EmmaJC Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 Dear me, how my neighbours must hate me. My girls are waking very early now and at any time from 6:30 to 7:30ish they are screeching away to be let out of the run and into their larger run. I don't know what to do to keep them quiet, they aren't doing it every day, but when they do the sound is just awful. I do let them straight out, but I won't always be able too if I am away. They can't be calling for treats as I'm not that kind and they never get treats in the morning. They have food and water and have full access to their run. I'm really concerned that I'm annoying my poor neighbours! Any advice? Many thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 No advice I'm afraid, I just wanted to say how lucky you are that yours wait until 6.30am. Mine are shouting anytime from 4.30am onwards at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welovemarmite Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 No advice I'm afraid, I just wanted to say how lucky you are that yours wait until 6.30am. Mine are shouting anytime from 4.30am onwards at the moment mine too!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 I think neighbours should be understanding if you can keep them quiet until 7am. I think that rule of no noise between 11pm and 7am is a good one. (wish those inconsiderate beggars who let off fireworks could abide by it too) Can you make your coop and run darker? The hens are just responding to daylight so if you can make their accommodation darker they won't wake up so early. I know some omleteers use black out curtains. Just make sure you don't block any ventilation. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachael_farnsworth Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 Ideas: Tarpaulin over the run/coop Squirt of water in the face Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welovemarmite Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 i have a big walk in run, so unless i shut them in their eglu, then dont have much choice... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 i have a big walk in run, so unless i shut them in their eglu, then dont have much choice... Ours are shut in the Eglu! They can be noisy little so and so's in the early hours (plus we had a fox visit recently). They are let out about 7 into their run, then are fairly quiet until about 8 - when they seem to make noise for the fun of it . A squirt of the hosepipe does help - it can get relentless otherwise. I am also very careful not to let them out of the run to FR if they are being noisy - I do not want them to think that noise = FR time! I think moving from Mash to Pellets is not helping either (it was all the shop had) it is much quicker for them eat, so doesn't keep them so busy. Plus I think they prefer the mash - so moaning about the pellets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 We've had a similar problem recently - perhaps because we have new chickens quarantined from our long-term residents but in full view of them, or maybe it's the light? Anyway, having been woken up by Mavis shouting her head off at 5am 2 days running (the chickens are approx. 100m from the house so it must have been loud). I've gone back to shutting the cube door and Mavis is all 'sweetness and light' when I let them out at 7am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue-DiamondChick07 Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 I have the same issue its driving me mental! The only thing I could think of doing, is shutting the pop holes. Its regrettable as I like them getting up when they want to, but I'm loosing sleep and worried I'll get complaints. Its worked though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 I think the solution seems straightforward. Shut them in at night and make it dark. It's a small price to pay if it lets everyone get some sleep and keeps the neighbours happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 My 3 chickens are really quiet. I never hear them unless I am standing right next to them and I only have a small garden and I sleep with the windows open. The pop-hole is always open so that they have access to the run. They are not laying yet. Is it likely that they will get noisy when they start to lay or are some hens just quieter than others? I'm hoping that I am not in for a nasty change in behaviour! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmaJC Posted June 7, 2010 Author Share Posted June 7, 2010 Hmm, I'm sort of thinking that I shouldn't be complaining if other chickens are up and shouting at 4:30! I'm going to try locking the little blighters up tonight. Honestly! You'd think they'd be happy with their lot. They used to live in a cage, surely a plush Eglu and run is nothing to get upset about Thank you all for your advice! It is much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veggiemad Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 Ah ... you are all wonderful!! Our 2 year old has started waking at 5am and we're trying everything to make it later- BUT........perhaps the hens are waking her up!!! We have 7 girls in the a WIR in the back garden and our duaghter sleeps in the back bedroom!! Thats it - the pop hole gets shut tonight!!! I thought it was our daughters new schedule........never thought it could be the hens!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doodledootoo Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 You need to darken the run. My best advice is to use thick, black tapaulins and cover the Eglu plus the run. My tarps are bungee-roped on to the sides of my WIR (It has a black roof already). I just roll them up like blinds each morning when it's time to get up. Believe me - I tried EVERYTHING else and the tarps are the only thing that have worked! Do a search on these boards - every year, about this time, a raft of threads like this appear, as the early mornings start the chooks off! Also - any new chickens....don't let them free range from day one. Get the chickens used to the idea that some days, they don't get to FR. They're shouting to be let out because they are EXPECTING to be let out. You've got to be steely hard about this - some days are run days....that way, they lose that sense of teenage-like entitlement! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porkypie Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 I was having same issue. I have an awkward shaped wooden house and just couldn't get it dark enough with covering it. I couldn't take another summer of the stress so they now get put into cardboard boxes in the garage overnight And they are now as good as gold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewitall Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 Migsy my hens are quiet and this didn't change when 2 of them started laying. I don't let them f'range in the morning so that they eat their pellets and therefore they don't fuss to be let out. Quite often I just sit outside the run watching them and if after a few minutes I haven't given in to their demands to be let out they just carry on with their normal business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 Thanks Sewitall, I was a bit concerned. I don't let mine out to FR first thing either as I am too busy taking the children to school etc. They have haphazard FR times as it all depends on whether I am in the house etc. Maybe it is an expectation thing then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmaJC Posted June 8, 2010 Author Share Posted June 8, 2010 I shut them in the house last night and alas, they woke us up shouting at 5:45. The instant they were let out of the house into the run they quieted down so I left them to it and went back to bed. At about 8:30 they started again and a thought struck me - it's egg announcing. One of the girls is going in to lay and the other two are getting excited about it. Of course with 3 to lay, the noise is a bit OTT. Any ideas how to keep them calm when laying? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
