Noisy chickens

[Munch]

I have kept chickens for three years, all in a close proximatey to houses and no complaints, however our cockerel, raised for the table, has started making a racket

But he will will in the freezer by the end of next week.

I think I would prefer my neighbours to come to me with any issues rather than ......... say go straight to the council, so we can try and maybe sort the issues in a friendly way.

In my opinion people that dont keep chickens have to understand how addictive they can be to others. Just like chocolate!

[frias]

Invest in some ear plugs?

Seriously I would ask your neighbour if they could lock the hens in until after 7am. Chickens get up as soon as it's light but if locked in the dark stay quiet. As the days get shorter the hens will be getting up later anyway so you shouldn't be woken up early in the winter.

[VirginVegGrower]

After 7am a council isn't interested anyhow as noise after that time is considered normal,

[RedThorn]

I would suggest that you ask your neighbours to invest in an automatic door opener. The noise you are more likely hearing is the girls protesting that the door is shut and the sun is up and please can you let us out. Once free of their confines, the noise level should drop dramatically back to a tolerable level. I hope that this helps you. I commend you on doing some research first. I hope that this works out for all parties. I personally find the sound of yapping dogs to be particularly grating on my senses, whereas chickens make a lovely sound to me. Each person is different and as daft as it sounds, majority of people seem to accept that a yapping dog is ok. grrr So, I understand where you are coming from.

I really do think a auto door opener is the way forward,as like dogs, chicken owners get very attached to them and they are pets to the owners. This therefore creates a very emotive situation. Good luck and all the best

[SMS6]

When we first got our chickens and we went out in the mornings to let ours out they would often be quite excited and making a bit of a fuss. Not enough to bother the neighbours I don't think but enough so you knew they were awake and waiting. Our coop has a little window in the door and so they knew it was light. Since we've put a cover over the window they are much quieter and calmer most mornings.

My Light Sussex was giving it some the other morning and came out shouting - so much so the other 2 stayed in for a few minutes. I think she thought there was danger about so came out ready for a fight The seagulls overhead were being very noisy too though and they wake off the lake near us at about 5.00 am every day. Nobody can keep them quiet.

[petal]

unusual for hens to make noise at 5.30- is a fox around to stir them up? 8 metres from your window is rather close- how far are the hens located to your neighbours bedroom window - can they move them closer to their own backdoor? However, I think a nasty little yapping dog is a thousand times worse than the clucking of chickens. I am woken up here by a nasty little dog let out at the crack of dawn frequently- you can't even hear the odd cockerel over it! Sorry - I am a dog lover but not into yappers! So, it could be worse but before you talk to neighbours, brown gazelle, do consider the level of noise your own family makes, you might be surprised?!!!!

[RichmondHens]

Some chickens are just plain noisy, regardless of circumstance. Others are quiet. My indian game hens are very vocal and I've moved them well away where I can't hear them! Ditto one of my Light Sussex hens who seems to shout incessantly from the moment she wakes up till she has laid her egg, and then again about tea time when she knows the corn pot is coming round. Quite a horrible sound really and I can understand how non chicken owners can be upset by the noise as it can drive me mad sometimes too!!!

I think browngazelle you have to find out why the chickens are noisy in the first place - it could be as simple as being hungry or desperate to get outside. Are they being let out at a sensible time? Some people let them out early in the week when they work but leave them shut up for longer at weekends, which must be distressing for the birds who are used to the weekly routine and therefore will shout about it in no uncertain terms. But it equally may just be their nature. A friendly chat with the owners to explain your concerns might help and they may come up with ways of helping reduce the noise.

[petal]

very true RH. mine are noisy if i am late feeding them-or when they have laid an egg- often to shut them up I chuck greens in from the veg plot or marrows sliced length ways so they can peck at the seeds. Also - with their coop being so close to you- are they keeping it clean often enough? might get pongy on a hot day.

[Suechooks]

Cats too are noisy - especially in the middle of the night when they decide to congregate and have a scrap! They can also disturb chickens in urban settings by sitting on roofs or prowling about round the run. These hens could be making alarm calls.

[baldrick]

When we first got our chickens and we went out in the mornings to let ours out they would often be quite excited and making a bit of a fuss. Not enough to bother the neighbours I don't think but enough so you knew they were awake and waiting. Our coop has a little window in the door and so they knew it was light. Since we've put a cover over the window they are much quieter and calmer most mornings.

My Light Sussex was giving it some the other morning and came out shouting - so much so the other 2 stayed in for a few minutes. I think she thought there was danger about so came out ready for a fight The seagulls overhead were being very noisy too though and they wake off the lake near us at about 5.00 am every day. Nobody can keep them quiet.

yes mine were waking at 5.30 and when the neighbor politely mentioned it I slept with the window open one night...and she was right. That level of noise at 5.30 am is not on be it dogs chooks or whatever. We have started shutting the pop hole to keep the house dark til 7.30 (they normally come and go in a secure run). I then give them their scatters and mash which keeps them busy for an hour then the cluck clucks start. I like it but its enough to wake me with the window open. Its triggered a major moult and is a right pain coz I usually sort them out at 6 before the kids are awake. Also I will have to let them out at 6.45 next summer when my maternity leave finishes but as far as im concerned a bit of quiet cluck clucking from 7.45 is acceptable and certainly quieter than the traffic noise which starts about 7.30 and the bin lorry at 7. Im glad she just dropped it tactfully into the conversation though and am very grateful.

[OverWyreGrower]

Our birds get up as soon as the sun is up.... 5.30am or not... luckily, they are far enough away from us and the neighbour for us not to worry.... mind you, next doors sheep, goats and pigs make much more noise than my 25 birds!!

[Mikey]

At the moment my hens aren't shut in their eglu overnight. Unfortunately it also means they are up at the crack of dawn. By 7.30am they have had enough of being in their run, and one vocalises 'Get up you lazy so and so's and let us out of our run!', I duly sleepy eyed do so and they are happy again.

Somehow I think the tail is wagging the dog!