Cube Mark One Run

[jellybean29]

For the last week my 3 hens have been really noisy, they have been shouting constantly all day. one of my orps is laying( has been aprox4 weeks) and the maran should start laying any time soon, while the other orp still has a while to go. The only thing that seems to shut them up is when you give them a treat, there feeder is full of food all day, ive even just got them a sand bath to see if that keeps them quite.

 

they also have free run of the whole garden.

 

any ideas why they are being so noisy, we already have a few issues with the neighbors and im worried they will complain.!!

[legend21]

Is there anything spooking them, like a cat, if there is a sudden loud noise mine all shout but then stop when they realise it is not directed at them. Do they shout when you are in the garden with them? or is it when they are on there own. Mine shout in the morning when I have not let them free range but when are not really annoying anyone.

 

Hope you have someone come along with the answer, good luck

 

J

[Plum]

Think the clue is in what you say, they shut up when you give them a treat. Sounds like they have you trained . If I was you I would go cold turkey and cut out treats until they stop shouting for them. I would do it in the week though when there are less people to hear.

 

I worried about the noise at one time and when I asked my neighbours it didn't bother them at all. Perhaps it's not as loud as you think

[patsylabrador]

I asked a very similar question recently because I thought they were shouting for treats, I followed the advice which was to not respond to them and it seems to have worked. I try to take them by surprise when I'm going to pop out so that they don't get into a routine either.

I worry about the neighbours too and sit inside cringing until they stop, which in truth is only 2-3 minutes, which when you think about it is much less noise than mowing a lawn or a dog barking or planes going overhead.

[chelsea]

My lot have always been pretty noisy but I would say even more so these past two weeks I just think they are extra hungry due to the cold weather and also my Cochin & Maran have just come into lay again so I think they are shouting their gobs off to show off.

 

I try to ignore it like the OH does...

[Porkypie]

Mine had me trained and would whine in the mornings after getting used to morning greens, melon etc. The cold turkey method helped reduce that noise problem.

 

I do remember that when they came into lay they became more vocal... My Goldline is especially vocal and doesn't approve of the other hens using 'her' nestboxes

 

I hope your hens settle down soon

[jellybean29]

thanks for the replies, i think going cold turkey is the way forward!!

i let the maran off today through as she layed her first egg!

[evanowen]

If our neighbours complained we wouldn't be able to hear them through the racket

[HeadlessChicken]

I have this problem at the moment. In fact I can hear them now. I've got a Warren, which is quiet as a mouse and is an egg laying machine, hasn't missed a day since we got her, a Barnvelder X and a Welsummer, both of which should start laying very soon.

 

The last few weeks, the Barnvelder and the Welsummer are shouting non stop, when they're shut in, when they're not, when they're fed, when they're not. There's a row of terraces back onto my garden, there's easily 14 houses which could complain, and it only takes 1.

 

The Barnvelder has grown into a really nice bird, she's massive with great colours, has easily outstripped all my casserole pots. It'd be a shame to let her go but to keep the peace I'm thinking of donating the 2 noisy ones to new homes.

 

Thumbs up for Warrens !

 

Listen to that, what a noise.

[ScissorChix]

Headless chicken i want to ask a really stooopid question. How do you know your Barnevelder and Welsummner are about to lay soon? is this because of their age,comb colour? Just recently got one of each and a Plymouth rock bantam so was curious to know when to expect eggs from them.

[Christian]

ScissorChix, their comb will become more red, they might 'squat' in front of you and they seem to start eating a lot more before they come into lay.

 

Hope you get eggs soon....!

[ScissorChix]

Thankx!

 

I wasnt expecting too much at the moment with the weather and alll!

[Valkyrie]

With Apache it's her whingeing noise all day long to announce it. Arghhhh! Tipsy yells because she is a prude and wants the nest box to herself and hates it when someone beats her to it - she was doing this again this morning because Apache got there first, but as it's cold I think she decided OK it's cosy. Murray has just come in with 3 eggs in his hand (Kitty got in there before brekkers). I can breathe now - should be all quiet on the Western front.