Eglu Cube Coop For Sale

[kateandsteve]

I know, I know, but I'm sleep deprived and at my wits end!

We have four hens and they're no problem most of the time, it's just the mornings.

I get up about 30 mins before sunrise every day, spread their run with peas, sweetcorn & cabbage leaves and go back to bed. But they just start whining, screeching and staring at the back door (I know, cos I peep around the curtains where they can't see me!). Lizzie makes a sound somewhere between a baby seagull, a crying baby & an owl and it's enough to peel paint!

We live in a built up area & I'm so concious of disturbing the neighbours that I'm laying awake so that I can rush out and shush them with seeds & corn. I've tried covering the Cube with a tarpaulin but they still know it's getting light and shriek and stamp their feet until I let them out.

Has anyone any advice please? I'm so worried that the Housing Association will rescind their permission & force us to get rid of them.

 

Steve

Cherry

Merry

Jane

Lizzie

[C&T]

Thats tough.

 

I am guessing half the problem is the treats. They have learnt that by making a fuss you rush out and throw them corn, and all sorts of other goodies.

 

Seeing as you are rushing up and down anyway, how about rather than throwing them treats, you use a hose pipe/watergun everytime they are noisy for the next couple of mornings? It has worked for ours - although they weren't as bad as your four by the sound of it! It's not very nice to see your chickens run away from you when they see you hold the hosepipe - but tough love is sometimes called for. I would hope that once they have learnt making noise does not get them treats, but instead gets them wet, things might change. And once they have stopped all the racket ( ) don't go back to morning treats. Keep them only in the evening, so they don't start up again.

 

Another thing to try is feeding them up in the evening. Make up a porridge with the layers mash/pellets but add porridge oats as well. They might not get up quite so early, as have had a stodgy tea before bed time. Pasta works in the same way.

 

I don't know how long you tried covering the cube for, but I would persevere with that too. It can make a big difference - and does smother the sound a bit as well.

 

Good luck whatever you try - hope things improve!

[mole]

sounds like they get a reward for their noise making skills at the moment (corn etc) and so the noise will only get worse as they are getting something they like out of it.

 

id start with not giving them anything for making a noise or you can use a water pistol as shock tactics. but as long as you keep rewarding the noise they'll keep doing it.

 

hope you manage to get it sorted

[Redwing]

I agree about the treats, that will only be making things worse

 

I'd keep them in the cube until you are good and ready to let them out, a couple of fence panels at right angles on the side of the cube nearest the houses will buffer some of the sound

 

If they are in the cube the noise whould be a lot less

[The Dogmother]

I agree, do you shut the cube door at night?

[Egluntyne]

You have made a rod for your own back there I'm afraid.

 

Close the door, cover the Eglu with a dark blanket, and don't let them out till it suits you. Never give treats before the sun is over the yard arm!

 

They might grumble a bit for a day or two, but keep reminding yourself that they live with you, you don't live with them.

[Redwing]

 

They might grumble a bit for a day or two, but keep reminding yourself that they live with you, you don't live with them.

 

Totally agree. They are just like kids, if they can get away with something they will!

[ISCA]

Poor you! Sounds like a challenge!

 

Agree with the others, it sounds to me as though they are playing you a merry tune in order to get treats

 

The hose pipe idea sounds like the most effective way of changing their behaviour quickly, tough love certainly.

 

I have an automatic pop hole opener so they can not get out until 7am. Also they are the other side of the house to my bedroom and at the bottom of the garden, so I would never hear them no matter how loud they chose to screech!!!!

 

Good luck with changing their mischevious ways!

[chelsea]

You have made a rod for your own back there I'm afraid.

 

Close the door, cover the Eglu with a dark blanket, and don't let them out till it suits you. Never give treats before the sun is over the yard arm!

 

 

 

I agree!

 

Show them who is the boss and don't give into their demands. We shut ours in and cover with black plastic backed picnic blanket (not covering ventilation holes at front) and we let them out when we want to. Ours don't get any treats till teatime (5pm ish).

[madchickenlady]

Agree with the others. Are you shutting them in the cube at night?