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

[chestnutmare]

Although I am reminding myself that I could have an annoying barking dog.

 

I just went outside because I could hear one of the chickens making a very loud noise. I went out expecting there to be something in the garden unusual like a cat or bird. They've all laid so it wasn't a fuss over an egg (not that they make a fuss laying anyway!). Belle was out there 'boc boc boc boc boc boc boc boc-aaawwwwwwkkkk!' ing (do you know what I mean or have I completely lost the plot?)

I couldn't see any reason for it.

 

My house is semi-detached but we live in a long line of houses like a terrace with low walls (you can see everyone's garden). Who was out in the garden chatting 2 and 3 houses up from me? A man and a woman who works for the council, who I have been told likes to make complaints.

I ran back in and got a slice of bread and threw it in to the WIR. Nothing to be seen in the garden.

She was loud and they only ever make a little noise when they see me (and they think 'food!!').

 

It's quiet now. What was up with her???

[jennym]

Belle was out there 'boc boc boc boc boc boc boc boc-aaawwwwwwkkkk!' ing (do you know what I mean or have I completely lost the plot?)

 

I know exactly what you mean, and it's because my Belle does the same She used to only do it when someone walked into the garden but it's more persistent now. A Bluebelle thing?

 

Luckily we have a very long garden and they're at the back of it, so the noise doesn't come close to the volume of the children/dogs/people/traffic etc. I'm just well-attuned to it so I can pick it out.

[peachachecha]

Maybe she over heard the people on the council making a derogatory complaint about her and her mates and she was giving them a piece of her mind!

[percy049]

My bluebelle makes the most noise out of all our hens, then my suffolk pied and black rock. I always worry that ours are being too loud

[coco]

I used to have a black silie cross that would make start shouting at the same time every day for about 15 mins for no reason. I now have a frizzle cross silkie that starts about 6.45 in the morning when she feels like it. Luckily she doesn't do it to often.

[splodge88]

Henny Penny thinks she's a cockeral she went through a faze of trying to cock-a-doodle at 5 in the morning -.- but luckily she seems to have grown out of it

[Space Chick]

My bluebell is noisy too, she's a nightmare

[Plum]

Couple of mine will start off at drop of a hat or leaf wrong shape. Agree you want to cringe but my neighbours are probably more upset by me telling them to belt up

[AlisonH]

My Blue belle often has spells of 'proper chicken noise' as my 8 year old calls it. You rush out expecting an animal threatening but discover nothing!

[jaspersmum]

Oh thank goodness - we thought it was just our Bluebell!! We've never had a chicken like it for noise and hardly hear a peep out of the others. Many a morning I am to be found in the run at daybreak in my dressing gown, tub of corn in hand, begging Nellie to be quiet - hang on a minute... maybe she's got me sussed.

 

She seems to get particularly noisy if she finds someone in the nest box when she's ready to lay, plenty of room in there for three hens but she doesn't like to share. We've tried adding extra nest boxes to no avail, still the bokking continues -perhaps it is genetic?

[chestnutmare]

Well, well! I am surprised how many noisy bluebells there are and how many shamed owners there are too! Perhaps it is a bluebell trait then, but I can't say I've noticed a noise from any of them like this before! I could hear her from the living room! I rushed out, convinced there was something that shouldn't have been in the garden but nothing... just neighbours who might complain. I told my OH this evening about it and he told me not to worry as it's not as though I'm keeping anything insane in my garden. But because chickens are more unusual to keep than for example a dog, I think neighbours would be quicker to complain over a clucking chicken rather than a barking dog. Shamer. They all enjoyed a slice of hovis crusts away anyhow!

[Alis girls]

mental note - dont get a bluebelle

[chestnutmare]

mental note - dont get a bluebelle

You should you should! She is very beautiful, nice natured and doesn't usually make such a fuss!

Poor bluebells.

[LolaLayla]

My girls (not bluebelles) were making a terrible noise yesterday. When I went out I was just in time to see a sparrow hawk flying off. I was about to tell them off for making a fuss about nothing so felt a bit guilty

[jennym]

mental note - dont get a bluebelle

 

Ah, but I love her. She's crazy, sometimes skittish, other times up in your face demanding treats. Any time you dare to touch her or pick her up she immediately fluffs up and gives a big shake. She dustbathes like a demon so I can only guess she doesn't like being touched by us dirty humans

 

And she's so elegant in that angular, dinosaur kind of way

[Kazzy73]

I have 3 bluebelles that love to shout at nearly every plane that goes overhead(I live under heathrow flight path) and my neighbours havent said a peep but hear them telling dogs to shut up so I think chicken noise is exceptable but continous dog barking not

Arent they so precious dustbath for england and can rip upa lovely patch of grass in record time lol but still cant tell them off .....my lovley girls

[chookingham]

yup. both the pepperpots I have had have done this - not at teh same time though. And since Amy (gold laced orp)recovered from her maluing, we can't shut her up, It's like she is saying - 'oi, world, I'm still here!!'

[chookingham]

must.press.preview.before.submit. apologies for bad typing