xBert Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Hi all, We have had our 3 chooks for 2 years now and lived in a pretty secluded place but unfortunately we have had to rejoin humanity and live in a more residential area now. The problem is that the girls go mental and start to 'crow' REALLY loudly anytime a cat comes near the garden (and there seems a few about). It starts as a pock-pock-pock-pock-pock then then goes into overdrive. Does anyone know what I mean? Is this normal? I thought only Cocks did this? It is SO loud and I have to run outside for them to shut up. I am sure someone will complain soon and I really dont want aggro with the neighbours! Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Get one of those thingummy bob whatsitswhich are a bit like a foxwatch for cats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 yep, mine crow - makes quite a racket. the orpingtons sound as though they have sore throats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Abbie goes WAAA WAAA WAAA, and Megan yaps like a small dog I worry about the neighbours sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Ella our big girl is extremely noisy. BAWK BAWK BAWKING very loudly when she wants her own way, or wants to be let out, or if there is a cat in the garden. We recently added some more chooks to our flock and she was not at all happy and had to let the whole village know. We gave her a few warning bursts of water from the hosepipe everytime she crowed and she soon got the message and shut up. Water pistols are used also by some on here. Yes, hens can be just as noisy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 So is the crowing of a hen as loud as a cock? I ask because my pekin "crows" and isn't that loud. I wouldn't mind having a pekin cock if that's as loud as it gets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 i would say a cockerel was louder, but with bantams im not sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 I have one that "bawks" loudly at cats and if I don't shut her up, the others join in. Sometimes I think she does it for attention and shuts up when I come out into the garden. But if I hear her now, she gets a squirt with the hosepipe so this hopefully doesn't turn into a little habit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Lavinia has been squiretd lately because she's started a sort of crow She's a very bossy pekin bantam and is doing it for attention and status. Pekin cocks can crow quite loudly - be warned! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Sounds like mine. Perhaps it's a lavender Pekin trait! OK no boys in my flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveypup Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Yes Clover is extremely vociferous!!! BOCK BOCK BOCKAAAAK! Especially when we use the strimmer, when the dustbin wagon comes, when Humbug deserts her to go to lay, when we mow the lawn, when an aeroplane goes over, when I fill up grub, in fact nearly all the time Luckily all my neighbours are lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaR Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Yep, mine do it too when there is a cat around. Squirting them with a water pistol worked for a time until they would 'notice' it and would dodge the direction of the spray. Saying that, they do calm down alot quicker than they used to! I've worried about the neighbours but after speaking with them, they actually surprisingly like to hear the chooks. In fact, I found out the other week that some of them have an informal bet going each day as to who can guess correctly, whether the chooks have laid an egg or whether they have spotted a cat instead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xBert Posted September 18, 2007 Author Share Posted September 18, 2007 Thanks for all the comments. I guess it is just that they didn't have as many 'worries' in the old place and were left in peace. I can't work out if the cats are trying to actually get them or are just curious? I like the idea of the cat noise 'scarer' and might give that a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissinuk Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 I read this thread and thought "yeah right", my 2 new girls only make small clucking noises when I stroke them, no hen can be that loud..... Then today I had to run into the garden to see what the hell was going on - they were going nuts!! A cat was sitting watching them, I've never heard them do that before, probably not much quieter then a cockerel! Now the whole neighbourhood must know we have 2 hens hidden round the side of our garden. Not really sure what to do, I could get a cat scarer but I don't want it to affect our rabbit. They (and the eglu) are still within the 30 day money-back-guarantee, so they better watch out......! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 When Magic has layed she does a kind of *clears throught* bob.....bob.....bob....bob.......BOBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK......bob.....bob.....bob.....bob.......BOBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK. just like that. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 When Magic has layed she does a kind of *clears throught* bob.....bob.....bob....bob.......BOBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK......bob.....bob.....bob.....bob.......BOBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK. just like that. xx Fabulous impersination - you've got it spot on!!! Prada was doing exactly the same at 6am this morning Guess who's going to get their eglu door shut tonight!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 *clears throught* bob.....bob.....bob....bob.......BOBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK......bob.....bob.....bob.....bob.......BOBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK. just like that. xx Perfect description of my Laverne!!! Every time she or the others lay, she annouces to the world!!! My next door neighbours love the noise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyhens Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 Its good to hear that I'm not the only person with noisy chickens. Mine start wailing (sounds like a very young baby crying) at about 0630 hrs to be let out of the eglu. They also cry out if they see me at the kitchen window and want to be let out of the run to free range. I did worry about the neighbours, but no-one has complained - YET! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xBert Posted September 25, 2007 Author Share Posted September 25, 2007 Great impressions above- exactly what they do! I tried to 'write' it but couldn't. They woke me up at 6.30 this morning through closed double-glazing AND earplugs. I think they'll be on their way if the neighbours start to complain. In fairness they are annoying me and they're my own! Wouldn't mind but they have given up laying as well. *starts to sharpen axe* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazel_L Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 Ours all do the same when they've laid kind off *bock-bock bock-KAWWWWWK* *bock-bock bock-KAWWWWWK* my 8 year-old daughter does a fabulous impression AND can guess which one's "bocking" as they all differ slightly - apparently Jean's quite throaty, Dolly's more warbly and Twinkle's squeakier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebowyer Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 They certainly do crow - ours delighted in waking us at dawn. The record was 5:20am! The only way I found to keep them quiet was to cover the eglu-end of the run with the winter shade, lean a piece of wood against the side that the sun rose and shutting them in the eglu overnight. You have to be careful in summer though, as it can get quite hot in there, and you mustn't forget to let them out and go off to work... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 and you mustn't forget to let them out and go off to work... I wish my hens went off to work after I let them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
