John Reber was born 1857 in the Jordan Valley, Lehigh County in 1857. He was married and divorced early in life. In 1909, after the death of his mother, a group of his carved animals came to market as part of her estate. He lived on a small farm near Germansville, farmed and carved animals through the late 1920s. His carvings are naturlistic, the body was carved from a single piece of wood, the head and legs from other pieces. Once the carving was complete, he added gesso to build up the body, and decorated it in a realistic manner.

In his article on "Birds in Dutchland," Cornelius Weygandt describes the rooster shown here as "an admirably carved and colored cockerel of Dominique breed."

For other varities of Reber's roosters see Machmer, p.59, figs. 266-268.