The Urban Fable Surrounding a Roosters' "Cock-a-Doodle-doo"

One of the most enduring urban legends in nature has to do with the shrill "cock-a-doodle-doo" of a rooster. Popular belief has it that roosters call out only in the early morning, according to legend to act as an alarm for farmers and other people who need to be up early in the morning. A number of readers -- denizens of the city, no doubt -- probably think that this yarn is really true.

Sorry to be a spoilsport, but it isn't entirely true. While rooster crowing usually does begin at the break of dawn, it can, and oftentimes does, continue throughout the day -- and the reason they do so has absolutely nothing to do with acting as a feathered alarm clock. In truth the piercing, high-pitched call serves as a territorial challenge to other cocks, to attract hens and as a warning signal.

How this fable began is unclear, but one of the earliest references to the rooster and its shrill call can be traced back to Greek mythology. According to the myth, Alectryon -- the ancient Greek word for "rooster" -- was a youth who was ordered by Ares, the God of War, to ensure that no one entered his domicile while the he carried on an adulterous affair with goddess Aphrodite. Unfortunately, the youth fell asleep while on watch, and Helios, the Sun God, walked in on the amorous couple. Spitefully, Ares turned Alectryon into a rooster, which never forgets to announce the sun's rising in the morning.

Other tales have sprung up around the shrill bird: in old central European folk tales Satan is believed to flee at the first crowing of a rooster. A medieval legend says that the Basilisk, a giant snake who kills with a single glance and is hatched by a toad from a hen's egg, will perish instantly if it hears a cock crowing.

In todays world, even business tools like online Yellow Pages sport the name rooster as it remains a fairly prevalent commercial name, for businesses from barbershops to restaurants.

Chickens are both entertaining and useful to keep. They are inexpensive to raise and they earn their rent by laying eggs for you. Checking at random through local laws around the country, it is interesting to note how they deal with raising fowl:

Portland, OR: Three hens allowed without a permit, but no roosters. Westfield, MA: Chickens not allowed. Corvallis, OR: Unlimited chickens allowed, but no roosters. Little Rock, AR: Up to four chickens allowed. Houston, TX: Up to 30 chickens allowed, but must be kept 100 feet from neighboring structures. Miami, FL: May have up to 15 hens, no roosters. Aiken, SC: Chickens must be penned, and the pen kept 40' from neighboring residences. Los Angeles, CA: Unlimited allowance, but chickens may not be within 20 feet of owner's residence, and must be at least 35 feet from any other dwelling.

So there you have it -- the truth about the tale of the roosters cock-a-doodle-do and its historical context, as well as some contemporary information on how various cities legislate the presence of roosters within their borders.

Article Source: http://www.christiannotepad.com

Matthew Paolini is the technical director for Citybook.com Online Yellow Pages in San Francisco, CA.