Lorna Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Hello all! I am completely stressed out with my three chooks who are being very naughty and misbehaving. I have 3 girls, (2xmiss pepperpots and 1xmerydale sweetie) who i have had since october last year. All has been well and egg production is fantastic, my problem however is that the girls are making a ridiculous amount of noise. Usually go down and open the eglu door about 7am and all is fine, then within half an hour they are all sqwaking to get out of the run. The only way to shut them up and prevent a complaint from the neighbours is to let them free range the garden (which isnt always practical if im off to work). So that is noise problem number 1, secondly, when out free ranging it seems that if one chicken can't see the other two she will scream until i go out there and find them for her! Its crazy and all getting a bit much! Any advice please??!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmommasally Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Instead of letting them out when they squawk have you tried getting in with them and giving them some attention, or giving them something to play with i.e. half a cabbage; remains of a sprout stalk; hanging ball filled with veggy bits - sort of diverting their attention as you would with a naughty toddler! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I was going to suggest the same, hang up things around the run in different places. Corn on the cob on string, cabbages, brussel sprout tree, broccoli etc. I occasionally hang up one of those peck bars/blocks made with seeds and honey (get from pet shops) and that keeps them going all day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 One of mine crowed like a cockeral the other day when she lost the other two . Do you have a huge garden? Could you maybe contain them within some netting so at least they'd always be in sight of each other? Mine used to be quite vocal but they've settled down a lot now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 My three can get quite noisy, but I suspect thats only because they can see us moving about inside the house and want to be let out. To be honest, I tend to ignore them and they go back to eating theirs layers mash, or preening. I have snuck upstairs to check they are okay and not shouting and they are fine. I do think they are like naughty children sometimes. They do get let out in the afternoons and nearly all day at the weekend unless its tipping down. They also have started to a do a rather loud alarm type shout which worried me the first time I heard it, but now, I just check they are okay and see what they are shouting at. Personally, I think they are saying theres some lovely green grass down there and theres none here. Now, how do we get to it?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 So that is noise problem number 1, secondly, when out free ranging it seems that if one chicken can't see the other two she will scream until i go out there and find them for her! Its crazy and all getting a bit much! That sounds just like Bluebell, if the other 2 had the nerve to go scavenging whilst she was laying, she'd create blue murder when she came out & always came running to the back door to get me to come & find them. I think she's grown out of it now thankfully....however my Orpies are trying to get everyone creating a racket every time one of them lays an egg I'm bribing the neighbour with eggs so he doesn't complain! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daj198 Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Mine squark when they can't see their friends... especially Nel Perhaps getting more would help I tried giving mine corn in the morning if I would leave them in the run for a while, it only lasts a few minutes though. The hung up vegetables sound like a good idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathychic Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I thought it was just my girls that were noisy. They do sound like petulant children. I let them out about 7.30 in the morning and they attack their pellets with great gusto, but if I dont take them some 'proper' breakfast (cabbage, apple, courgette) within about 10 minutes they scream blue murder. I work all day so if I dont give them some greenery in the morning they dont get anything all day, so got into the habit of giving this to them in the mornings, and now they expect it every day. Some people say chickens are stupid, but mine know if they make a noise they will get something to eat, so they cant be that stupid. And its true about being with them - they do enjoy human company. They are all fine and quiet when I am around in the garden and they quite often follow me round, even when I am not digging for worms! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Mine tend to get a bit sqwarky if they dont get their mash in the afternoon!! They start pacing about 3pm Am in a quandry now as am away for a few days, so no afternoon treats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I had to break the habit of treats at set times... The noise if they didn't get it was a bit much for us and the neighbours... I now just give them stuff when I feel like it - and seems to work a little bit better.... The only trouble is, as I now give them treats adhoc, I am sure they get far too many... Me thinks the chickens have won again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmat Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I was about to post a topic on the very same. I have had a few weeks off work and been at home with the girls a lot, they've had plenty of time out to free range. Now I am back to the office they have started creating an awful racket about 7am. I would never let them out at this time so it's as if they know I am going out for the day somehow! I gave them a mini straw block to play with and this kept them entertained (shut them up) but next day the same... today they got a huge bowl of veggies and they were quiet... I think they have devised a cunning plan to get attention. I think I'll spend Sunday making them hanging toys and food. Anything to stop their noise! xxxxxxxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Chook Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I gave them a mini straw block to play with and this kept them entertained Hi, I'm curious, what's a mini straw block, what does it do (!) and where do you get one from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daj198 Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I think they mean just a bale of straw for them to perch on... I suppose they could peck at it too. You can get them cheaply at any feed merchant such as equestrian world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Chook Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Doh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhoderunner Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Well my lucky chickens free range all day and they still make a huge amount of noise. I like to think they are singing with happiness! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beergibbon Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Oh man, just wrote a long post and it never appeared...... Here goes in summary as I don't have the time to fully rewrite it. 1 chicken super noisy early morning. Worried about neighbours, chickens may have to go! Tried covering eglu to make it darker to stop it crowing. Hung up veg in the run. Chicken still noisy. HELP! Thanks Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillicat Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Mine have been quite vocal recently too I had thought it was to do with Poachy coming into egg production, as she's recently started laying and they all seemed a bit jittery. However, I've decided to put it down to these very early mornings......I was up at 6am today because I could hear jostling and squalking about in the cube at the end of the garden Can't wait to turn the clocks back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie26pet Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 im finding mine more noise when i let out to free range last couple days. i think its to do with me having windows open and they can hear my little one. i dont hear them as much when they have to stay in the run. but my welsummer wow she has become mouth on legs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeckyBeak Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Hi Chillicat Re your quote - [Can't wait to turn the clocks back! Panic Don't we turn them forward this time?? Always get this wrong, turned up 1 hour late for appointment once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Hi Chillicat Re your quote - [Can't wait to turn the clocks back! Panic Don't we turn them forward this time?? Always get this wrong, turned up 1 hour late for appointment once. Don`t panic me! FOund this on Direct Gov British Summer Time (BST) starts on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October, at 1.00 am Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): in spring the clocks go forward, losing an hour - at 1.00 am GMT the UK moves to 2.00 am BST in autumn the clocks go back, giving an extra hour - at 2.00 am BST the UK moves to 1.00 am GMT In the next three years, the summer time periods begin and end on the following dates: 2009 2010 2011 Clocks go forward 29 March 28 March 27 March Clocks go back 25 October 31 October 30 October So at the moment Gin is BOK BOK BOOOOOOOKKKKKKKKing at 7.30 but on 29th March it will be 8.30. Is that right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewhitehouse Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Spring FORWARD , Fall BACK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daj198 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 So at the moment Gin is BOK BOK BOOOOOOOKKKKKKKKing at 7.30 but on 29th March it will be 8.30. Is that right? Surely by then it will be approximately 6:30, changed forward to 7:30. So it won't improve much on what we've got at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittycat Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 How about speaking to your neighbours (and taking some eggs of course ) and asking them if it's bothering them. My 3 girls kick up a bit of noise in the morning, general whining (or should that be singing) and, if an egg is laid, a very vocal announcement. I was quite worried about the noise (even though this starts 8am at the earliest) but when I actually plucked up courage to speak to the neighbours about it they said how lovely it was, how it reminded them of the countryside etc, etc. It might put your mind at rest On the other hand, if the neighbours aren't happy (or you aren't brave enough to ask the question) I suggest you try some of the tips mentioned before about keeping the chickens entertained - hanging up different foods or, I find just scattering a handful or two of mixed corn into the run will keep them quiet for quite some time as they scratch around looking for it. And if at all possible, don't inadvertently 'train' them to expect to get out of their run or to have treats at a certain time. Chickens might not be the brightest pets on the block but they are quite capable of learning a set routine - best to keep them guessing... Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Spring FORWARD , Fall BACK That's how I remember! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
