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

[beverlee]

I have two bantam hens (Daisy and Buttercup), we've had them since last Sept and generally they seem to be very happy. They both came from a free range environment on a farm so we've always thought this is why they are not particularly friendly (used to there own space etc) so have never really tried to make them friendlier. They do come when called but still don't really trust us enough to come too close.They are allowed out to roam and apart from a little red mite trouble so far so good. They are pretty regular layers. The problem is that Buttercup has become increasingly noisy. She was always the bolshiest but now she really does go on at the top of her voice for hours if not cajoled with apples or extra corn. To the point that we have returned from our holidays today and she seems so have a sore throat. She tried to tell me off this morning but sounded more like a goose than a hen! The kind friend who looked after them (an experienced hen keeper) did say they were staying out really late but now the neighbours are complaining about the noise. What can I do? They both look healthy and seem to be eating well, is this a personality issue or is there an underlying health problem she's trying to tell me about?

Beverlee, the worried hen owner.

[Samuel Morse]

One of mine has started sounding like a klaxon when the other one goes into the house to lay (separation anxiety?) but your problem sounds more severe. Are they separated when the one is being noisey?

[Porkypie]

I have a very noisey hen but I've put that down to the 'way she is' as the other two are fine (so far...) and all are treated the same. She quarks to be let out in the morning (so I've fashioned a henhouse-shaped tarpaulin cover which gives me an extra hour in bed) and she also seems to suffer from 'separation anxiety' so I got an extra hen. This meant going through introductions trauma which has just about settles down.

 

What I don't have is food-related noise so maybe you short go cold turkey and halt all treats? I keep trying human logic to problem solve with hens with varying degrees of success/failure

 

Good luck

[chocchick]

I have one noisy hen and she is generally worse first thing in the morning with a WAA WAA WAA etc duck noise. I think it is personality and it is either if the food runs out first thing, or more generally that she wants to freerange. She pushes the eglu door open in the morning and I leave food out.

I try and ignore her if possible so she doesn't rely on me letting her out if she makes a noise. Shutting the windows helps. Luckily my neighbours are fairly tolerant. If I knock on the window of go out and talk to her she sometimes calms down. On occasions I will let her out and she becomes quieter.

I could describe Abbie as bolshy too!

[beverlee]

I must say I had written it off as just the way she was too, but she just seemed to get worse. She likes a good shout on a morning and when the other hen is in the nest laying but then she can also have a right old crow just standing in the garden, not being bothered by anyone. I was beginning to wonder if it was territorial. With her becoming the cockeral of the pair...does that sound weird? Oddly enough since I posted my message (directly having returned from a week away) shes been as good as gold. I can't decide if this is because of a)her sore throat or b)that she missed me. Does this happen? I'll keep an eye on her and really consider getting another hen (just in case it is seperation anxiety) and maybe laying off the treats.

 

Beverlee

[chickenanne]

Ours go daft when they realise there's a chance they'll get out to play - so if me and OH are around thye get noisey, also for the postman! I think feeding them when they're loud will make the situation worse: they'll start a racket whenever there's someone around to give them treats.

Perhaps you could speak to the neighbours and esplain that you know it's irritating for them but you're doing what you can to make it better, and don't give them treats to shut them up when they're shouting.