Noisy Girl

[sheena]

For 2 days now, i've been woken up by a single chicken!

Without fail she is makes a load of noise at 8.15am (so glad it's not earlier, my neighbours would be out there picketing). Yesterday I assumed it was because there was an egg there. But this morning I went out to check, and there wasn't one... but she is still crowing for England!

Can you get valium for chickens? Or is she ready to meet my oven?

I've made sure they got fresh water and food, threw in some bread crumbs, topped up the oyster shell and grit. I cleaned the home yesterday, so it's not messy and poo picked this morning.

What else is there that she cold be possibly moaning about? I just hope she isn't out there boasting.

Just an after thought, this girl was the first one to use the ladder in and out the home. (Ex-batts) She is pretty much first to do everything (OH has got attached to her too, so don't think even he will do the dreaded deed for me either now. I'm in the right frame of mind to do it right now.

[Nicos]

Are you absolutely certain she's a gal????..how old is 'she'????

[MaureenHall]

She'll calm down eventually One of mine goes on for hours if there's been any change to anything in the run

[sheena]

Have no idea how old she is, but I'm guessing she is a girl, as I have 4 chickens and had 4 eggs on their first day home.

Only got them end of March, I know it takes a while for them to settle but I have never known a hen to make so much noise. A couple of the others are making cute little bleets, but this girl is just so noisy, not quite cockerel crowing, but I can hear her through closed double glazed windows!

I heard that they tend make noise if they feel threatened, but would of thought the noise of a lawnmower may have set her off - but she was silent throughout the ordeal.
It's mainly during the morning hours that she does it, from 8 - 10am

[MaureenHall]

Well perhaps she's saying "I'm going to lay my egg soon. Did you know I'm going to lay an egg? Shall I lay my egg now? I think I might just go and see if there's a nest box available. I've laid my egg! Did you know I've laid my egg? Do you want to see my egg? Oy, you lot, she's come and pinched my egg!"

[lizzylemon]

well perhaps she's saying "i'm going to lay my egg soon. Did you know i'm going to lay an egg? Shall i lay my egg now? I think i might just go and see if there's a nest box available. I've laid my egg! Did you know i've laid my egg? Do you want to see my egg? Oy, you lot, she's come and pinched my egg!"

:d:dLOL:d:d (they're supposed to be big smiley icons - wah!)

[Nicos]

If you're getting stressed in case your neighbours start to complain and you may not be able to keep them- well how about asking the neighbours if the noise is actually worrying them?
If they say they are- just explain that they are settling in and should be fine 'fairly soon'
That will take some of the anxiety away!
You should be enjoying having them- and I'm sure given a couple of weeks they'll settle down!

I have to say that I have one chook who likes to tell the world she's about to lay- and then has laid- and then the cockerel joins in with the SAME call- as well as crowing!!!!!
BUT- I'm in the countryside - and my neighbours are fine with chook noises after 9am and before bedtime.
Perhaps the odd egg given to your neighbours for Easter may be a nice gesture???- (I give a couple away at a time- any more and we'd be short of eggs!)

[Nicos]

Just a thought- is it fairly light inside their coop? Maybe she's ready to be let out after an hour or so of daylight????
If it is light, maybe you could make it darker????

[Eyren]

I have a miniature wyandotte and two pekins - probably the worst two breeds when it comes to noise/size ratio. The wyandotte squawks whenever a plane or helicopter flies overhead (and since we live near Cambridge airport, that's almost constant in summer), the black pekin whinges on the doorstep hoping for treats, and the other pekin just makes a fuss until I got and pick her up and pet her

I shut mine in the eglu at night unless it's really hot, and let them out around 7 or 8 am - those thick insulated walls really help to cut down the noise

[Suechooks]

One of my high ranking girls creates havoc if anyone else is in a nest box when she wants to choose her place to lay! There are plenty of nest boxes but she MUST have first pick! And she always lays first thing in the morning - around 7a.m!

[kirsty b]

I've got a couple of squawkers. If one want to lay and the nest boxes are occupied, she will stand and squawk untl one moves or go out for a bit, then come back and make more noise. A couple make loads of noise after laying and my Light Sussex bantam make loads of noise just because she can!!! she is the smallest btw, the rest of my hens are ex-batts.

[KimT]

I know what you mean Sheena! We have one that contantly beaks off really loudly in the hen house until I drag myself out of bed and let them all out.

This all kicks off at around 7.30am although this morning all was quiet and there was a nice egg in the nest box too.

[sheena]

I really don't know what to make of her!

The good point is I got 4 eggs today, the first time since the 30th March!
I can only guess what is going on inside that girl's head... but I guess she must be top of the pecking order and not "Boss (Bossy one)" as I had previously thought.
I just hope that she don't start the others off.

My neighbours haven't been too bad, but I live in a pretty built up area and it's probably me who's getting more annoyed than they are. I spose the good side of it is that it's not happening at 6am! I think I would go out of my mind if that started, nevermind the neighbours.

But I see your point about egg gestures, maybe I should offer a couple to each of them, and maybe I won't feel so bad.

[Nicos]

Spot on Sheena!!

[kirsty b]

I've yet to meet anyone who will turn down fresh laid eggs.