Looking for help on how to cope with roosters crowing at night

[Mono]

Having an issue with sound at night, looking for help on the best way for me to shut myself off.

There is an institute right behind our house, not sure what the right definition would be. Let's call it a 'treatment center' (no, it's not a prison). In any case, there is a lot of lights back there, which I don't mind at all. Saves me from having to turn on any lights for a nightly bathroom visit. I used to live in a street that had several stores, so I'm used to the light.

What I do mind, is the chickens and roosters they decided to put there a few months ago. There's a soccer field worth of light back there, so I think the roosters have absolutely no clue what time it is? It started with a single rooster. I wanted to try and get used to it, I know the world doesn't revolve around me. I succeeded for that one, him being a baritone it's not too bad. Now they've added a second one - a soprano... He sometimes crows during the night, but mostly he starts around 3 AM. I get up at 5, so I lose 2 hours of sleep.

They have quite a large space to roam and are not in a coop, I hear them from various locations throughout the night. Though the new one seems to favor a spot right behind my house/bedroom. Which sucks, because it wouldn't be so bad otherwise. Closing my windows at night is only an option during winter. I don't mind going to sleep earlier, but that is not a long-term solution either. As in a few months, the pigeons will be back. In the summer, they'll coo from 5 AM to 10 PM. Making it impossible for me to sleep early.

I've learned to think differently and not try to solve everything that bothers me. I'm doing a lot better when right there and then I consider the fact that a sound might be there to stay and try and accept it. So as of now, I don't want to contact anyone over at the center. Because I know that if nothing happens after my call, then the crowing will really become a trigger. With the first rooster, I didn't shut myself off from the sound but acknowledge that it's there. I've learned to cope with other sounds this way and don't even notice most of them anymore.

But I fear this rooster is both too loud and (at times) too close for me to ignore and sleep through at 3 AM. So for now, I think shutting myself off from the sound is the best solution. Or at least, the solution that gives me the least amount of stress. As well as a good night's sleep and keeping the option to have the evening to myself, rather than going to bed crazy early.

So now I'm looking for ways to shut myself off I'm using white noise on my phone, with the sound coming from my phone. So no headphones yet. Its sound is a little much, so I was thinking maybe I should wear headphones, ear protectors, or earwarmers (I don't like plugs) while having the white noise from my phone on. I know I could also connect headphones to my phone and play the white noise directly, but I've tried that before and didn't like it. I do prefer something that covers my ears completely, rather than having something pressed up against them.

Wondering if anyone has any (other) ideas on how to shut myself off? Much appreciated for reading, thanks in advance

 

[Metalhead]

Make some fried chicken out of them.

 

[Mary Terry]

@Mono - Most towns and cities have noise and pet ordinances that prohibit roosters in ruban settings. I don't know what country you're in, but suggest you investigate the local rules and regulations for keeping poultry in residential areas. If there is something like an animal control office or officer for your area, then contact them. File a complaint, request enforcement of the local rules, and if you can't do that, then I'd go directly to the owners, face to face meeting, and tell them that their roosters are interrupting your sleep and request them to immediately deal with the situation.

You absolutely should not have to suffer every night due to some rude, thoughtless idiot's livestock.

 

[FilterFreq]

Drowning out the noise is always an option. Noise machines, loud AC units, radios, TVs, etc.

You'd think it would be hard to sleep with noise, but most people can get used to it after a few nights. And it kind of plugs up those 'noise receptors' when other noises enter the picture. It's my best defense against noisy neighbors

 

[TBRS1]

I use earphones and white noise, green noise, or thunderstorm noise.

The green noise works best. White noise, weirdly, causes me to hallucinate voices in the background (unless that's some secret subliminal stuff going on).

Pink noise is too soft - it makes me feel like I am drowning in cotton balls. Brown noise sounds icky (to me).

Thunderstorms are about the same as green noise.

You're right about the lights triggering the roosters. We used to run lights (for heat) to our coops. The chickens doubled egg output because they layed both day and night.

 

[thejuice]

Having an issue with sound at night, looking for help on the best way for me to shut myself off.

There is an institute right behind our house, not sure what the right definition would be. Let's call it a 'treatment center' (no, it's not a prison). In any case, there is a lot of lights back there, which I don't mind at all. Saves me from having to turn on any lights for a nightly bathroom visit. I used to live in a street that had several stores, so I'm used to the light.

What I do mind, is the chickens and roosters they decided to put there a few months ago. There's a soccer field worth of light back there, so I think the roosters have absolutely no clue what time it is? It started with a single rooster. I wanted to try and get used to it, I know the world doesn't revolve around me. I succeeded for that one, him being a baritone it's not too bad. Now they've added a second one - a soprano... He sometimes crows during the night, but mostly he starts around 3 AM. I get up at 5, so I lose 2 hours of sleep.

They have quite a large space to roam and are not in a coop, I hear them from various locations throughout the night. Though the new one seems to favor a spot right behind my house/bedroom. Which sucks, because it wouldn't be so bad otherwise. Closing my windows at night is only an option during winter. I don't mind going to sleep earlier, but that is not a long-term solution either. As in a few months, the pigeons will be back. In the summer, they'll coo from 5 AM to 10 PM. Making it impossible for me to sleep early.

I've learned to think differently and not try to solve everything that bothers me. I'm doing a lot better when right there and then I consider the fact that a sound might be there to stay and try and accept it. So as of now, I don't want to contact anyone over at the center. Because I know that if nothing happens after my call, then the crowing will really become a trigger. With the first rooster, I didn't shut myself off from the sound but acknowledge that it's there. I've learned to cope with other sounds this way and don't even notice most of them anymore.

But I fear this rooster is both too loud and (at times) too close for me to ignore and sleep through at 3 AM. So for now, I think shutting myself off from the sound is the best solution. Or at least, the solution that gives me the least amount of stress. As well as a good night's sleep and keeping the option to have the evening to myself, rather than going to bed crazy early.

So now I'm looking for ways to shut myself off I'm using white noise on my phone, with the sound coming from my phone. So no headphones yet. Its sound is a little much, so I was thinking maybe I should wear headphones, ear protectors, or earwarmers (I don't like plugs) while having the white noise from my phone on. I know I could also connect headphones to my phone and play the white noise directly, but I've tried that before and didn't like it. I do prefer something that covers my ears completely, rather than having something pressed up against them.

Wondering if anyone has any (other) ideas on how to shut myself off? Much appreciated for reading, thanks in advance

You should be able to put in a noise complaint. Can't have roosters competing against each other at 3am, it's not reasonable for them to expect you to tolerate that. You won't be the only one annoyed. One of the roosters needs rehoming. Perhaps gather some signatures.

 

[Mary Terry]

I use earphones and white noise, green noise, or thunderstorm noise.

The green noise works best. White noise, weirdly, causes me to hallucinate voices in the background (unless that's some secret subliminal stuff going on).

Pink noise is too soft - it makes me feel like I am drowning in cotton balls. Brown noise sounds icky (to me).

Thunderstorms are about the same as green noise.

You're right about the lights triggering the roosters. We used to run lights (for heat) to our coops. The chickens doubled egg output because they layed both day and night.

The moon triggers roosters. The sun triggers roosters. The hens trigger roosters. Roosters trigger roosters. Car lights trigger roosters. Roosters do not belong in residential areas because they are noise pollution. No one should have to suffer by listening to someone else's roosters.

 

[AspieChris]

@Mono - Most towns and cities have noise and pet ordinances that prohibit roosters in ruban settings. I don't know what country you're in, but suggest you investigate the local rules and regulations for keeping poultry in residential areas. If there is something like an animal control office or officer for your area, then contact them. File a complaint, request enforcement of the local rules, and if you can't do that, then I'd go directly to the owners, face to face meeting, and tell them that their roosters are interrupting your sleep and request them to immediately deal with the situation.

You absolutely should not have to suffer every night due to some rude, thoughtless idiot's livestock.

I lived in a neighborhood that allowed horses and chickens, but NOT roosters. Definitely check local ordinances and maybe get a petition going with the neighbors. No way you’re the only one suffering.

 

[Judge]

Why Are Roosters Illegal? Understanding Urban Restrictions on Crowing Birds - Legality Status

 

[FayetheAspie]

We had a pet rooster when I was younger. I loved that rooster dearly. His name was Alarm Clock. A neighbor complained. When the people came to try to confiscate him, it almost destroyed me. I usually have shutdowns instead of meltdowns but that was one of the very few exceptions in my young life. I made it to my bedroom but once there I had this extra physical strength and just yanked up my wooden posted bed and shook it like it was light while squealing. I felt like my world had ended and everything was hopeless. That rooster was one of my few sources of happiness amidst all the constant torment along that time. I still miss him all these years later.

 

[Mary Terry]

We had a pet rooster when I was younger. I loved that rooster dearly. His name was Alarm Clock. A neighbor complained. When the people came to try to confiscate him, it almost destroyed me. I usually have shutdowns instead of meltdowns but that was one of the very few exceptions in my young life. I made it to my bedroom but once there I had this extra physical strength and just yanked up my wooden posted bed and shook it like it was light while squealing. I felt like my world had ended and everything was hopeless. That rooster was one of my few sources of happiness amidst all the constant torment along that time. I still miss him all these years later.

Hens make good pets and they aren't noisy irritants like roosters! I had a pet chicken when I was a kid. Her name was, strangely, TeakTeak, because she made a noise like that when she was contented. She would follow me around the yard like a dog.

 

[Bobsterkitty]

So sorry! I have been sleeping with high dB ear plugs for numerous years. Nearby, we have a plant that uses certain machinery at night only, and I seem to be the only human who hears it. I feel bad for our wildlife. In our rural area, occasionally, we have had people dipping onto farm life, and some years ago, there was a rooster. It was annoying, but luckily, he was not consistent, and it was at the other end of the house's direction. The higher frequency was, therefore, muffled some. Not so with the machine sounds, they are low frequency body sounds and woe me if I wake up at 3 am - I can never return to bed. So, it is easier to muffle out a high-pitched rooster. You can do this passively, with egg carton, etc. on your inside wall (there's better, but it is $$$), 3M spark plugs for the ears (the foam ones, -32dB or so), curtains and shutters for the windows. That's what I'd do, and let's hope the owner gets just as tired of the rooster.

 

[Aspychata]

Definitely, a loud rooster has to be irritating. I assume there are no noise codes or nuance codes in your zone area? If you explain to the county code office, that the outdoor lighting means the rooster is confused as when to cockadoodledoo, then maybe they will side with you, unless you are in a commercial zone.

 

[Metalhead]

Here they come to snuff the rooster, you know he ain't gonna die.

 

[Mono]

I'm not sure about local rules and regulations. Honestly there's only 2 more houses in our street. Our neighbors are elderly people who are never bothered by any sounds. So I don't expect we'd get a lot of support from them if needed, as it doesn't bother them. I say 'we' because I live right behind my parents. They will look into it as well. If we are the only people who are bothered by it, I wonder if it's worth it to look into the rules. Which is why signatures won't help, there's way too few people living here.

I actually tried wax earplugs last night, while also playing white noise from my phone. Never heard a rooster, but they'd occasionally fall out and I would wake up once every hour or so. Not sure why, or if it's something I'd need to get used to. I don't like them, though. Feels constricting, like wearing a sweater. As for waking up, maybe I'm worried I won't hear my alarm. Even though I turned up my phone's volume, and the white noise stops once the alarm goes off. I will still look into dB ear plugs, though.

I'm not familiar with green noise, thought I knew of all the colors by now Will look into that.

Faye, I'm really sorry to hear about your rooster. If you were my neighbor, with a story like yours I think I would have tried to get used to it. Not sure I would have succeeded, but I would have at least wanted to try.

Sorry about those high-pitched sounds. It has been the other way around for me in a previous housing situation, where there were very low / inconsistent sounds only I seemed to hear. They drove me nuts. Curse our super sonic hearing...