Justadmin Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 Hi all, Some advice and reassurance would be greatly appreciated here. So when my two girls started laying they were laying around lunchtime, which was great as they could be as noisy as they liked and I had no neighbour guilt (I'll just say at this point that my garden is very small and I'm surrounded by houses, two terraces either side and then more at the back and all around). Then they went even later to around 3pm, which was fine as well. Then they somehow switched to about 8 in the morning. Not ideal as they do sqwuak for about 30 minutes like old cars trying to start and failing. But still, most folks are up and it's after 7. However the last few mornings it's started at around 5.30! Or maybe even a little before , too early for me to know what time it was! The neighbours (very loud) dogs were barking at 6.45 which makes me feel a bit better, but I'd die if anyone came round and complained. They're such good girls the rest of the time, quiet as mice for the rest of the day. Do you think they'll go back to laying a bit later? Or is this it? I can't shut them indoors as they're in a secure WIR and they actually like sleeping on top of the coop rather than in it. Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 I might be wrong but I think it takes 25 hours to produce/lay an egg so by that reckoning they should start getting later. Have you tried covering the coup with a tarp? Maybe that will keep them quiet a little longer. Welcome to urban hen keeping and the associated worries:)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 I'm surrounded by houses on all sides too. Including upstairs neighbours! That's the reason I lock my ladies in at night. Else they wake up at 4:30 demanding breakfast... I might be wrong but I think it takes 25 hours to produce/lay an egg so by that reckoning they should start getting later. That's what I thought too Gav. But maybe they skip a few hours once their layer moment becomes too late in the day and skip to the next morning. I used to have a tennisball laying at my window. When I let them out at 6 am in the summer, I go back to bed. One of my hens used to have the habit of squawking her head off in the morning. I would toss the tennisball out the window, to distract them and redirect the chicken away from waking up all the neighbours. It mostly did the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 yes it takes about 25 - 26 hours to make an egg depending on which book you read but they don't tend to lay at night unless they get caught 'short' so to speak by a poor quality or soft egg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Do you leave their food in run overnight. Mine are a right noisy lot when the food has run out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Tis the time of year when the sun gets up early and so do the chooks! Egg song at lunchtime even today was resounding and my little sister commented on the racket. I just shrugged and said well? I've had cockerels crowing from 3am in winter even. No easy answer as its nature but know it must be hard in a suburban setting. I have neighbours in very close proximity and 10 boys but no one has complained.....yet... P.s. I'm deaf so until I put my hearing aid in at 9.45 on way to work I can be complacently oblivious.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 I think the worry about the noise in an urban setting is the thing that stresses me out most. Luckily my current little flock are so quiet, they egg announce occasionally but are silent in the cube until around 7ish at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Lucky you! 6:20 right now for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 No neighbours for me. I do have a crested Poland that likes to let you know as soon as she's awake. She wants to free range. Hates being in the run. I've got used to it. The egg laying will get later, then earlier again. Laying something dark over the run is a good idea. When I did have neighbours I used to run downstairs at 4am and throw something nice to eat in the run. "Ooops, word censored!"ody ever complained about the noise though. In fact they said they liked it as it made them feel like they were living in the country Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Lucky you! 6:20 right now for me. Gosh cats tails....I thought I had spoke too soon. I had been out let them out, cleaned the cube and came indoors. One of the girls were gobbing of so badly I resorted to the "hose"...that didn't shut her up then I noticed I had shut the pop hole and she was unable to get in to lay...bless her, I felt so guilty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 poor thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 How could you. Ive never done such a thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juliaschucks Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 We have had this problem over the years and could only manage it when we found a large black sheet that was supposed to cover outdoor furniture. We hang it over the cube and they do not think that it is sunny too early and no wake up call. This was the only thing that worked for us and we live on an estate. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
