ricmonddan Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Hi, I am after some re-assurance or even the contrary. I have an Eglu go, 3m run and 21m fencing arriving friday and intend to head out to select 2 hens on saturday. I've never kept chickens before, i have a decent sized grassed and well enclosed garden. My worries are around noise for the neighbors, when googling "are chickens noisey" I get a bunch of horror stories, is this the norm, are my neighbors likely to be woken by them in the summer? I understand it can be specific to the animal in terms of how noisey they can be, but i'm after experiences first hand both good or bad, as it may not be too late to back out of the idea. Don't get me wrong, I will get up early to let them out, feed them well, keep them clean etc. That won't be a problem I just don't want to get attached to them (and more likely the wife get attached to them) then have to re-home them. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Hi Dan and welcome to the forum! Unless you have a cockerel chickens don't make much noise. They may decide to shout for a minute about the egg they've just laid, or a warning about the fox they can see, but in general the garden noises you will hear will be dogs barking, lawnmowers, music, car maintenance etc (googling chicken noises is like googling about a car you intend to buy - you will only see bad stories because no-one reports when everything is fine!) Paula Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricmonddan Posted April 9, 2015 Author Share Posted April 9, 2015 Thanks for taking the time to reply Paula, that is what I was hoping (one side of the story) I am very excited about having them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 I am very excited about having them. So are we! You realise it's compulsory to post photos of them as soon as you can don't you? (although you will need 5 posts I think before you can put pictures up) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricmonddan Posted April 9, 2015 Author Share Posted April 9, 2015 Better get posting then, up to two already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 My neighbours really like the noise my hens make. I don't like it when they wake me up at 4am, but that's my fault because I don't close their pop hole Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 My neighbours really like the noise my hens make. I don't like it when they wake me up at 4am, but that's my fault because I don't close their pop hole Good luck Not sure if they really like it, but I decided they just don't get the choice. I have to listen to the running and crying kids (sometimes running crying kids) of one of my neighbours and to the soccer watching sessions of my upstairs neighbours, complete with jumping up and down for a goal and yelling at the other team... Yes chickens will make noise, no it won't be all day. (Most of the time... You can always have that one wacko chicken...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 you'd hate living next door to me cat tails. I've got 4 children (grown up ish )3 dogs and 20 chickens. Oh and some very noisy but lovely friends Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 we have 7 chucks (soon to be 10) and i can say that only 1 of them is noisy and only really when she lays an egg. My neighbours have told me they like the sound of the chucks and I think its like anything - you will probably think they are noisier than they are because you are listening out for them... good luck - getting hens was the best thing we ever did x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 you'd hate living next door to me cat tails. I've got 4 children (grown up ish )3 dogs and 20 chickens. Oh and some very noisy but lovely friends I think it is a lot different when people are living next door as opposed to living above you. I know when my upstairs neighbour has a sore throat... I have to confes I sometimes punish them for being noisy till late at night (well my night anyway... When I'm trying to sleep...) and just get up early and start going about my business in the garden. Sweeping the patio, cleaning the chickens, banging around the dustpan... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricmonddan Posted April 9, 2015 Author Share Posted April 9, 2015 Thanks for all the feedback, all of it is reassuring, I put up with a lot of noise from the area, but don't make any myself so maybe i should be a bit more selfish this time. I do have decent neighbors to be honest (so far) no that we speak much (to me that is a good neighbor ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulad Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 another good tip is to hand out free eggs occasionally - keeps them sweet !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Best of luck with your chicken keeping and choosing your hens Have you decided on the breed/type yet? A point to consider is it's usually best to start out with a minimum of 3 hens. It's a protection, so that when you lose a hen you then don't have a lone hen. Chickens are flock animals and don't generally like/do well alone. Keep us posted and remember you will always have help, support and good advice on this forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricmonddan Posted April 9, 2015 Author Share Posted April 9, 2015 Hi, The small holding i am off too has the following breeds: Goldlines, Blues, Light Sussex hybrids, Rhode Rocks, Speckledy Cuckoo Marans. So I need to do some more reading really, i'm just after a small ish friendly breed, with egg laying volumes being secondary. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 I don't know what Blues are, but the rest of the breeds aren't particularly small. All good layers though. The Marans sound lovely. I think I'd have one of each Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricmonddan Posted April 9, 2015 Author Share Posted April 9, 2015 Rather than small I probably mean not big... or perhaps in English; Medium. I like the idea of the Morans also... it will be a tough choice for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricmonddan Posted April 9, 2015 Author Share Posted April 9, 2015 I'm in Witham, Essex by the way in case anyone could recommend me somewhere for POL or young chickens. I'm not adverse to the idea of a younger chicken that is not laying egg yet, assuming their care is not too dissimilar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Hi Dan. I have 4 bantams in the exact set-up you're getting. They never make noise in the morning no matter whether I leave their Eglu door open or closed. They're only noisy if they've laid an egg (shout for about five minutes), see a predator (make a warning call) or are having a whinge about something (someone else won't let them lay their egg in peace ). I agree that three is better than two, but hybrids are all quite big so if they're going to be shut in the Eglu run for any length of time I wouldn't get any more than three. Looking forward to seeing what you come home with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Could the blues be bluebelles? Maybe you should consider pure breeds? Hybrids are not smallish, they are rather biggish! I have New Hampshire bantams, who are about half the size of a hybrid. Larger than a pigeon, maybe comparable to a nice size seagull, but ofcourse without the wings. I think pekins are more easily available in the UK and are similar in size. Pekins apparently do go broody a lot. Mine haven't so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricmonddan Posted April 9, 2015 Author Share Posted April 9, 2015 I'm swaying now... maybe I want Bantams... help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Hello and welcome....any urban hen keeper has had the same worries....I actually made myself crazy for the first few weeks, every time they egg announced I was convinced my neighbours would complain but they have been fine. In fact I think they quite like it, my new girls rarely egg announce, I have had them since October and only heard them a few times. I can't advise on breeds as I am only interested in ex commercial girls but I'm sure one of the moderators Olly comes from Essex and may be able to advise you if you PM her (assuming it is a her) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 I always look on pre loved. There is a place called Smilers farm in wickford. Ive bought many chickens there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 My bantam Wyandottes are a nice size. For a bantam they're quite big - a fair amount bigger than my Pekins - but quite a lot smaller than the hybrids my mum has. Their eggs are just about big enough to have boiled with soldiers (the Pekins' aren't really). They also seem really robust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixieDust Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Hi, The small holding i am off too has the following breeds: Goldlines, Isa Warren, Gingernut Ranger, Lohmann Blues, Bluebell, Bluebelle, French Grey Light Sussex hybrids, Rhode Rocks, Black Rock, Bovans Nera, Mrs Pepperpot Speckledy Cuckoo Marans. Speckledy, Cuckoo Marans, Cucu So I need to do some more reading really, i'm just after a small ish friendly breed, with egg laying volumes being secondary. Dan All are hybrids Dan. The Light Sussex are often quite large. If you are looking at hybrids the Columbine/Skyline are slightly smaller. A little flighty at first but are very friendly as they start to lay. About 3 large hens would be right in that size run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricmonddan Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share Posted April 10, 2015 Eglu and bits arrived yesterday I think i have settled on -Rhode Island Ranger -Goldline -Speckledy Moran Think those ladies will be ok? D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
