Solitary chicken - need advice

[BridieLou]

Hi all. Our three chickens have settled in beautifully, but Ailsa (the boss), has developed a rather antisocial crowing habit. This morning, she began at 6:10am and I was out to the garden like a shot in my dressing gown to shush her. She wasn't laying, just crowing.

 

Trouble is, in my embarrassed efforts to quieten her I simply opened the gate to let them free range. I realise now this is probably a dreadful idea because she'll learn that's the quickest way to get out of the run, but I'm not sure what else I can do that early? If I were to be persistent (i.e., hack off all the neighbours) for a few days, would she learn and behave, or would I just become increasingly unpopular?

 

She usually does the same thing a couple of times in the day, but I usually just tell her to be quiet then and she does. She also has a weird habit of silently crowing? Anyone else familiar with this? Neck movements and beak open exactly as if she were crowing, but nothing comes out...

 

Thanks all for any advice!

[gavclojak]

Crowing or clucking:))

 

They are so damn smart, as soon as you give an inch they will take a mile, never give in to diva demands

 

[mullethunter]

I have a hen who occasionally (a couple of times a year) crows at first light (and like you it sends me stumbling to the garden in my dressing gown with one eye glued shut), and she isn't even top hen!

 

I think it's just hormones running amok sometimes

[Alis girls]

I know how she feels. I could do with a good crow myself at times

[BridieLou]

Thanks all. I'll just stick to my guns then..!

 

Oh, Gavclojak... it sounds a hellovalot more like crowing than clucking to me!