Sarah B Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Hi All, Haven't posted for a bit but I'm getting a bit fed up with my girls. In the past couple of weeks they have started to squawk very loudly for apparently no reason whatsover and it's driving me and OH nuts. It's usually in the mornings before 10.00, No idea what the neighbours must think when we are out at work? I've tried door open at night, door shut at night, nothing seems to make a difference?? I saw the post re the conkers LOL If I am there at the weekend I just tell them to shut up. Help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisP Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 I had this happen to me, it got so bad i was debating selling them or putting them up for rehoming Try not giving them treats, only their daily food (we give them pellets) and if they squak for long periods of time (ie not laying an egg but jjust being loud!) then we use a hosepipe and spray (not AT them, but into the SKY so that we are not being cruel, and we are not causing them damage!) This has trained them to not be so loud, which has helped immensly. Most importantly, dont give up hope on them! give them some hugs, and be stern when you say "quiet" or whatever you say to make them be quiet, but not shout (think as if you are talking to a naughty child ) Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuggywoo Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 First of all I say "What, love?" which progresses up the scale over a period of time to "Oh for goodness' sake BE QUIET!" Seems to work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 do they have anything in the run to occupy them? You could get something like a seed bell (not made with fat) or peckablock etc. Perches, dustbath, mirror? just giving you ideas, but I have noisy chickens too, Im just as fed up as you are , my lot have really done my head in today. Im actually glad to be going back to work tomorrow and i can leave the neighbours to hear it all!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted June 9, 2008 Author Share Posted June 9, 2008 Thanks for the replies pepes, the squawk goes like BOK BOK BOK SQUAWKKKK costanstantly repeated over and over and it's soooo loud! So embarressing, I have had neighbours shuttting their windows and it wakes us up in the front of the house with the the DG windows shut when the chickens are 50 feet away in the back garden I think they mainly start when they spot us in the kitchen window which is at the back of the house and sometimes one will do it when the other is laying, however it has started as early 6 a.m. with no one being up, door open door shut - no difference. They get a slice of melon in the morning, maybe we should keep a low profile in the kitchen where they can see us and withhold this treat? It's so awful I don't want to lose my hens but it's getting really bad??? Edit - Chelsea I forgot to say, they have a constantly refreshed grass floor, seedbell, mirror, grit dish, treat dish, fresh water and pellets flavoured with bokashi, poultry spice and limestone flour. They get scatterd treats in the evening and free range for 3 hours every eve (with fresh corn on the cob) and loads of free ranging at the weekend. Edit 2 - plus 2 x proper perches! And blumming twigs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 I think they mainly start when they spot us in the kitchen window which is at the back of the house and sometimes one will do it when the other is laying, however it has started as early 6 a.m. with no one being up, door open door shut - no difference. They get a slice of melon in the morning, maybe we should keep a low profile in the kitchen where they can see us and withhold this treat? I think witholding the morning treats is a good idea. Might not be the complete answer but certain worth trying as maybe they know you'll be around soon with a treat and are just reminding you. Perhaps yours are squarking at 6am just out of habit...??. Sounds silly but mine have a bit of a routine just like children... they don't usually squark to be let out of the run in the mornings as I try not to let them out before 10am (even if I'm in). Now they don't seem to mind spotting me at the kitchen window when I'm doing the kids school lunches. Mine never have treats until very late afternoon, or about an hour before bedtime. What about shutting them in the eglu with a blanket over the top to soundproof it. Maybe then they would just need time to adjust to the new system. Sorry I can't come up with anything more constructive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Hi Sarah B,. this may not be at all useful, but I find that mine are pretty content being left our to free range under two hours a day--IF they are let out twice! Breaking the day up seems to help them. (Hey, if human prisoners are kept in cells for 23 hours a day, they might very well prefer a half an hour of freedom twice over an hour once). Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted June 9, 2008 Author Share Posted June 9, 2008 Mine never free range before 1 at weekends and before 6 Mon to Fri, the bad squawking happens from 6 - 10 a.m. Im seriously at my wits end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Could you get someone to let them out earlier in the day for even 20 minutes? My hens are willing to go back into the run (after the treat bowl ) after a short skirmish in the garden. I then let them out in the evening as well. It must be a lot easier for those of us who work at home to manage hens than for those who have to be away all day. All best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my fat hen Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 I have one hen who is quite noisy, she was doing the bok bok sqwuark thing yesterday morning too - she stops as soon as I appear and then starts again a few minutes later. One thing that I have noticed though is that she is much noisier when the other one is in laying, and yesterday the blackbirds were doing alarm calls at the cat, which obviously upset her. Once she hears my voice she settles, as if reassured. It might sound madness, but I wonder if an extra hen might provide a bit of security to help keep them quiet. Mine free range from 7am til they put themselves to bed, and it seems to be on a morning when they make the most noise. The other thing that they do is stand at the backdoor making a noise demnding treats - my hubby got so fed up that he had a carrier bag in his hand, opened the back door and shook it loudly - it definitely worked, they hate 'flappy' things, I think it must remind them of a bird of prey and they haven't done it since Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
