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

[Katyed]

Hi

 

Our hens have been a bit noisy recently. Some of it I think is them being spoilt - if we come out into the garden they want to be let out of the run etc and I guess we will have to be strong in not letting them get spoilt.

 

The new issue though is a lot of early morning noise before they are let out the eglu (which is obviously the biggest concern in residential areas). We are thinking it might be related to the summer mornings. They don't like being shut in when the sun has been up for ages. Admittedly on the day they were kicking off it was a lovely sunny morning and all the other birds were singing.

 

The last couple of nights we have just left the eglu door open overnight - we don't have any fox concerns.

 

Anyone got any tips on this?

 

 

Thanks

 

katy

[Jennyhenny]

Can't help I'm afraid only had my girls since Saturday. First two morning all was quiet til I let them out at 8.15. This morning though at 7a.m. I could hear them bokking in the eglu so I opened the door up cos of the neighbours. I have two Miss Pepperpots and 1 Gingernut Ranger and its the Pepperpots which are the noisy ones. They don't cluck its more of a bokkk (I think) but long and drawn out as though there shouting. I keep telling them to but they don't listen. Does anyone think they will quieten down a little once I let them out and free range in an afternoon or does that mean they will be bokkkking all morning to be let out

 

Will watch this thread closely.

 

Jennyhenny

[ted]

I would speak with your neighbours as we did this and they said that they didnt even know we had chickens. I think the noise always seems louder when you are worried. Take them eggs as well... If there is a problem then it is best to speak sooner rather than later. I am sure they will be fine though...

 

Good luck

[Patricia W]

We've got a cockerel and have tried everything to keep him quiet till a " reasonable" hour - after 7.30. We cover the eglu with a large rug in order to muffle the sound, but this only worked some of the time.

 

The thing that has worked ( most of the time) is moving the eglu under a large fir tree we have in the garden. We think it muffles the sound from a busy road we have nearby, and excludes some light. Problem is, we had planned to chop this tree down......

[quickcluck]

If you have no foxy problems you are fine to leave the door open, or you can cover the eglu with something to keep it darker in there for longer!

[chelsea]

I have covered the cube for a good 18months or so now (maybe even longer) and this helps tremendously in the summer with the lighter mornings as it keeps it darker inside. I use a black cover and drape over the top - not covering ventilation holes. The key is to keep them in a routine and open the eglu door the same time every morning. If you are worried about noise/live in a built up area I would suggest closing the door.

[Jennyhenny]

Chelsea, What sort of black cover and how do you hold it on?

[chelsea]

anything that is dark really. I used to use a blanket, but now am using one of those black plastic backed picnic blanket things. If you are draping it over an eglu rather than a cube you could maybe put a brick/boulder on either side of the cover to hold it to the ground. I dont have anything holding it on top the cube as it tends to stay there (its squarer than the eglu & its inside my walk in run)

[Steph101]

OUr black rocks are the noisiest. They even skwawk a lot when I am out there feeding or cleaning them. I've tried to be strong lately by leaving it for 2-3 hours before opening the run door. The cube door is left open overnight so they come and go as they please.

[Hen Watch]

We are thinking it might be related to the summer mornings. They don't like being shut in when the sun has been up for ages. Admittedly on the day they were kicking off it was a lovely sunny morning and all the other birds were singing.

 

Could be.

 

You mention you've decided to keep the eglu door open to stop this early morning racket. Hope that works for you OK. Can I just say though, I used to leave door open 24/7 (which was great) but 2years ago at the height of summer, when sun rises at 4.30am, so did the chooks and they all four alarm called at 4.30. Woke me, the neighbours ... it was awful and it happend 3 times in 2 weeks. Once, it was a duck that flew into the garden that I had to chase away, but other 2 times not sure what set them off. But the racket was awful, so now they stay shut in until 7.15-7.30 every day regardless. So I know you want to stop their noise coming from inside the eglu but I just wanted to pass on my experience so you are aware of it.

[3hens2cats]

hi there,

 

we too have now had to leave the eglu door open. We found that when dh got up at 6am one pair of beady eyes had spied him and would set the other two ladies off. Since leaving it open they have been fine but i do let them range as soon as I get up 7.30.

 

We have only had one episode of over enthusiastic shouting when we had our first 3 egg day! Was actually hilarious as it was about 9.30 thank god it wasnt at dawn eh

 

best of luck

Naomi

[Katyed]

Thanks for all the replies. We left the eglu door open and yesterday was fine but 7.15 today one hen went nuts. My other half went down and there was no visible reason for it at all she was just sitting there shouting. He decided to be stern and sprayed the hose near her which shut her up. So maybe we will have to go for aversion therapy!

 

Katy who said about alarm call at 4.30 do you not find your hens alarm calling or complaining from inside the eglu when the sun comes up? Or have you blacked out your eglu?

 

I'm glad to hear that people's hens go in phases though - our hens were really well behaved right up until the time that people start sleeping with their windows open!

 

x

[beergibbon]

One of mine has been going crazy every morning now for about 2 months and the other one is fine. I think one of them is just a noisy character. TOO noisy! We're going to give both of them away, hopefully over the Easter weekend (I've posted about this previously). Does anyone know of a decent farm that will take a pair near Guildford?

 

Thanks

 

Neil

[emmat]

Hello! I posted a similar thread a few weeks ago. One of my ladies was shouting the place down for no real reason. It was driving me crackers!

 

So - now when we go down to open the door in the morning we take some layers mash or a very small bowl of treat seed and leave it by their food then open the door. It seems to distract them totally.

 

We did this every day for a week then stopped and they don't shout at all now... hope I haven't spoken too soon!

 

xx