arowland17 Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 Hi, Hoping someone will have a suggestion to this - we got our chickens a week ago and as we had the week off work, have been letting them free-range in the garden while we've been out there which has been most of the day the last couple of days due to the nice weather. However, we can't leave them out while we're not there as we've seen foxes in our area and don't trust them not to attempt escape!! Problem is, whenever we leave them in the run, like in the morning and when we put them back in this evening, Nugget doesn't seem too bothered, but Buttercup walks up and down and squawks loudly and pretty much non-stop! I was just worried about neighbours complaining especially as we'll be at work all day - we can usually shut her up for a bit by throwing a handful of corn in there and before we let them free-range they were fine in the run all day, but they seem to have got a taste for freedom, does anyone have any suggestions... don't know whether to just let them out in evenings so they get used to being in all day I just worry it'll annoy people while we're at work and can't do anything about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 We leave ous in the run when we go out, with no problems However, we did find the chooks to be a bit like children, they had little strops to be let out when ever they saw us, apparently if you let them out when they strop - they just keep stropping, if you ignore them, they get the message very quickly. our neighbours like the sound of the chooks too (could be that we give them eggs ) Good luck with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 Don't they send you on a guilt trip!! Most people find that if they see you they will pace and squawk like mad. Once you are out of sight, they get on with doing normal chickeny things (just watch surrepticiously from behind the curtains one day). They might think they ought to be let out, but they come to no harm being shut in - it is for their own good after all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 agree - I was amazed the first time I saw my chickens sitting down, because I didn't realise they ever did this! Then it dawned on me that every time I approached the run, they were squawking and jumping on each other because they expect either a treat, or to be let out - I never saw them behaving 'normally'. Get them used to being in the run, and you pottering around outside - they soon stop all the chicken blackmail, and get on with doing what chickens do all day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 Is she making a fuss because she can see you? Grit your teeth and leave them in the run for a couple of days to retrain them. They'll be fine.....better than the alternative! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted August 4, 2007 Author Share Posted August 4, 2007 I think it gets worse when we go out, they both jump and struggle to the door expecting to come out or get some corn which they don't always get - I'm working today from about 11am till late so we wont let them out at all and hopefully they'll learn to be ok in the run all day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 Our little chook Mischief done this, she was pacing up and down the run grinding her beak along the mesh and screeching very loudly. We where going to take her back because we thought she was distressed but she is fine now, it turns out she was upset beacsue she wanted to lay her egg but didnt know where to go, we had this all day untill she layed us one on the roosting bars but the next 2 have been in the nesting box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 Ditto all the above advice. Just to mention that chickens by nature tend to pace up and down like caged lions - quite a lot. But they do it whatever size run they are in When I had some up my allotment last year they had a meadow to free range in when I wasn't there (netted off of course) and they paced along all 25mtrs or so of net fence. They are just looking out to see what they can see - so don't feel guilty if you see them doing that. - Chances are they can see you watching them - and that is why they are doing it. As a last resort if they don't seem to be breaking the habit - is a quick short squirk with a water pistol. Don't give in to them and feed them corn or show any attention when they are doing their shrieking - it will get worse - I know from bitter experience Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 I agree with what everyone has said here too, ours started like this after we first started letting them free range, they are now quite happy in the run until I decide to let them out......If you give in to them you will end up with out of control hens, a bit like naughty children who get attention and sweets when they scream and create....... They will soon give up and you will have well behaved hens again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted August 5, 2007 Author Share Posted August 5, 2007 Thanks for all the advice, as we were starting to let them out when we couldn't bear the noise any longer, we're so worried about the neighbours complaining but at the end of the day they don't make that much noise, and we could of got a dog that barks in the garden all day and they're a lot quieter than that!! After leaving them at about 11am yesterday and not getting home till after dark when we shut their door but couldn't see much of the run, I have gone out this mornign to look at the scene of destruction that is now their run! I have been clearing the poop everyday and there was a lot in there, all very smelly when a lot of its collected together! and they'd emptied all of the shredded paper out their nesting box and into the run it was spread everywhere - there was also Nugget's 2nd egg in the middle of the run so not sure if she was trying to make a little nest??? it doesn't look like it to be honest, think I might put the egg back in the nesting box for the rest of the day - do you think that would make her realise that's where she should lay?? not sure if they even go into the eglu till bedtime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neal & ella Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 How friendly are you neighbours? It could be worth just asking them to keep an ear open and you may find they are a lot quieter than you think. The unfortunate flip-side of the coin is that it could draw their attention to the noise which they may not have previously noticed. We had a brahma who would stay in her fenced off area until I came out into the garden and would then do a fosbury-flop through a gap in the hazel fence to come and see me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
