lou-lou Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Hi we are picking up our cube on saturday, and every day i read this forum for advice and information,and now i am having second thoughts,my head is saying no, but my heart is saying yes,i l love my garden and plants and worry about the mess i live on a housing estate and worry about the noise, after reading so many peaple say their chickens make such a noise, so must consider the neighbours, i have three dogs how will they get on with chickens? my mind is in such a whirl as the day gets nearer,i was thinking of getting three bantams to start with, do these make less noise than chickens, as you can tell i am a worry wart about everything, please advise...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I can't tell you Yes or No - we are all different, and all chickens are different, but I can tell you my experiences! I also live in a housing estate - a terraced house, and garden backs onto other gardens for the houses at the back. Having said that, the gardens are a reasonable size... Not a complete postage stamp!! We have had our chickens since October, and so far noise has not been an issue, although I think we may need to shut the eglu door at night to stop early morning noise now the mornings are getting lighter. But during the day they are fine - just the odd bok if they feel they need to shout about something - but nothing worse then the magpies etc that are around - or the police helicopter when that is circling! The garden I am Chicken Proofing, by using plants that they don't like. They are also in their run all day Mon-Fr when we are at work - so that helps the garden too! The new Veg patch (tiny!!) will be netted off as the plants start going in to stop them eating those. It is a compromise (no more bedding plants...) but a good excuse to buy some beautiful new roses and azalias! No dogs, so can't answer that one, and only have Omlet chickens, so no bantoms. We are REALLY happy we got them. It took me 18 months to convince my husband to get them (He only agreed after we got married!!) and he now loves them, and wouldn't be without them. They are now referred to as "his"... Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 I have my lot fencing in with Omlet netting so they can only "wreck" one area and then I rotate them in Spring and Summer which area easier months as things grow back quickly. I think we all felt the same as you at first. Once I had placed my eglu order I had 4 weeks to wait and worry that I had done the right thing. And I'm sorry to say I worried about whether my kids would catch bird flu too . It is OK to worry. But it will be fine when they arrive. I love my chooks, they are easy, and funny and I would not be without them. I did have 1 problem with chicken noise once for a week, but I sorted it out by shutting them in their eglu at night so they couldn't get out and wander round the run at 4am sun up in the summer. Now they stay put inside until 7.30am. Air any worries you have on this forum - that's what we are here for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 (edited) My opinions... Hi, welcome to the forum. I live in an estate with houses either side and 3 at the end. My gardens about 60' long and the hens are at the end. They don't make much noise at all (had them a year) don't let the chickens rule you. Mine get shut in at night, up at 7.30, 8 weekends and don't give them treats in the morning or let them in the garden too early(i never do till midday) so they aren't noisy to be let out. i only give treats mid afternoon onwards and mine make no noise really except little bit after laying sometimes. They are canny little blighters and will have you running around after them if you let them, don't and they should be ok. they certainly make no more noise (usually alot less ) than local dogs and the alcoholic at the end of the garden!! Edited March 5, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyknickers Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Hi, I know its a worrying time. I have only had my cube and 3 chickens two weeks and they are not laying yet so dont have the possible noise they can make when they lay. I live in a three bedroomed small terraced house with a small garden and other peoples houses at each side and the back. So far as I know they dont make a lot of disruptive noise - my room is at the front and my chickens at the back. My son is at the back and he hasnt said he has heard anything. Mine get the door shut at night around 6pm-7pm and the the door opened at 8am when they are let out. Mine are allowed to free range out the run when I am in and apart from the pooh seems ok so far but I am sure the grass that is there will be wrecked - I expect it so wont be a shock (husband wont be too happy though!!!). I simply wash the pooh away if a runnier one or most of them are picked up as they are pretty solid (sorry about the detail). I would say to visit an Omlet owner between now and when you are due to ge them - I did and it helped HUGELY. I was very worried about everything til I had a visit of someone who already owned them (quickcluck). If I am in and not at work I go out and have a tidy round the cube and run and as they sleep in the nest area I clean that and put some more bedding in and then at the weekends I have been having a bigger clean up - but doesnt take long at all and nice to be out. Have a think about it and visit someone. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lou-lou Posted March 5, 2009 Author Share Posted March 5, 2009 Hi Thank you for your messages, you are very kind lou-lou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Also not all chickens bok bok when they lay. Mine don't make any noise. Only time they would is if something startled them but if I go out there they stop it straightaway as though to say "it's ok mums here!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*mummy_hen* Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 If it helps....i live in a terrace house and have a reasonable sized garden but not huge. Our girls don't bok when they lay at all, if ever they make any noise at all, it only lasts a minute or two and this is normally because they want to come in the back door. They did kill our lawn, but this was quite new when we first had them, so we decided to gravel and have raised flower beds so that they can't ruin the plants. It is relatively easy to chicken proof everything though. I was walking up our road this morning on a beautiful day and couldn't hear a peep out of them. I also didn't realise that a house just down the road from us has chickens until i walked past their back garden fence and saw lots of chicken faces looking at me so if they make any noise, we certainly can't hear them! Only you can make the right decision for you, but i will say chickens make fantastic pets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 We live in a detached house with reasonably sized garden with neighbours both sides and three other gardens at the back. My next door neighbour says that I made more noise this morning moving the eglu than the chooks have in the last three months. Having said that Gin will make a bit of a racket if I try and pick her up to do something to her although since she has started crouching ( ) she doesn`t seem bothered. Also Gin be kind of do a throaty thing if she is up in the run early but I have stopped this by closing the Eglu door at night and letting them out a half sevenish. All three of mine chunter and purr a lot but I reckon the wild birds make much more noise! They wake me up, not the chooks. And I KNOW next door but ones little cocker spanial makes a lot more noise than the chooks and the wild birds put together but I would never consider complaining about him. My cats poo in their garden so I figure we are even Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Mine make a bit of noise but my neighbours are pretty noisy anyway. There's several little yapping dogs, someone keeps budgies/ canaries nearby. I have a tiny garden the main bit is 20 foot x 20 foot but apart from a bit of muddyness on the lawn it's survived pretty well ( plus I don't have to hoe the flowerbeds and slug patrol is done for me ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busybird Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 I had the same panic between ordering and delivery - and as the nice Omlet man drove away leaving me with three chickens I really wondered what on earth I had been thinking of getting chickens and almost chased him down the road to tell him I had changed my mind They really are the easiest pets to keep and the kids adore them. As with any live creature they need a certain amount of care and attention and there are downsides to keeping them (poo and messed up garden) as well as the many upsides (eggs and endless amusement ). This forum is invaluable for help and advice. Mine can be noisy at times but keep respectable hours Only you can decided yes or no Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillicat Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 YES, YES, YES.... I can't wait for you to post on Saturday night telling us that you can't believe that you worried so much.......... They are adorable creatures and the thrill of getting your first egg, understanding each of their characters and knowing that they love you so much is really rewarding. So, my advice would be to put your worries in a box and let yourself enjoy the experience. Good luck tomorrow.....wish it was me Oh, you say you are collecting your cube........when are you getting the girls? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 lou lou, are you buying your cube from Engineman? he lives in winterbourne, do you live near him? I live just down the road from him and you can always come and have a look and chat at my hens. I have bantams including a cockerel and large fowl hens. anything you want to know just ask. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickens@61 Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 only you can decide i am a worrier myself so i can sympathise! chickens really are creatures of habit, and i advise setting your routine from the start.. we have found if we do something 3 or 4 times they think it is part of their routine! now we have set getting up time (7.30am all week) and set treat time (4pm) we have not had any problems with noise (yet ) and i have got over the stage of worrying about them & being overwhelmed by them 24/7. we have had all sorts of pets (dogs, cats, hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs, pony, fish) and i can safely say the chickens are the least hassle and the most fun (and the most productive ) do you know anyone with chickens you could visit & chat too? for what it's worth, many people find their bantams just as noisy (if not noisier) than hybrid hens and they are not such reliable layers - our two lay only when it suits them good luck whatever you decide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryeadrian Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 What kind of dog do you have? I don't have my chickens yet, but do have a dog so am planning now how to train her. I do a bit of training so it helps and I'm getting 1 week old chicks only because it's part of the training. Mine is a herding dog, so it will come natural for her to want the chickens. Bottom line is if I'm not totally sure of her training, she's not in the yard when they're free ranging. It can be done, though. She loves (did I say LOVES?) chasing birds and I now have her totally leaving the ones in our yard and at the feeder alone. She knows those are off limits. If your willing to put a bit of time into it, it can be done. And depending on your dog, it may not be an issue at all!!! I've read where several folks have dogs and it's not an issue. Good luck to you! Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 We are picking up our chickens tomorrow and I am having exactly the same worries - are we doing the right thing, will they be yet another tie when we go away on holiday, will the dogs kill them, will some of them bully the others, will we be able to get them in at night etc etc etc. On Sunday morning I expect we will all be posting positive thoughts (hopefully) I have the family coming for dinner on Sunday and I am expecting to be crawling round the chicken run before dishing up the dinner, trying to get the chickens into their sleeping quarters happy days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lou-lou Posted March 7, 2009 Author Share Posted March 7, 2009 Hi Just to say a big thank you to everyone for your advice and views, especially Tom123 on his offer to let me view his chickens and cube, but unfortunately we live over two half hours away from you( or i would be around in a flash). My husband and oldest daughter are on their way now to collect cube, it really helps to know i have a team of peaple in this forum that i can ask for help in the future, thank you once again lou-lou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
