Black RockStar Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 Hello all, New to the forum and to keeping chooks. The grass needs cutting soon. I have a petrol hayter. My question is, if the chooks are in the eglu run, is the noise likely to stress them if i cut around the run whilst they're in it! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 We made sure that we started the mower as far away from them as possible and gradually mowed nearer and nearer. They didn't seem too bothered by the time it got close to them (after about 1/2 an hour). Good luck!! They will get used to it, even if it does upset them a bit at first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black RockStar Posted September 8, 2005 Author Share Posted September 8, 2005 Thanks alot, will give it a try. Love the Miami Vice chook names by the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 Mine hated the mower first time they heard it - and it's only a push mower! Time will tell whether they get used to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jem Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 I was worried about this too. I cut our lawn with the petrol mower the day after the chooks arrived. Didn't seem to bother them one bit. They had a quick look and then continued s"Ooops, word censored!"ing and eating Seriously laid back chooks Cheers Jem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 My chickens were so terrified by my Flymo that I couldn't continue. They didn't worry when the noise was a reasonable distance away, but every time I came within a few feet of them they were panic-stricken. I now make a net run for them away from the grass whenever I want to cut it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 My hoover is really noisy (Ok so it's not a lawnmower but it makes as much noise as one!) and the girls sit by the back door watching me hoovering the dirt out of the doormat without blinking an eye! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alison M Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 Hi Black RockStar, I do the same as AnnieP but the mower is close to them after about 10 minutes. It does not bother them, they look up and then contiunue scratting about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick&Trish Posted September 9, 2005 Share Posted September 9, 2005 Our two run for cover, and lurk in the undergrowth making worried noises. I tend to mow the lawn when they are out of the run, so that they can go where they feel most comfortable. A few weeks ago someone was using a chainsaw 3 or 4 gardens away, and the girls went ballistic - Victoria was hiding as close to the house as possible, and I had to pick her up to calm her down. They did get less concerned as time went by, so I suspect that your chooks (and ours) will eventually get more relaxed about mowers. Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted September 9, 2005 Share Posted September 9, 2005 Sybil and Pollo were totally unconcerned about living next door to a building site when our neighbours had their house practically rebuilt - and sometimes the diggers and other power machines were really loud and made the house and backyard vibrate. What does put them into alert mode and even start them squawking is when I pump up the vacuum thing on my sprayer. It is full of foul smelling horsetail tea which is supposed to be an organic fungicide. The sound isn't even that loud but something about it upsets them. The do recover as soon as I stop pumping though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted September 9, 2005 Share Posted September 9, 2005 Same thing with the hoover .... mine literally checked you were doing it properly through the patio door . Lawnmower .... more timid with the petrol one, than the flymo .... but still not too keen until they get some grass edges to munch (cut up finely I may add ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black RockStar Posted September 9, 2005 Author Share Posted September 9, 2005 Thanks all, will give it a go at the weekend and see how they take it. By the way, whats a hoover? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted September 9, 2005 Share Posted September 9, 2005 Thanks all, will give it a go at the weekend and see how they take it. By the way, whats a hoover? Must be a bloke thing as my OH doesn't know what one is either ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SillyClucker Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 Yeah i was a bit worried but no probs. I got the girls back into the run. When i cut the lawn whenever i came close they went into the eglu, when i went away they came out again. When everything was over i let the run open and they came out as though nothing had happened. that was the first time so i imagine things will only get better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 We had good egg production last week and this week only 2 eggs. I was trying to think of reasons for this and remembered that the guy next door had a hedge-trimmer out all Sunday afternoon, kept stopping and starting, and the girls were a bit distressed - frozen to the spot looking startled one minute then pacing up and down nervously the next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 Mine freerange - so I just started it up - moisy petrol mower - no discernable reaction at all - then spot got cocky, and every tme I empty the grass box - she's all over the mower - and now follows me round, occasionally dive-bombing from the side.. I guess she's waiting for the bits of a mangled frog.... stupid chicken... Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N&J Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 Mine go nuts when you wheel the mover acorss the patio - apart from that they just ignore it and cause havoc in the vegetable patch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveypup Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 My husband was strimming at weekend and they went MAD!!!! Clucking, squawking and flapping like "Ooops, word censored!"ody's business The day after we had the biggest egg they have ever laid so perhaps it was worth it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suandtim Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 Polly and Esther hate the noise - I have to make sure they're in the run with the Eglu door open, and then they go and hide in the Eglu until the noise stops.... Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 My chooks take no notice of most noises. They stop and look the first time they hear something and totally ignore it the next time. Lawn mower, strimmer, angle grinder. Nothing seems to worry them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
