northybaby Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Hello, Only had my 3 chickens for about 3 months now and one of them is very very noisy! I'm getting worried the neighbours will start to complain. I let them out as soon as the sun starts to come up and they go into the run. Most mornings however one of them starts making an awful racket. She does not do this if i let them free range in the garden all day when i am about. its only in the run. Is she bored? i bought a chicken toy and hang fruit/veg up but its not helping. Any advise? The other 2 seem fine. One makes no noise and the other makes little clucks. Please help! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 She is a smart one:) the more noise she makes then the more she will be allowed to free range, I am afraid you will have to break the cycle. Make sue they have lots if things in the run, I tried logs or perches, hang a corn on the cob, maybe a yellow treat ball, if she makes a noise I would try not to go out to her. I did it for the same reason and gave the girls mealworms every time they made a noise for fear of worrying the neighbours but all it did was encourage them to be more vocal!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueandwhite Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 I agree they are like spoilt toddlers sometimes and soon learn how to control us. I have one who makes an awful racket if she can't get on the nest area (in classic Eglu) because another girl got there first. The other two are more patient. I have the most complaining neighbours on both sides (literally complain at the drop of a hat) but interestingly have not complained about the chicken noise. In fact one said she liked it! If yours do say anything you can tell them what you are doing about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northybaby Posted October 11, 2013 Author Share Posted October 11, 2013 Thanks for the replies! i had no idea they were so clever! its like training a dog. I will try to ignore her. I have tried that a couple of time but she went on for hours so i gave in! did not realise it was a ploy. I will try hanging more treats and interesting things for them to eat and sit on. I have the yellow treat ball but they sussed that out and empty it in 5 mins now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 They are More intelligent than a toddler! I keep treats in my pocket of one particular coat, as soon as I wear that one coat hen solo pops round to my left side and tried to get her pesky little beak in to my pocket! It only took her once or twice to suss that one out. Don't give an inch ))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northybaby Posted October 11, 2013 Author Share Posted October 11, 2013 does the sound of the radio keep them quiet at all? i know we used to leave the radio on for our dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Not sure about that, there is a thread about radio 4 and the dreaded mr fox but not sure about keeping them quiet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenthelibrarian Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 My sympathy - I think my first post on here, on day two of chook-ownership, was about the terrible noise I agree that you need to harden your heart and not reward their performance. We used to shut ours in the Eglu once they'd roosted and not open up until a reasonable time in the morning. This was suggested to us by the [very nice] people that sold us our hens and they honestly don't seem any the worse for it. If it's any consolation they have got much quieter with age and settling down. We now shut them in only in the colder winter months, and they get up when we do, allowing the neighbours a lie-in at weekends. And I'm sure they sound far worse to you than they do to everyone else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Hi there Sometimes it's just their personality!! I had a very noisy hen Milly-she was a gobby madam. She was sitting on some eggs last year (yes she was a broody madam too ) Sneakily she added her own egg Delightfully the egg hatched and tourned out to be the only girl off the bunch!! BUT....... she is just like her mum a gobby madam Hope your hen settles down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Boris my cockerel is the same if he knows I'm home and the mob is confined to quarters then he'll gob off until they get let out or he gets fed up/ thinks I've gone out. gobby hens are a night mare they will scream themselves horse at least the boys get bored quickly and shut up well mine do at any rate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Yep my biguns grumble and pace if they can see me in the kitchen and Mr Fidget test crows to see if I'm about as I used to run to throw treats at them to shut them up. I'm much more relaxed about the noise now. Egg announcements in the summer can get a bit much but following the loss of Paxo who thoroughly enjoyed a good shout I'm hoping at will have lessened. Hold firm, be strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northybaby Posted October 14, 2013 Author Share Posted October 14, 2013 Well the weekend we let them free range all day anyway. They are so silly and would rather stand out in a downpour and get soaked throu that stand in the covered run! Anyway this morning opened the iglu door at 7am so they can go in the run. Valerie sounded off constantly for nearly three hours! she seems to be a bit calmer now just as im off to work. But i did not cave! However. the toys and treats don't seem to interest her at all on her anymore. The other 2 hens silent and happy to peck about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heth1986 Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 Tee hee, This brings back memories for most of us I think! Mine were dreadfully noisy when I first got them and, like you, I used to run up the garden to hush them / throw a handful of corn to keep them quiet etc. It was a little while until I realised how well trained they had me, I was getting up at 5AM every morning to make sure they had a treat to keep them from waking the neighbours! On the plus side for you, it is dreadful weather outside so I'd imagine your neighbours windows are closed and they're all staying out of the garden. They probably haven't even noticed the noise but if you're really concerned then pop round with some eggs and let them know you're working on the problem. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heth1986 Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 PS well done for not giving in! They'll soon learn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 I have one chook, a goldtop, who I have come to accept is just noisy. In fact, I've pretty much re-named her squawk She squawks at, well, anything, everything and nothing. I've spent hours watching her to try and work out what makes her create such a racket and the only consistent factor is that it's daylight. She does seem worse when I'm around, but I've heard her at other times too. As we discussed on another thread, you may (if all the other excellent advice above doesn't work) just have to accept that she's just noisy. And she's probably less noisy than your neighbours' kids/lawnmowers/power tools/music/dogs/whatever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northybaby Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 Thanks for all your replys! This morning they were quiet! so this morning before i went to work i gave them some treats. Yesterday when she were noisy i totally ignored them all. really hope i can continue and train them up. Thanks again all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
