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Olly

New Chickens - when will they shut up?

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I collected three adoptee chickens yesterday, together with their green Eglu. I thought that by putting the Eglu alongside my existing one, the girls would get to know each other without any violence, and hopefully by spring I will be able to put all five together in a Cube. Maybe that is a bit naive? :?

 

I just hadn't bargained on the noise! Mainly from Hilda, my existing GNR and 'top chicken'. Last night she shouted, bawled and yelled from about 5.00 when we arrived, until it was nearly bedtime. I closed the Eglu doors out of consideration for the neighbours, but the minute I opened them this morning she went off again! She's been doing it non-stop since about 8.00 apart from a few pauses to eat. She's normally very quiet.

 

Will she stop? Should I just let her get on with it, or try to distract her? Is this going to go on for days or will she have got over it by lunchtime?

 

If anyone has had experience of this, please let me know - at the moment it's driving me mad, and I shouldn't think the neighbours are thrilled either!

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It will take a few days.

 

When I got my second lot of 4, they were in separate eglus and runs, they were alongside eachother , about 4 feet apart at the closest point.

 

Both groups squared up to each other and Boc Bocked and hissed in a very scary manner for about a week.

 

Now they completely ignore each other and all is calm.

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:shock: :shock: a WEEK! I was hoping it might stop by lunchtime!

 

The BAWK-BAWK-bawk-bawk-bawk-bawk-ing has dropped to about once every 60 seconds, rather than being constant. At least tomorrow most of the neighbours will be at work.

 

Would it be better to let them free-range under supervision together today (and I assume there will be a bit of pecking) or keep them separate for the time being?

 

Thanks Egluntine, I was a bit desperate at 8.15 this morning but I'm feeling slightly calmer as it is decreasing slightly.

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It does generally take about a week, but the noise level should go down a bit during that time.

 

I expect you are more sensitive to it becasue of the heighbours.

 

You could alwyas tell them that the easiest way to introduce new hens is if you have a cockerel - but the cockerel will make 10 times the noise of your hens!! :lol:

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I'm beginning to suspect that it's put on for my effect ... I've just been out, and came back and paused by the back gate for a few seconds - total silence. Opened the gate, and it started again.

Fortunately (for me! :lol: ) I have to go out again shortly, and in the afternoon. Ignorance is bliss!

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Mine tend to strike up when they see me in the garden as they're shouting to be let out.........I keep them shut in the eglu overnight to make sure they don't come out and start clucking too early in the morning. But the way I see it, (or what I tell myself is) garden birds make a noise - we have jackdaws aroound here plus sparrows etc - and they can't half make a racket!!! Plus blackbirds alarm calls, and dogs barking.....etc - compared to all that, my girls are pretty quiet! :)

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