I have a beautiful Barred Rock rooster who seems to have lost his voice. One day he was crowing normally (at his usual time - 3am!), the next, he sounded like a baby rooster just trying his voice; the next day - nothing. He seems perfectly healthy otherwise. (And he used to sing - yes, sing! - so beautifully all day. I miss the serenades.) He has been mute now for about two weeks.

-- Deborah Stephenson (wonkaandgypsy@hotmail.com), December 17, 2001

Answers

A youth that we hired to paint our shed kicked our rooster one time (the rooster attacked him) and from then on the rooster sounded like he was going through puberty. I thought it was pretty funny.

-- chuck in md (woah@mission4me.com), December 17, 2001.

count it as a blessing,,(just joking)

-- Patsy, MT (cozyhollow-gal@care2.com), December 17, 2001.

Deborah,

You didn't mention if you had close neighbors. If my neighbor's rooster "sang" at 3:00 AM I believe before long he would lose his voice too.

Just kidding!

Maybe he just strained his vocal cords.

-- DocMac (mccartney-ct@chouteautel.com), December 18, 2001.

Is he your only rooster?? Sometimes in a group of roosters only one crows because he is the top dog and a big meany.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), December 18, 2001.

I have 12 roosters. down from 35, and each has thier own distinctive sound...at least to my ears. I have a RIR that sounds like he always has frogs in his throat. They should crow several times a day, so maybe he isn't feeling well, even though he looks like he might. Check his stool give him fresh veggies and see if that helps. If you notice anything in the stool, or mites, treat him, and that may help.

-- Wendy A (phillips-anteswe@pendleton.usmc.mil), December 18, 2001.

I only wish I could make mine loose his voice. If I didn't want the fertilized eggs of chicks, I'd make mine into dinner!!! He didn't crow at all until he was 9 monthes old. I sure do miss the silence come 5 o'clock.

-- Marty in KS (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), December 18, 2001.

Hi! Everybody,

Thanks for the input. Turns out the poor guy had a sore throat. He started having trouble breathing a couple of days later. We have him on antibiotics and he has improved enough to start crowing feebly again!

-- Deborah Stephenson (wonkaandgypsy@hotmail.com), December 21, 2001.