4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[cp1991]

Hi everyone. I'm hoping someone could help??

 

I have a bit of a dilemma (sp)

 

If i treat my chickens with grapes, marmite, anything, they are SO loud, that it is actually ridiculous, and neighbours will complain, parents will complain, the girls will have to go

 

So, am i being cruel, or damaging their health/comprimising their lifestlye etc by only feeding them their pellets? They free range all day every day so can collect grubs, worms, flys, leaves etc.

 

If i am being unreasonably cruel, what is best to use to treat them with?

 

Sorry if it is a daft question but i am so against the idea of battery hens and hens being ill-treated and malnutritioned etc, i hate to think i would be just as bad I dont want to be cruel

 

Thanks in advance, sorry for a long post, i'm just quite worried now

[deejmum]

I am sure that the pellets give them all they need and you definitely are not depriving them of anything. Dont worry about this, and as long as you dont have a cockerel, dont worry about neighbours either! If they have children, cats, dogs ,lawnmowers, tellys, stereos,alarm clocks, then they probably make more noise than your chooks!

[Egluntyne]

Absolutely not....they will be fine on just their pellets.

 

You may find that they will lay more if the are not filling up on treats.

 

In fact, apart from a bit of Mixed Poultry Grit if they are not free ranging, that is all they need.

 

Don't worry.

 

Edited for typo.

Edited June 16, 2008 by Guest

[Stevie]

I wouldnt worry about a bit of noise and would carry on with their treats.They always appear noisier to us,but its not as loud to neighbours as you think once baffled by fences and hedges.Plus they're are all the other constant background noises going on like traffic,children playing etc.

[Gamebird]

If they are free ranging all day then they are very lucky and as long as they are getting their pellets/mash then I wouldn't worry.

 

They are obviously getting access to their natural instincts and will find what they need.

[Egluntyne]

Deejmum, could you make your picture a little smaller, it is knocking all the text on the tread sideways.

[deejmum]

sorry i havent really done pics much and i am not sure how to make it smaller! Give us a clue???

[Egluntyne]

You can resize it in photobucket.

 

Go to Edit, then resize, then Preset Sizes, then select avatar. Click save a copy then copy the img file in the usual way and paste here.

 

Try this. Remove the asterisk. It may be still too big.

 

[*IMG]http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h13/Egluntine/P1000374_edited-1-1.jpg[/img]

 

[Abbey Road Girl]

cp191, you are being very responsible so not to worry. Feed them the pellets, let them free range and, yes, do give them some treats from time to time.

 

Most of all, do enjoy them and give yourself a big pat on the back for the good you are doing.

 

You are doing no harm, which is a great way to live insofar as it can be managed.

 

(By the way, the hens willl not have to go if they make noise. "Ooops, word censored!"ody impounds the cars which irritate us so with their over-sensitive alarms!)

[Egluntyne]

"Ooops, word censored!"ody impounds the cars which irritate us so with their over-sensitive alarms!

Excellent point!

[janette1954]

dont worry you should here the noise the crows and the gulls make around here first thing in the morning,chicken noises are music to my ears after that.

[deejmum]

Thanks Eglutine, I have only just had a chance to look at this. I really appreciate your help on this one

 

I'm sure I would have just given up otherwise.

[Egluntyne]

You are welcome.

[Janepie33]

We have wild parakeets around our way and they are much noisier than our girls.

Comments from our neighbours have always been positive and they tell us they love the sound of our chickens as it is like being in the country.

 

I agree with everyone else. Lawnmowers, young children and radios make just as much noise as chickens.

 

Go on. Be brave. Give them a grape!

[Janepie33]

We have wild parakeets around our way and they are much noisier than our girls.

Comments from our neighbours have always been positive and they tell us they love the sound of our chickens as it is like being in the country.

 

I agree with everyone else. Lawnmowers, young children and radios make just as much noise as chickens.

 

Go on. Be brave. Give them a grape!