StephanieSB Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 I hope I'm not becoming a pest, but I have so many questions that I'd like the answer to before my chickens arrive. This one is about lawn mowing with chickens about. I have a patio where I can move the cube on days when the grass needs cutting -- but what about the noise? How do hens deal with the noise? How do they react when the mower gets close to their vicinity? I just imagine a mass of heartattacks the first day the gardners come (them and/or the chooks, I don't know which!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMitch Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 (edited) Don't really need a lawn mower if you have chickens. Mine don't seem too bothered by it as its a constant noise. They get more freaked out by sudden noise (tornado jets in our area). Edited May 21, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 We've had our girls free-ranging and still mown the lawn. They move away from the noise but do not seem stressed or bothered. Admittedly we didn't do it for about 4 weeks but we've done it a couple of times and no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickflick Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 mine just hide in the bushes whilst i mow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Mine aren't bothered by the mower and when they were on the main part of the garden, I'd just mow up the Eglu. As MadMitch said, it's sudden noises which tend to spook them or unexpected noises, they have got used to the sound of the mower. Hubby even used the bushcutter at the weekend and they didn't mind that (they just looked hopeful that some grass might fall into their area!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 The first time i mowed grass with them freeranging-the chooks were terrified and stood next to my dog for moral support! I cant have them inside the run cos i need to keep moving it and they have to get used to the noise anyway. They're getting much better each time i mow and dont make noise anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Mine look very bothered - the strimmer is even worst - they all stick together standing tall as far away as possible - but are totally back to normal as soon as you finish - and it didn't stop them laying. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Mine look very bothered - the strimmer is even worst - they all stick together standing tall as far away as possible - but are totally back to normal as soon as you finish - and it didn't stop them laying. Tracy Few weeks ago,i cut down a tree in my garden using a very noisy chansaw.I might as well have whispered "Paxo" in their ears they were that scared,but they didnt stop laying either.They just need to adapt to the normal sounds which go on in suburban gardens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Yes - I have also experienced the chainsaw - forgot about that until you said - some council workers were taking down a tree along a path behind our back garden - the hens couldn't actually see them, but kept very close together in the others end of the garden (in the eglu run) for the whole morning. Soon recovered when the noise stopped. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Lawn mower, horse walking by, large black labrador, noisy strimmer, not a problem. However, come near them with a white box they haven't seen before (as we did this morning) then they make such a fuss you would think they had seen a fox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 They will probably Bok Bok for a few moments, and then ignore the mower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 my OH drilled the garage wall right where their run is to put up some plant pots, they flinched at first then just got used to the noise and carried on scratching and pecking around. They should be ok and get used to the noises around them. We've got, lawnmowers, barking dogs, planes etc! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieSB Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 Thank you all for putting my mind at ease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 The chickens will be like your little babies, they have to get used to you working around them. Used to noise.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surferdog Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 The first time mine hear a new noise they do that weird 'all freeze and listen' thing (DS2 maintains they are getting messages from the mothership). After that they're not bothered but we do keep them in the run when OH is mowing the lawn. He's deaf as a post and would merrily run over dog and chickens but remain completely oblivious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 My Cube and run is merely feet away from an elevated road traffic bridge, so the hens hear lots of sirens, cars backfirings and walking youngsters (and drunks) making youngster (drunk) noises. Come October, there will be fireworks on the common on the other side of the bridge until the idiots setting them off exhaust themselves months later. I have seen the girls doing a "heads up" at an occasional noise, but they take most noises in their stride. My Jack Russells never went tail-between-legs on Guy Fawkes night, probably because they'd been exposed to so much constant noise all along. (Though one of them when young took fright at the sound of boiling water!) A calmer and quieter world would benefit us all, but chooks (like us) do their best to roll with the punches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieSB Posted May 22, 2008 Author Share Posted May 22, 2008 Good morning, and thanks again. As my OH said to me last night, "We're getting our chickens from a working farm with tractors, trucks and noisy animals. I'm sure my mower won't give them a heart attack." So I guess my fears are unfounded, and I'm pleased to know it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Mine don't mind the mower much: they move away from it, but not in a frantic way. But my red rake terrifies them. I made the mistake once of raking out a new-laid egg while they were in the run, and they cannot even bear to look at it now. So be careful at the start, and they will be all right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Come October, there will be fireworks on the common on the other side of the bridge until the idiots setting them off exhaust themselves months later. Our neighbour had fireworks a couple of weeks ago, the day after we collected the girls. They were safely tucked up in the eglu and when OH went to check, they were all asleep! They didn't like the lawn mower the first time (we only have to mow the half of garden they don't have access to) but now they don't seem bothered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 We have a noisy petrol mower. The girls completely ignore it and stand in the way so hubbie can't mow in a straight line. He ends up yelling at the chooks to move..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozza_9 Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 mine are fine with the mower, its when I get the hose out to wash the eglu they all run . I think they are learned I become a mad women when I have in hose in hand and I have no control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
