ROOSTER

The word 'rooster' first appeared in 1774. Before then, an adult male chicken was known as a 'cock'. Roosters perform a dance called 'tidbitting', making 'took, took' calls to alert other chickens to food. They perform this dance to attract females and to assert their dominance over other roosters. Research has shown that female chickens prefer roosters who perform 'tidbitting' frequently. They also prefer roosters with large, vibrant combs. The dangly bit on a rooster’s chin is called a wattle. Wattles appear to play a role in courtship behaviour. You do not need a rooster to produce chicken eggs. Hens will lay eggs regardless of whether a rooster is present. The rooster’s job is to fertilise those eggs.