Why do roosters crow, how long do these birds live, and other interesting facts about them.

The rooster is an adult male chicken; in general terms, it refers to the males of all birds belonging to the order Galliformes. In the modern world, chickens have become the most common domestic birds, serving humans for thousands of years. They have proven to be among the most useful and productive domesticated animals.

Chickens exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism. Hens typically weigh between 1.7 to 6-7 kg depending on the breed, while roosters are always significantly heavier than females, with a weight difference that can reach up to 1 kg. The male's appearance is also more striking:

Overall, the rooster stands out easily within its flock. It is also characterized by unique behavior.

The rooster walks differently from hens. It struts around like the master of the yard. Generally, in a domestic breeding flock, there is one rooster for every 8-12 hens. If there are multiple males, only one becomes the leader. The dominant rooster diligently fulfills its role:

Like all chickens, the rooster flies poorly and only for short distances. The website about domestic animals, Almanac, explains that the rooster jumps and hops but can only manage to fly over a fence at best. Its wings are more often used for communication or fighting with other males.

Some roosters are known for their aggressiveness and assertiveness. These traits are exploited by people who organize cockfights—gambling events where bets are placed on the winners.

Roosters have very loud voices, averaging 80-90 dB. Why do roosters crow? According to the farming website Rosehill Farm and Almanac, roosters crow at all times: morning, noon, and night. Their crowing serves multiple functions:

Roosters crow before dawn. For this reason, their early sounds have become symbols of sunrise and the start of a new day. The backyard poultry site notes that a wave of rooster crowing at night can be triggered by headlights or barking dogs. Such nighttime crowing can disturb both owners and neighbors. However, no method has been effective in curbing it.

Hens can lay eggs without roosters; these eggs are nearly indistinguishable from fertilized ones and are suitable for consumption. There are even specialized breeds of hens raised for egg production. However, reproduction without a rooster is impossible; chicks can only be hatched from fertilized eggs.

As described by the Almanac, during mating, the rooster first performs a ritual courtship dance around the hen, strutting proudly, fluttering, and circling while lowering its wings. This signals the hen to squat and raise her tail feathers. The rooster then mounts her, grasping her feathers, and may even pull them out and cause injuries with its claws and spurs.

How does a rooster fertilize a hen? The rooster lacks a penis; fertilization occurs through the cloacal contact (the rear openings), allowing sperm to enter the hen's body, where it can be stored in the oviduct for up to 2 weeks. During this time, the egg cells passing through the oviduct get fertilized.

The fertilized eggs are incubated by the hen in the nest, warmed by her body heat. After 21 days, chicks will hatch from them.

Chickens are omnivorous; they eat seeds, grains, grass, leaves, worms, insects, and larvae, and they can occasionally consume small vertebrates.

In domestic chicken farming, they are fed grains (oats, barley, millet). On average, a single bird requires about 85 grams of grain per day. They also need sand and small stones for digestion. It has been observed that roosters require less food since they do not lay eggs. The diet of hens and roosters differs slightly: roosters do not need much calcium as they do not have to form eggshells.

How long do roosters live? The farming website Grubbly Farms informs that the natural lifespan of a rooster is similar to that of hens of its breed. On average, it ranges from 5 to 8 years but can be slightly longer since roosters do not wear out their bodies by laying eggs. Their lives may be cut short by other factors, such as dying in a fight with a predator while defending their flock.

The image of the rooster appears in numerous tales from various cultures and has become a significant element of folklore. Even before our era, the rooster was considered a sacred animal in Persian culture and among neighboring peoples.

In Slavic mythology, it played an important role in signaling time. It was believed that its nighttime crowing indicated the period when demonic forces begin to act. By dawn, its crowing drives away all evil until the next night. In some cultures, a form of divination using the rooster has emerged, known as alektoromancy.

In Southeast Asia and Mexico, roosters, especially fighting ones, were worshipped. In the Chinese zodiac, the rooster is one of the 12 signs. It has become an unofficial symbol of France and Kenya and holds significance for many cities in Japan and the USA.

The rooster is a rare male in the avian world that receives such attention. This is due to both its appearance and unique behavior.