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

[Baggins]

I wonder if anyone has a bright idea, please ....

 

My two ex-batt girls are living with Pepper and Matilda in the Eglu. All is harmonious and we have been so very lucky. However, at first light in the morning (currently 5.10 am ), one of them (I have yet to find out which!) crows and crows and crows. The closed door of the Eglu suppresses some of the noise but it's enough to make me get up and let them out to quieten them - if I can hear them, I'm sure the neighbours can.

 

I have tried covering the Eglu with a heavy towel to keep as much light out as possible .... but they're not having any of it.

 

Tonight's plan .... stuff the ventilation holes with kitchen paper (no, I'm not trying to suffocate them!) AND cover with a heavy towel. Will let you know how I get on.

 

Does anyone have any other suggestions? Trust me, my beauty sleep is much needed at this point Don't think I'll be able to keep this up until the clocks go back in September!

Edited June 25, 2008 by Guest

[cluckbok]

oh crikey! That's what we are worried about. One of ours is a little vocal but that's only been when she been on the nest. She not laying, she just announces the others' eggs! We have started leaving our eglu door open all night (just started last night) and been ok so far, they just come out whenever they ready while we still in bed and they just peck about happily in their run.

 

I wonder what would happen if you leave the eglu door open. Could it be she's just despirate to come out?

[chelsea]

I wouldnt give in to them if it was me....show them who is boss!!

 

Noisy chooks here and I cover the eglu at night with a black cover. Is your towel dark/black as having something dark coloured will help with keeping the eglu/cube dark. It definitely works for me - no peep out of them till i let them out.

 

Letting them out the same time every morning is key also, their little hen brains seem to know what time it is

[daisymay]

Hi

 

Sorry you're having a nightmare with noise. I have had the same problem with my rescue hens. Unbelievably noisy. I resorted to leaving the eglu door open at night so they could let themselves out in the morning. It didn't make a difference though and I have concluded they want human company so they know you are up and ready!

 

I had lots of interesting replies when I posted about them. I think some hens are noisy...I am just praying that as my others get older they are not noisy!

 

Good luck

[Hen Watch]

Urbanchick recently had sucess covering the henhouse at night and this was the post. Don't know if it's still OK now.

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26339&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=%2Anoisy%2A+%2Achickens%2A&start=0

[Egluntyne]

I'm not sure that blocking the ventilation holes is a good idea tbh, especially in the warmer weather.

 

It might get rather fuggy in there and set them off even more.

[Helen&Lee]

I too had success leaving the cube door open instead of shutting it.

 

The last few mornings though one of them in particlar has started being particulary noisy at around 5am.

 

Natural instinct is to rush down and throw some corn in for them to scratch around for - but I'm trying desperately not too, I wouldn't mind but I'm normally down and sorted them out by 6am

 

Helen

[Faye&Ant]

I wonder if anyone has a bright idea, please ....

 

Tonight's plan .... stuff the ventilation holes with kitchen paper (no, I'm not trying to suffocate them!) AND cover with a heavy towel. Will let you know how I get on.

 

Does anyone have any other suggestions? Trust me, my beauty sleep is much needed at this point Don't think I'll be able to keep this up until the clocks go back in September!

 

Hi Sorry you are having a noise problem. I dont think stuffing the ventilation holes is a good idea as they are exactly that ventilation holes!

 

Have you tried leaving the door open so they can wander out for some food and water and see if that helps?

 

Hope it gets better for you

[chucknette]

Hi

 

Not sure if it helps but do you have your eglu faced away from the sunrise?

 

I do and I also have the top covered in a plastic that doesnt let a lot of light in. (ventilation holes fully airing) The plastic is quite loose over these.

 

Also I routinely let them out at 7.00am so I dont hear from them unless I have overslept and they wake me up starting at 7.01am

 

Hope this helps

[Tiggy]

I leave the eglu door open & they get up when they want to which at the moment is about 4am!!! but they dont make too much noise they are too busy stuffing their faces

[Baggins]

Just wanted to say thank you for the suggestions ....

 

Last night, I put a very large very dark towel over the entire Eglu .... and I slept peacefully until my alarm at 6 am.

 

Actually, that's not quite true - I awoke with a start at 5.30 am wondering why I couldn't hear the girls crowing madly (5.10 am being their usual time) ... then spent the next half hour until my alarm wondering if they were all right. Any more paranoid and I'd have been out there checking they were breathing! - can't win, can they?!

 

Fingers crossed that you have found me a solution before (1) the neighbours complain (2) the girls ended up as a r***t dinner (and I'm a vegetarian! ), or (3) the concealer stick runs out after using so much to cover the dark rings under my eyes.

 

P.S. I honestly wasn't trying to suffocate them by blocking up the ventilation holes - just a 1-night trial to keep any light out!

[Laura & CTB]

Hope your problem has been solved

 

Maybe tomorrow you can sleep until the alarm goes off