Chicken bald back

[twinkle1001]

Hi,

Ive had various chickens for the past 18 months and currently have 4 ex-batts which Ive had since June this year. A few months ago I had to rehome 2 of my girls as they woke the neighbourhood at 5.15am!

THe remaining girls are locked into their Eglus (within a large aviary) at night but start to burble around 7am to be let out. This is fine on a weekday as I am usually up at this time anyway but was wondering if anyone had any tips on ways I can keep them quieter for longer for weekends?

I forgot to say - I live on a new housing estate so dont have much space!

 

Any tips greatly appreciated!

 

Florrie

Winnie

Madge

Attilla the Hen

[The Dogmother]

Keeping them in the house until later will help, but I'm afraid that that's the nature of chooks - they like to sing to the sun, so you'll be hard pressed to stop them.

[Plum]

Why not open the eglu at 7am then they can feed and scratch around their run and hang some cabbage up.

 

Don't give them treats first thing or they will be noisier than ever next day Guess who did

[twinkle1001]

Thanks x

[Sarahsausage]

You're as bad as me Plum, Betty and Gladys create a racket until they get their grapes first thing, it's too late to get them out of the habit now, my fault!

[Ophelia]

During the week I let mine out at 7am as I am up for work. I would love them to get up later at the weekends but sadly if I let them out later then 7.30am they kick up a big fuss. I have to get up and then go back to bed on Sat/Sun.

 

I gave them porridge this morning to help warm them up but maybe that was a mistake after reading the above posts. They are funny.

[The Dogmother]

Mine stay in the run until about 8am at the moment, it's too dark now to let them out any earlier.

[twinkle1001]

I have to say mine love porridge, and also bokashi and yoghurt - in a morning, I usually sprinkle some grain around to give them things to do during the day, I also hang some fresh food as well.

[chocolateeclaire]

I live backing on to a housing estate so was worried about early morning noise.

I do the opposite regarding treats and scatter things around the run before I let them out of their cube and that seems to keep them quiet for the first hour or so, then they have a little dust bath and sun bathe so by the time they start squawking it is a decent hour!!!!

It has taken a while to get them into this routine but it seems to work.

Good Luck!!

Claire