the crowing of the rooster is associated with the location of the stars in the sky. So, the first roosters begin to sing when the star Canopus appears above the horizon, and when it disappears, they stop. Third roosters often coincide with dawn.

The question is, why would people know what time the roosters are singing? And the explanation is very simple. In the village, when there was still no clock, it was one of the landmarks when going on the road (it was considered a good omen to wait for the first roosters), the second was often a signal to go to milk the cows. Well, the third is a sign that you need to get up and get ready for your daily work. In general, like a rustic alarm clock. As a bird crows, it is immediately clear how long it is.

Note! Few people know that a rooster can also cluck like a chicken, and this is done to invite a “friend” to eat.

Rooster structure

How a rooster fertilizes a hen

By the way, few people know that cockerels are ways to fly. Well, at least their skeleton resembles in many ways other birds endowed with this ability. Only 10% of the mass is bones, which are hollow inside. There is no medullary bone in the skeleton of males, which is involved in the formation of the shell around the egg. They just do it rarely and ineptly.

The skeleton of a rooster is divided into 3 parts: head, trunk and limbs. The head is very small, and therefore looks very funny against the background of the rest of the body. The skull consists of 10 bones. The cervical spine consists of 13-14 vertebrae.

Rooster structure

The wings are the forelimbs of the bird, the lower ones are the legs. Normally, a male should have 4 toes on each leg. There is also something like the fifth finger - a spur. In fact, this is the cornea, which is not always based on bones. If the rooster has more toes, then this could be a sign of a genetic disorder (for example, caused by closely related relationships). In this case, there may be 6 fingers. Moreover, on different legs there may be a different number of them.

Note! Normally, the male should have 78 chromosomes: the rooster has an XX set, and the females have XY. In humans, the opposite is true.

Interesting facts about roosters

  • There is a completely black breed of rooster called Ayam Chemani. They have a gene in their genome that causes too much pigmentation. Moreover, it is dominant, that is, it is constantly transmitted with 100% probability. Interestingly, these birds are black not only outside. Their bones, internal organs are also the color of the night. Even the blood is significantly darker than that of other breeds.
  • They have their own language. However, like chickens. It seems to people that these are meaningless clicks or clucking, but in fact, scientists have already been able to identify 30 sounds with different meanings. For example, a hen may report that it will lay an egg or signal its relatives about a large number of worms.
  • Able to empathize with other birds. Birds have also been shown to experience sadness away from the group.
  • They are very smart, as they are able to remember up to 100 faces and how this character relates to them. The birds make decisions based on their experience. They can also be taught arithmetic.
  • Together with chickens, they are the direct descendants of the Tyrannosaurus. Surprising, considering that it was one of the largest predators ever to exist on our planet.
  • Dream books describe the meaning of a dream in which a person has lost a rooster. This suggests that he avoided a possible meeting with an unpleasant type, a competitor. This is if a man. If a woman had a dream where the feathered one disappeared, then she may have lost a fan. There are also recommendations in case you had a dream about a rooster. For example, if you hear him cry, you need to take a decisive step in order not to miss the opportunity that now exists.

Bonus fact: the largest rooster in the world was bred by breeders. Height is 91 cm and weight is 11 kg. This is an ideal breed as it produces a lot of tasty meat.

FAQ

The questions described above about the lifespan and the cry of a bird are not the only ones that are of interest to Internet users. If there are others:

What to do to prevent the bird from screaming

There are several proven ways to silence a bird, or at least be quieter:

  • For the time when the person is sleeping, place the male in a dark, confined space, but into which air can freely enter. This will not cause disturbances in the psyche of the animal. It should be remembered that it is impossible to abruptly release a rooster into the light, since in this case stress cannot be avoided. If the breeder has several roosters, then it is enough to place an alpha male in a dark room.
  • The second method is much more complicated and less effective. It is necessary to make a collar thicker than the diameter of the bird's neck from a fabric tape with Velcro. They should be wrapped around the neck and secured with Velcro. The bird will still crow, but quieter. She won't be able to breathe in enough air to scream.

Why the rooster doesn't crow and trample chickens

If this bird stops singing, this indicates serious problems. The reasons for the silence of the animal are as follows:

  • respiratory diseases;
  • molting;
  • changes in the hormonal background;
  • aging.

Important! Molting is the only reason that should not cause anxiety in the owner.

Often the reason why a rooster does not crow is infectious bronchitis. This is a disease that is caused by a virus that can easily spread from one chicken coop to another. The mortality rate is 65%, and there are no cures. The meat of an infected bird does not pose a danger to humans, but if at least one rooster has symptoms of the disease (cough, difficulty breathing, nasal discharge, loss of appetite and diarrhea), then the chicken coop is quarantined to avoid the extinction of other birds.

Other respiratory diseases are also possible. For example, with infectious laryngotracheitis, the cock will wheeze.

And what if the rooster does not trample chickens? If the bird is young, then you just need to wait. The male normally begins to show interest in females at 24-26 weeks of age. But the first attempts of the young will be unsuccessful, you should not be afraid of this. Learn more. If the male is an adult, then there may be other reasons:

  • Females do not let the male come close to them. This happens especially often if the male was bought recently and has not yet had time to gain authority from relatives. In this case, he must be put in a cage, and then separately one of the chickens should be planted with him. After a while they will get used to it, and the problem will be solved.
  • It also often happens that a person does not notice how a rooster tramples chickens. You should wait a few weeks and then check the eggs with an ovoscope. If they are fertilized, then the rooster copes with its duties.

And one more reason - the male is a hermaphrodite. This is unlikely, but it happens sometimes.To check this, it is worth observing the behavior of the bird. If, after crowing, it tries to climb into the nest, then all that remains to be done is to send it to the soup. This is the only benefit such a creature can bring.

The rooster tramples the chicken

How to trim a rooster's claws

It is not always necessary to trim the claws. Usually they sharpen themselves, but if this does not happen, then a person will have to perform this procedure. This must be done carefully, having previously fixed the bird with a rag or towel. Cutting off nails is recommended using a cat or dog guillotine pliers. In this case, it is worth paying attention so as not to damage the vessels that are visible through the lumen.

Rooster (cockerel) is a useful bird in the household. The article analyzed the questions of interest to the average poultry farmer related to male hens, such as structure, life span, some problems that may arise in animals, and whether they are animals at all. After reading the information, farmers will no longer have questions and problems in caring for this important bird.