Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[mrsnapalm]

I'm totally at the end of my tether with my chickens and think they may have to go. My 2 light sussex girls have started shouting for england.

 

Last Sunday, my last remaining ex-battery hen died, and by coincidence we were due to collect 3 new hens that day. The 2 remaining light sussex hybrids wandered about in the run in the morning looking confused. When we put the three new hens in with them, they completely ignored them which was a bit of a surprise. By tea time on Sunday, the sussex had started the most awful squawking. The best way i can describe it, is like the final sound in the egg laying call over and over again. One or the other did it constantly last weekend. We just assumed it was because of the new hens and it would settle. The are standing at the end of the run looking out when they do it.

 

When i went in to fill the feeders on Tuesday, I noticed they were still full, virtually nothing had been eaten since Sunday. I emptied them, and put in fresh pellets, and gave them a bowl of corn too. They were both still full on Wednesday. And the squawking has continued for about 5 hours a day on and off since then. The new hens are quiet thankfully.

 

Yesterday in desperation, i completely cleaned out the whole run and house, and washed all the feeders out. Threw away all the previous food, and bought a new sack, this time mash. I filled one feeder with mash, and one with mash & bokashi. Bliss, a whole day of quiet yesterday - they ate all day.

 

This morning I let them out at 7. They came out & completely ignored all the food, none of them are eating. The 2 sussex have started up with the squawking, over half an hour non stop already.

 

So far this week, 3 neighbours have complained, but i just don't know what to do! The only time they are quiet is if i pick them up, which is obviously not a practical answer. They will eat meal worms and treats, but I cant be out there doing that all day either.

 

I really dont know what I am going to do. I don't know if the noise and not eating are related, and I don't know why they are not eating. Help!!!

 

Emma

[Egluntyne]

I would recommend that you separate them ... you will have to rig up or borrow some safe accommodation for one of the groups, start from cscratch and follow the advice *here* on introductions.

 

I would also stop feeding them any extras. They won't starve in the face of food. I suspect that they are not eating properly because:

a) they are stressed.

b) they are holding out for treats.

[Chucky Mama]

I agree with Egluntyne. You also need to provide extra feeders. The 2 older birds sound like they may be guarding the feeders. Definitely look at the advise that has been highlighted in the link for you in Egluntyne's post. Also, I would pop around to the neighbours to let them know that you are upset about the noise being created and to ask them to bear with you while you work at a solution - a few eggs or home baked biscuits/cakes might buy you a little more time and tolerance

[mrsnapalm]

We have food and water containers at both ends of the run, and all the hens (including the new ones) were eating happily yesterday. I assume the new hens didn't like the pellets as they are eating now that we have given them mash. The older ones aren't chasing them off the food, in fact, the older ones are ignoring the food (except for yesterday).

 

I assume then, that the noise is a general "how dare you get new hens" noise, and that they will get over it in time? I will separate them if I have to, but it seems a shame as there has been virtually no s"Ooops, word censored!"ping at all. We have been letting the older ones free range in the afternoon, and that keeps them quiet too.

 

We've already bribed the neighbours with eggs, but I can understand why they are cross. It's driving me mad, and they're my hens! We have a very small garden, and the neighbours are only about 20' from the run, so there's no escaping it when they start up.

[migsy]

Have you tried free ranging the noisy hens? That might provide them with plenty of distraction whilst they are foraging for bugs.

[mrsnapalm]

Have you tried free ranging the noisy hens? That might provide them with plenty of distraction whilst they are foraging for bugs.

 

Yes, the noisy two have been free ranging in the afternoons (if I'm home), and they are quiet while they are out of the run.

[migsy]

Have you considered increasing the size of their area by extending it with electric netting? Then they could do more free-ranging when you are not at home.

[mrsnapalm]

Just a quick update.

 

Things seem to be a bit better. All 5 girls now seems to be getting on OK most of the time, which is good. The 2 sussex are still noisy, but it appears to be all food related. The new girls are eating the mash, but ignoring the pellets. The sussex ladies are eating a bit of mash, but then making one hell of a row in the afternoons. I think they are hungry, because if i give them bran/grain/bread/mealworms/veg etc they are quiet, but they eat it like they've never been fed!! Should I try a different brand of mash or pellets?

 

Emma

[teacake]

glad things are getting a bit easier for you .

[Redwing]

Chickens are like some kids and dogs, they will be quiet if you give them what they want

 

I'd decide on the food you want to feed them then let them go cold turkey, they wont starve themselves

 

Warn the neighbours it will be noisy for a few days then they will settle down

[billathome65]

Chickens are like some kids and dogs, they will be quiet if you give them what they want

 

I'd decide on the food you want to feed them then let them go cold turkey, they wont starve themselves

 

Warn the neighbours it will be noisy for a few days then they will settle down

 

Not knowing how chickens work I can only go with what I would do and the above statement is what I would do. I won't be held hostage by my girls so that's why I go with that statement.

 

Bill

[daxigirl]

Mine like to shout if they can see me in the window or passing the door. They seem to believe that it will entice me out to open the run door and let them into the garden or throw more titbits to them. This isn't always part of my plan though and I have to ignore them.

 

I did threaten them with the barbeque amongst other things on Sunday when they were performing, they were really getting on my wick so goodness knows what the neighbours thought.