Lulabellx1 Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 We have got seven hens and out of all of them, one in particular (Vinegar, top hen) always feels the need to announce her eggs to the world! She lays us a lovely egg and then sqwarkes about it for AGES! It's quite endearing really, however I am a bit worried the neighbours might complain. I can usually get her to stop by distracting her with some tasty morsels, but I'm not always at home when she lays and today I waited to see how long she carried on for and it was a good half an hour! We have recently added 3 new POL hens to our flock and they have now settled down and are getting on quite well, do you think it might be a way of her dominating herself? I don't suppose there is really any way of stopping this behaviour, but thought I would get some moral support from some fellow chicken keepers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 your lucky you only have 1 at least 5 of mine do it but not always together and luckily not all of them lay every day now so it's not all ways to bad. mind they have taught the song to the pullets at the back of my garden but to be honest even through they are at most 20ft away it's not as loud as been in the same garden I think because of the fences and conifer hedge the sound is getting deadened so I now don't worry about mine gobbing off so much I'd stop giving her treats when she does it through as she will keep doing it just to get the treats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldie Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Interesting you added some new hens to your group recently, mine usually have the very odd squawk after laying or if they see a squirrel but were VERY noisy when we introduced 2 new hens to the flock, to the point of having to move them further down the garden away from the neighbours (didn't make a difference, could hear them down the street!). It all calmed down about a week or 2 after we got them...then they were back to their quiet selves. Give it up to 2-3 weeks once they've all got used to their new arrangement and don't feel the need to be so vocal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I love it when my girls sing the 'egg song' - my neighbours don't mind either. I do find when Lady lays, Pebble gets very excited and joins in with a very high pitched song, but she won't do it for any other chook in the flock. Maybe offer some eggs to your neighbours and slip in if they've heard your girls singing after laying? x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 A few of my girls 'egg announce' i actually worried myself sick when i first got them in case the said neighbors complained but they have been fine so far, i leave eggs on the doorsteps of a few and the old boy who is two doors down, i let his grandchildren pop in and have a look in the cube to discover the eggs:) that keeps them sweet too. I can actually stop them, so if they start by shaking the meal worm tub and they suddenly become transfixed although i only do this occasionally(very early AM) as the little so and so's will start expecting them and i will be rewarding bad behavior. i have to say, the rest of the day they are very quiet, just the odd bok bok bok i want some attention please. when talking to my neighbors about noise, i did casually drop in to the conversation that i hear their dogs/kids/music/telly/lawn mower/arguing...etc etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lulabellx1 Posted August 17, 2013 Author Share Posted August 17, 2013 Thanks guys. Yes, I did worry about awarding bad behaviour... bad Mummy I also agree that the hens are no noisier then any of the other garden noise around us too. I'll let her cluck away in peace... hoping it wont be so loud and for so long soon, as the girls seem to have settled down quite nicely together now... finally! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 I've read various articles about hens doing the egg call and the jury seems to be out as to exactly why they do it but from my own (unscientific) observation I'd say it does seem to be a dominant hen thing. My white silkie who is my oldest chook but also my top chook, really makes such a racket and then influnces my head frizzle (next oldest and 2nd in rank) to join in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lulabellx1 Posted August 19, 2013 Author Share Posted August 19, 2013 Well, I think it was just a dominance thing as she seems to have calmed down now. She still has a little cluck, but not for so long. I'm so glad they have settled down now... I forgot how stressful it can be, introducing new hens to an already existing flock. Fingers crossed we wont have to do it again for a while, not at least until the ginger ninja's (ex-bats') retire to the great coop in the sky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
