Long-crowing chicken breeds are characterised by the unusually long-drawn-out

crow A crow is a bird of the genus ''Corvus'', or more broadly, a synonym for all of ''Corvus''. The word "crow" is used as part of the common name of many species. The related term "raven" is not linked scientifically to any certain trait but is rathe ...

of the cocks, which may in some cases last for up to 60 seconds. The oldest references to long-crowing cocks are from China. Long-crowing breeds are found in the Far East, in Turkey, in the

Balkans The Balkans ( , ), corresponding partially with the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throug ...

and in western Germany.

History

The earliest reference to long-crowing cocks is in the writings of Li Ji, dating from the reign of

Emperor Xuan of Han Emperor Xuan of Han (; 91 BC – 10 January 48 BC), born Liu Bingyi (劉病已), was the tenth emperor of the Han dynasty, reigning from 74 to 48 BC, and was one of the only four Western Han emperors to receive a temple name (along with Empero ...

(75–49 BC). In Japan the first references are from the early eighth century, in the

Kojiki The , also sometimes read as or , is an early Japanese chronicle of myths, legends, hymns, genealogies, oral traditions, and semi-historical accounts down to 641 concerning the origin of the Japanese archipelago, the , and the Japanese imperia ...

and

Nihon Shoki The or , sometimes translated as ''The Chronicles of Japan'', is the second-oldest book of classical Japanese history. It is more elaborate and detailed than the , the oldest, and has proven to be an important tool for historians and archaeol ...

chronicles. The Bergische Kräher breed of Germany was imported from the

Mediaeval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and t ...

times. In Russia the Jurlower or Yurlov Crower was bred in the nineteenth century.

Characteristics

Chicken breeds which to a greater or lesser extent display long-crowing behaviour include the

Berat Berat (; sq-definite, Berati) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, ninth most populous city of Albania and the seat of Berat County and Berat Municipality. By air, it is north of Gjirokastër, west of Korçë, south of Tirana, and ea ...

, Bergische Kräher, Jurlower and Kosova Long Crower breeds of eastern Europe, the

Denizli Denizli is a city in Aegean Region, Aegean Turkey, and seat of the province of Denizli Province, Denizli. The city forms the urban part of the districts Merkezefendi and Pamukkale, Denizli, Pamukkale, with a population of 691 783 in 2024. Denizl ...

of Turkey, and the Koeyoshi, Kurokashiwa, Tomaru and Tôtenko breeds of Japan. In general, long-crowing breeds are tall, with long legs and neck.

Crowing contests

In Germany, Indonesia and Japan, there is an established tradition of cock-crowing contests with local birds. The length of a crow is measured, but the number of crowing calls, the tone and the melody may also be judged.

Breeds

Long-crowing breeds recognised world-wide include the following: *

Ayam Ketawa Ayam Ketawa, or "laughing chicken", is a breed of chicken originating from the area of Sidenreng Rappang in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is one of several breeds of long-crowing chicken prized for the clarity and unusual length of their Crow (co ...

("Laughing Chicken", also named "Ayam gaga") * Ayam Pelung *

, Bosnia * Bergische Kräher (large fowl and bantam), Germany *

(Denizli horozu), Turkey * Yurlov Crower (Jurlovskie golosistie) * Kokok Balenggek (Ayam Kokok Balenggek) * Komotini Long Crow Chicken, Greece * Kosovo Singer * Palama Crower, Greece * Shōkoku * Tōmaru * Tōtenkō * Koeyoshi * Kurokashiwa

References

{{bots, deny=Citation bot Chickens Poultry breeding