How far will the sound of crowing travel?

[IamRainey]

I live in a busy suburban neighborhood about 1/4 mile from a major transportation corridor. I am considering getting a rooster. I am zoned for 1 but, naturally, I have to put consideration for my neighbors' above mere legality.

So here's my question: I want to inquire of the people who would likely hear my roo what their openness/objection to crowing might be. And I'm trying to determine which households to poll. So, how far do you think the sound of crowing would travel where there is fairly constant traffic and a hospital (with sirens) within 1/2-3/4 of a mile? It will help me determine which houses to poll.

Thanks in advance for sharing your expertise.

 

[K813ZRA]

Man that is a good question. I have roosters but I think I am used to it because I do not hear it at all unless I am directly in front of the bird. I am sure it is making noise but I have drown it out. However, I can say that before I got used to it the sound was distinct and I could hear it from the other side of the 4 acre frontage, for whatever that is worth.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The distance that rooster sounds travel is affected by ambient temperature, relative humidity, the topography, wind direction, the types and size of vegetation, and finally by background sounds. Then there is the unknown effect that tuning the sound out has on the hearer. So even if I have a 100 or more cussing each other out in unison it hardly registers. I guess that is because I love the sound of roosters.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

When I am at my neighbor's house, I can hear my 3 roosters crowing over the hill. They are pretty loud, and one neighbor commented jokingly on how he should go over there and shoot it. I think the sound is wonderful though. If you get a rooster, you could get a crow collar to appease your neighbors if they complain. They are supposed to keep the crowing to a softer level.

 

[Mrs. K]

Distance from the neighbor needs to be considered, I can hear my rooster if I am outside... but it is a great distance from the house, and it is not irritating. My bedroom on the other side of the house, I don't ever hear him.

If he was very near my bedroom window, I don't think I would like it at all. If you live close to people, it might not be a good idea. If the traffic drowns him out, maybe you can get away with it.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I rate it at 400M max. I don't know what my neighbors do to their birds but they crow all night so must have light keeping them awake. Our roo's never did that regardless they were relocated as they developed behavior we didn't tolerate. I don't think daytime crowing would be an issue. but the 3am stuff is.

My wife and I were discussing this and think our breed was quiet at night being a more primitive type vs american/english game breeds we are surrounded with.

 

[IamRainey]

I rate it at 400M max.

I'm sorry I don't understand that. I appreciate that it's the most direct answer yet but is it 400 meters?

 

[AllenK RGV]

I'm sorry I don't understand that. I appreciate that it's the most direct answer yet but is it 400 meters?

Yes 400 Meters I was assuming that was your unit of measure there in England. I lived in Germany for around 12 years of my adult life so can metric too! For an american. As an example driving at 240kmh it only takes 15 seconds to travel 1km.

 

[Hopperkiller]

The distance that rooster sounds travel is affected by ambient temperature, relative humidity, the topography, wind direction, the types and size of vegetation, and finally by background sounds. Then there is the unknown effect that tuning the sound out has on the hearer. So even if I have a 100 or more cussing each other out in unison it hardly registers. I guess that is because I love the sound of roosters.

Also at night time when all the other noise from traffic and such calms down sound travels extremely far. In the sticks where i live the nearest roosters are 2 miles away. One set i only here with the wind because of a big hill. The others have no hill so i hear them frequently. But at 4 am when my rooster crows i think its far fetcheded to think someone will get up and try to find the source.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Also at night time when all the other noise from traffic and such calms down sound travels extremely far. In the sticks where i live the nearest roosters are 2 miles away. One set i only here with the wind because of a big hill. The others have no hill so i hear them frequently. But at 4 am when my rooster crows i think its far fetcheded to think someone will get up and try to find the source.

Yeah I really think the main concern might be to simply keep them from crowing at night. Ours never did and I do not understand why everyone elses around us do. Of course our next door neighbors dogs bark all night and they don;t keep chicken and those dogs annoy me more than the neighbors roosters 3AM crowing who are 200 meters away.