Lynn Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Morning everyone, Well, we were woken this morning at 6am by our chickens wanting out of the Eglu. Of course we obliged, but on and off since then (I think Mrs Wilson is going to lay), they and particularly she, have been making big BOC, BOC, BOC noises. We are sitting here on tenterhooks waiting on the neighbours complaining. Can you train chickens not to sqwak so loudly? Any advice would be great. We are obviously worried that as the mornings get lighter, the more noise there will be. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 No....you can't. I would try leaving the Eglu door open and see if being able to get up by themselves make s a difference. They may well still announce to the world when they have laid an egg though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted February 23, 2008 Author Share Posted February 23, 2008 Thank you - we'll try that for tomorrow. Goodness only knows what noises came from the Eglu and run during the week when we were at work. Two days in a row we had four eggs. The first day two blue and two brown and then three brown and one blue - and we've only got three bantums (and only one laying blue eggs)! How did that happen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 is it a constant noise? or is it only when they lay an egg? surely if its only when they lay an egg it should be acceptable , have the neighbours complained? if not then take some eggs round and appologise offer free eggs as a substitute (our neighbours seem to love the noise ) but, we do have little yappy dogs next door but 1. and I can make those dogs bark on order , our girls sound a lot better hope this helps cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicki9 Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 We were worried about the noise too, and take eggs around to our neighbours every so often, but this week when we were in the garden, our neighbour actually said how much she loves walking past and hearing the chickens. Since we've had them we've made loads more neighbour friends, as everyone wants to stop and chat about them! I'd take round a few eggs and see what they say, hopefully you'll be pleasantly surprised! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 If I had neighbours complaining about the noise I would point out that they are a LOT quieter than a dog could be. People forget what noisy dog can be like when they are complaining about the sound of chickens. My Mum and Dad's old neighbors had 2 yorkies, one had been abused and if anyone other than my Dad was in Mum and Dad's garden he would go crazy - and set the other one off. The neighbors were very understanding, when we were concerned that having a party would cause the dog a lot of stress with his constant barking at anyone in the garden they sedated him before going out ! (They had sedatives from the vet for him for when they travelled). Of course they also had a neighbor next door but one who liked to listen to loud music in her garden on a summers day. Drove Mum nuts! A few chickens squarking occasionaly really isn't something to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I wish there was a cure but there isnt! We have loud chooks also. I have 3 laying out of 4 and all of them like to make bok bok announcements each time. When we are home we run out to the eglu as quick as poss to sssshh them up, but next week hubby is on day shift so if they are bok bokking there is no one to hush them! We worry more than necessary I think. We are in our 2nd year of chicken keeping and no neighbour has complained yet. I think they seem louder in the garden than what they sound like on the outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I too have noisy hens and worry about the neighbours. Both sets of neighbours are nice and don't seem to mind. The neighbours on the side where we keep the hens love them and their girls spend most of their time peering through the fence talking to them (much to the neglect of their guinea pigs). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I too have noisy hens and worry about the neighbours. Both sets of neighbours are nice and don't seem to mind. The neighbours on the side where we keep the hens love them and their girls spend most of their time peering through the fence talking to the chickens (much to the neglect of their guinea pigs). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Not a lot you can do with existing chickens. but should you end up with a situation where the neighbours put their foot down. Some breeds of chicken make a lot more noise than others. My white star makes a racket the bluebelle and columbine ocationally announce themselves. But breeds such as the brahma and orps dont make a peep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I agree with others above - you are probably worrying more than you need to, while you're sitting on tenterhooks and listening out for every squawk and bok, the neighbours may not even have noticed! Apart from when they see me and think I'm bringing treats, and when they lay an egg, mine are quiet most of the time. If it's just the odd egg-announcement, I shouldn't think anyone will complain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I agree with others above - you are probably worrying more than you need to, while you're sitting on tenterhooks and listening out for every squawk and bok, the neighbours may not even have noticed! Apart from when they see me and think I'm bringing treats, and when they lay an egg, mine are quiet most of the time. If it's just the odd egg-announcement, I shouldn't think anyone will complain. I agree with Olly. Mine also squawk if there is a cat or magpie (or fox!!) lurking too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 mine also bok bok at the squeak of the back door opening!! Its a code warning for - "shift it girls they are coming out" !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 My whole street were kept awake last night by a car alarm that went off at 9.00pm and didn't stop until 2.30a.m That's the sort of noise that drives people crazy and leads to them complaining not a couple of chickens clucking a bit loudly in the back garden. I also think you are worrying needlessly. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted February 25, 2008 Author Share Posted February 25, 2008 Thank you. On Saturday night we didn't shut the girls in as suggested. At 6.24am precisely on Sunday morning we were woken by the most awful racket from the girls (Mrs Wilson who is a pekin cross) - I ran downstairs and tried to placate them - letting them out to free range, but it made no difference. Mrs Wilson was on a mission, just as she had been on Saturday. We spoke to the neighbours on one side (the other neighbours can't hear them) and they said that although they can't hear them at the front of their house, their boys sleep in the back bedrooms and have been woken by the girls squawking. It worries me that as the mornings are getting lighter, that the squawking will start even sooner. We feel that if this continues we have no option but to move them on and that would really break my heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Could you drape their Eglu with something heavy like an old thick blanket to make it a bit more noise and light proof. This might stop the girls waking up so early. Once the clocks change we will start to be deafened by the dawn chorus anyway so a few bok boks will hardly register. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted February 25, 2008 Author Share Posted February 25, 2008 The problem we have is that we leave for work so early in the morning - we leave home at 5.45am! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Hmmmmm....... I can see your problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Not a lot you can do with existing chickens. but should you end up with a situation where the neighbours put their foot down. Some breeds of chicken make a lot more noise than others. My white star makes a racket the bluebelle and columbine ocationally announce themselves. But breeds such as the brahma and orps dont make a peep. Sorry to blow that theory but my Buff Brahma and Black Brahma are the most verbal of all - takes them ages to shut up once they start From spring through the summer we leave for work around the same time so the possibilty that they may make some noise early is likely.... I'm sorry but it won't make me get rid of them. Our neighbour had a motorbike that last summer he was mending - firing and revving the engine until 9pm +. My neighbours cats often have fights in the night that wake me up....everyone at some point makes a noise that may irritate some people. The kids in our cul-de-sac play out and are load -yes I will do everything I can to limit the noise, but all noise evens out in the end... Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted February 25, 2008 Author Share Posted February 25, 2008 I may suggest to my husband that we try blacking everything out Friday, Saturday and Sunday and letting them out after 8am, but that Monday to Thursday the neighbours will have to take their chances in terms of squawksville. I may even ask another neighbour if she could let them out to freerange in the afternoons, which might keep them quiet for a while, but as we are not there I would be worried about something happening to them. I'd like to try all options before finally deciding to move them on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treekeeper Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 road noise, car/house alarms,dogs. All much noisier than chickens. I worried about it as well but no longer and I've got 4 now. My neighbours commented (not in a bad way) and equated it to bird noises that you would hear anyway as we live in the countryside I find a few eggs act as sweeteners anyway So don't worry too much just enjoy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 i know how you feel and i have been thinking about you today. we are just about to get our chickens at the weekend and after reading your post i am a liitle conserned but if i dont try then i wont know. like the others say other people make noise too, if i have to put up with the noise they make then they can put up with some noise from me for a change. i have had to put up with stereos, noisy bbqs, motor bike,s football and kids shouting and i am not even urban or city. can you not move them any further away from you neighbours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 I cover the eglu's in dark covers also in the summer to make it darker. My girls are noisy also, so it does help. My cochins were supposed to be quite birds (thats why I bought them) and if you saw my video i posted about a month ago they are really noisy after egg laying! Please dont worry about your neighbours though, I have neighbours and Im a born worrier, but when you go off to work - you wont be home to worry anyway!! I very much doubt they'd lay an egg at that time of the morning, my lot usually lay at lunchtime/afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 looked for your video but couldnt find it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted February 26, 2008 Author Share Posted February 26, 2008 Morning all, We have been leaving the door open for the girls so that they can come out by themselves (how grown up!!), in the hope that it would calm them down. Alas, at 5.30am this morning, when it's still dark, they've been squawking. We left for work soon after, so I tried to put it out of my mind, although my sleep on the train was interrupted several times by nightmarish dreams of squawking chickens. We will try the blackout solution at the weekend and hopefully that will give us some quiet time in the morning. I don't mind the girls making a noise later in the day, because as you have all said, there is so much noise from everything else going on, but it's just this noise in the morning. As for not laying so early, I'm afraid they do. We had two eggs on Sunday morning before 9am. Thankfully I'm visiting my brother in Italy from Thursday for a long weekend, so leaving the stress to my husband this weekend - he'll probably be on prescription drugs by the time I get back!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...