LizzieLloyd Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 We've started leaving the pop hole open so that the girls can let themselves in and out on a morning with the summer approaching. This was working fine until this week one of our ladies (the bottom of the pecking order) has started squawking very loudly - this morning it was at 6am!. We have very understanding neighbours who have never compalined about the occasional outburst of squawking following egg arrival but I think this will start to try their patience. I'd like to be able to leave the pop hole open all the tiem rather than lock them up but I'm worried we may start to upset the neighbours. We've tried scattering goodies around the WIR each night when they have gone to bed to keep them entertained in the morning and they always have plenty of food/water available. Three out of our five are currently broody so arent being very sociable - is this contributing to Gertie's behaviour? Can anyone offer me suggestions before we have another Claude style murder case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna C Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Mine went through a stage of doing this and the only thing i've found helped is to put a blanke t over house at night. This has stopped them straight away.Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted May 13, 2011 Author Share Posted May 13, 2011 Thats the problem. They are fine if the pop hole is closed and they stay in the nest box but we want them to be able to come out and they are safe in the WIR so leave it open all the time. Gertie has just taken to sitting on one of the high perches in the run and squawking for all she is worth! I dont want to have to go back to closing the pop hole each night to keep them shut in as the whole point of them being in the WIR was that they could come and go as they pleased. Its just the blimmin squawking thats causing a real problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 I think they just enjoy having a good sing song first thing in the morning, I'm not sure there's always a reason for them to make an early morning noise. Think about it, wild birds always sing at dawn. I don't reckon chickens are so domesticated that they would have lost this instinct. Sorry if this is not a helpful answer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToniBailes Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 My Hens get up at 5am now and start making noises,we have put a plastic cover sheet over the run help to keep it darker so try to keep them sleep for a bit longer which has worked for us. but every morning they make a noice for some one to go and let them out to roam in the garden, if we dont let them out they start shouting and start to wake the neighbourhood up. we tried to do the same putting down corn when they have gone but just to keep them entertained in the morning but never worked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 I think it would be worth talking to your neighbours about it - it might be that they happily sleep through it and don't mind at all. Might put your mind at rest if you find out what they think. If they are not happy, a box of eggs might change their mind I think keeping chickens quiet in a morning is a very difficult task! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted May 17, 2011 Author Share Posted May 17, 2011 Thanks for the replies. We do bribe the nieghbours regularly with eggs and they are probably fine but I dont want to push my luck! There hasnt been a problem in the past apart from the occasional outburst but we are having problem with just one chicken and its always when she's alone in the WIR and the others are in the house. It really is like she's lonely without them and is trying to get their attention. Hopefully it will settle down when the broodiness lifts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
