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

[seraphine]

We got our girls last Tuesday and since then I've felt a bit funny about having them. The girls themselves are very sweet, not particuarly friendly yet (they run away if I try to stroke them!) but easy to look after and laying already - that's all good.

 

However both myself and my husband are finding ourselves worrying about the noise they make. We're in a very surburban (urban?) environment, semi detached with houses backing right on to us. The girls' Eglu and run is situated at the end of the garden which is overlooked directly by another house and garden. The girls aren't *particuarly* noisy, a bit of bok-bokking once or twice a day but it seems LOUD. And I don't know if it's our paranoia (not helped by our neighbour one side mentioning the noise in a 'joky' fashion which leaves you wondering if he's actually being serious and is a bit peed off) but we're constantly worrying about the noise, wondering if they'll start again, how loud they are etc.

 

Has anyone else had this and how did you get over it? Do people tend to complain about the noise? It really is spoiling our enjoyment of having the hens and yesterday my H even mentioned sending it all back, so sad when we'd been so excited about getting them

[wooky]

I know exactly how you feel. I felt a bit sick in the stomach the first week we got our chooks as they were noisier than I'd imagined and I was waking up really early and fretting about them. We too have very close neighbours.

 

However, after some really nice reassurance on this forum and chilling out a bit I realised that I'm the only one who is fretting! My OH isn't concerned, the neighbours I've spoken to don't mind and listening to the other sounds around (screeching seagulls and crows, dog barking, car alarms, screaming kids) I really don't think that the odd bok-bok or chicken sqwark is a problem.

 

Plus, they get friendlier and friendlier and when the eggs start coming you'll be fine

 

*edit* oops, you're getting eggs already. Bribe your neighbours!

[JB09]

Don't worry about it. I felt exactly the same when I first got my girls. I felt sick and was ready to send them back, the lot! I also live in london in a built up area and, whilst the girls were not overly noisy when I got them I still felt paranoid. However after the initial week or so, they totally settled down and now they hardly make any noise at all. (the occasional bok bokking) Everyone told me I was being paranoid and to think, when you stand in your garden how many dogs do you hear barking and I bet the wild birds make more noise than your girls. You will soon start to relax.

 

JB

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I know just how you feel . Mine have started very loud egg announcements recently (they've done it off and on since I got them 18 months ago but it seems worse just now ). If I'm in, I go straight out and have a stern word with them, which works. I just hope that on weekdays most people are out at work and not so many people hear them.

 

A neighbour I hadn't spoken to before said "I know" when I said I had chickens so I was scared they'd been annoying him but he said he quite liked the noise.

 

The summer is more anxiety-inducing because people are more likely to be outdoors or have their windows open .

 

When I had an eglu run, I kept a box of conkers on the bedroom windowsill and chucked a couple at the run when they were squarking. It usually worked .

 

Another thing I do is time how long they do it for. You'll probably find it's only 3 or 4 minutes which I feel can't bother people too much.

[Guest]

Hi

Although I am semi rural my neighbour has just mentioned they hear the chickens but not it a bad way , she said it doesnt bother them so thats good. Only had them a couple of months but they have started being vocal when laying, however that all finishes by lunchtime. Agree that noticing the noise with the windows being open and out in the glorious sunshine..long may it last.

 

I have a dog too and reckon his barking is a lot worse, and prior to having him the amount of local cats that came to use our garden . In the spring the ducks mating is horrendous they are so noisey and its just truly terrible etc

 

So wouldnt worry at all.....chillo indie

[RubySlippers]

I completely understand. I've only had mine for 2 days but I'm terrified that when they stop tweeting and start bokking there'll be all hell to pay. Doesn't help that my mother (still live at home, housing prices, don't even get me started) is convinced that the neighbours are going to kell her, and responds to the slightest noise with all out panic!

 

Personally I love the noise, but I've come to accept that I don't have a normal worldview.

[daj198]

Don't worry about it. I too got really paranoid the first week when mine started bokking and was convinced that all the neighbours were getting angry. Recently, however, my neighbours from a couple of houses down came round to ask for some eggs (the chooks aren't laying though ). When we got chatting they said that they heard them a lot during the winter and liked the noise! I think the only reason we chicken keepers hate the noise is because we're paranoid that it annoys everyone else... as we've all seen, that's just not the case

[Budgies]

Hi Seraphine, I'm sorry to hear you're feeling anxious about the noise the girls make.

 

I can empathise - I spent a lot of time worrying about their noise, particularly early in the morning. One of my neighbours hates birds and is scared of them and is also allergic to eggs, so I couldn't bribe or sweeten her!!

 

Our house also backs onto other people's gardens and you can wave at them in their house whilst you're in your house sort of thing!

 

However, once I started chatting to people, most of them were very positive. For some of my more elderly neighbours it brought back fond memories of chicken keeping during WWII.

 

For others, they said it made them feel like they were living in the country, and all were appreciative of the occasional box of eggs.

 

I worried on and off about their noise right up to the end. Last week, four weeks after having my lovely girls PTS I had to TELL one of my neighbours that they'd gone - she said she hadn't even noticed the lack of noise!

 

So I can tell you from my personal experience that you're probably worrying more than most of your neighbours are. Another comment I often got was that they would rather hear my birds than car alarms, kids screeching, dogs barking etc. At least it's a noise you find in nature, and usually in fairly short bursts.

 

I would take a box of eggs round to some of your neighbours once you have enough and chat to them - I'm sure most of them will be keen to reassure you.

[poachedegg]

Two or three of our chickens make honking egg announcements - if it is at the weekend, we give them a squirt of water to shut them up (started off with corn or meal worms but was worried they would catch on to it and do it more!).

 

I did worry at first, however throughout the day, as I am at home most of the time, sometimes I have to listen to next door but one with their music on full blast, sometimes next doors teenage son has his friends round and are not quiet or thoughtful to say the least and also sometimes play loud music..........definitely horses for courses!

Edited May 31, 2009 by Guest

[helen5848]

I was and still am the same with my five. They have all been a little bit noisier the last few weeks (which coincides with everybody having their windows and doors open trying to enjiy the waether. One hen in particular on a daily basis now decides to bok bok at a similar time on the top of her voice each day!!!!

The majority of my neighbours, hopefully will not mind this, but my immediate neighbour we have already had a run in with over noise. We keep aviary birds and this time last year we had a run in over the apparent noise my cockateils were making! We haven't spoken since (which isn't a bad thing!). But I am just waiting for the official council complaint to arrive! Fortunately, for the time being my other neighbours have been stars and have actually said that they like the bird nnoises coming from my garden.

 

 

You are right though - this constant fear of complaint stops you from enjoying the hens / birds etc and I constantly find myself cringing when they decide to sing!

 

Sorry to the original 'postee' - I haven't really offered you any reassurrance, but I just wanted to let you know that you weren't on your own!

[chelsea]

I am in my third year of chicken keeping and I still worry about the noise

 

My husband says I am paranoid and that outside the garden fence you cannot hear them, so I think us worriers tend to think it is much worse than it is. I have never had any complaints or comments from neighbours and my lot are very noisy! So dont worry.

[craftyhunnypie]

We don't worry about it. We have had jokey comments about it reminds them of the countryside - but they all think it's nice. We have 3 cockerels. But I think what makes it better is there are a few people in our area who have chickens & cockerels. The eggs are a sell out every week, plus I make jam. You have to butter up your immediate neighbours with wine, barbeques, free eggs & jam. We are very very lucky actually - but although I didn't know it - we weren't the first round here to have chickens. So people were probably used to the noise.

 

You have to switch off from the noise & think it's no different than screaming wailing children, loud music & dogs yapping!

 

Relax!

 

Emma.x

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You should try to be aware of all the other noises you can hear. Sometimes that makes you realise that your chickens aren't making the only noise, it's just that it's your noise .

 

I am delighted every time my neighbours 2 little girls scream and sing - I reckon little girls cancel out chickens .

[cathybc]

I too know how you feel - my neighbour came round for a massive rant the week after I got mine.

 

I found they definatly quietened down after a week or so, I guess they got used to their new home.

 

I still have the odd worry-moments, but then listen to the kids, dogs, cars etc and try not to be too conerned.

 

I am sure things will settle.

[Chucky Mama]

I worried about mine but it was unnecessary. I finally plucked up the courage to ask my neighbours and they said that the loud egg annoucements didn't wake them and that they liked the sound of them in the garden. I was relieved as it meant that I no longer had to rush down and let them out at the crack of dawn (which wasn't ideal as it was encouraging them to make a racket until they were let out)

[Ness3103]

i was worried too, but my children make much more noise than the chooks. i'm also very blessed with lovely neighbours who swear blind they never hear the boys (i know they're lying ) i've only had the girls for 4 days but the only time they've made a fuss is last night when the boys went to bed without giving them their treats they were all lined up at the wir door clucking away like mad until i went out with corn for them i've been up at the crack of dawn to let them out incase they start making noise but they've been quiet as mice.

[seraphine]

Thanks everyone, the replies are really helpful and reassuring.

 

I am a bit concerned that some of you say you still worry, even after having chooks for a while, but I guess some of us are worriers and some not - guess which camp I'm in?!

 

My H and I still feel a bit funny about the chickens and it's something I can't put my finger on. It is a rfeal shame given how excited we were about getting them, but we'll persevere and see how it all goes. It's only been a week since we got them so none of us have had a fair trial yet...

 

Thanks again

[Guest]

Being completely biased I love the rural country side noises!

 

My neighbour has peacocks cockerels ducks geese and she is a few hundred yards away, her immediate neighbour is on nights and he says he likes to hear them(he is asleep in the day)

 

I think its great very farmyard... indie

[seraphine]

Being completely biased I love the rural country side noises!

 

My neighbour has peacocks cockerels ducks geese and she is a few hundred yards away, her immediate neighbour is on nights and he says he likes to hear them(he is asleep in the day)

 

I think its great very farmyard... indie

 

Oh so do I Indie, we've holidayed for the last 3 years on a farm in Cornwall and I absolutely love it The different sounds are just so lovely, right now I'm listening to the reclycling vans collecting the glass and clattering it all about Not quite as relaxing as nice animal noises!