The rooster is readied for castration after being anesthetized at an animal hospital in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Its owner, surnamed Jiang, believes the surgery will prevent her rooster from crowing in the morning and disturbing neighbors. Photo: Qianjiang Evening News

A noisy rooster notorious for ruffling neighbors' feathers by crowing too loudly each morning has been demoted down the pecking order, after his owner took him to be castrated in a bid to silence the bird.

The unlucky cock was ushered to a nearby animal hospital, where it took five minutes for three medical workers to snip, sew and bandage the anesthetized rooster. It will remain under veterinary supervision for three days before returning home.

The animal's owner, a housewife surnamed Jiang, explained she turned to surgery to silence her pet after "hearing" that castrating quells a rooster's desire to crow.

However, while castrated roosters, or capons, are known to be more docile than their fully equipped brothers, there is little evidence that castrating a full-grown rooster prevents it from crowing.

Though the practice is not widespread, roosters are usually caponized while very young to help in the growth of a more tender, fatty and flavorful poultry meat. 

Qianjiang Evening News