bbycarrot
Chirping
Hello there! This is my first post on BYC. I have seen similar posts to what I'm about to share, but nothing quite the same. I have done hours worth of internet searching and watching youtube videos, but nothing addresses my problem.
We have a french black copper maran (Marie) who will NOT STOP screaming all day. There is the occasional break for an our or two, but most of the time it is constant. It is NOT her egg laying call. She is also not broody and is laying fine. Our hens have full run of our backyard that has nice grass, plenty of bugs to chase around, and multiple areas of shelter including our garage, covered patio, and trees. They have plenty of food and water, nesting boxes, and dustbathing areas.
We got Marie along with a soeckled sussex we named Filianore when they were little babies. They got along okay with our slightly older girls, but mainly kept to themselves. Fil was especially freindly toward humans and was a lap chicken after she started laying. One night she passed away from what we think was liver failure. We buried her under our big oak tree. I don't remember if that is what triggered it or not, but I think after Fil died, that is when Marie got really loud. She wanders around the yard screaming and will do it while scratching and sometimes while eating. The only time she doesn't scream is when she is sleeping and when she is actively laying an egg in the nesting boxes.
Our buff orpington tries to hang out with her, but Marie always walks away from the others. I believe this is because she is at the bottom of the pecking order and our easter egger (at the top and our lady rooster-wannabe) is mean to her. It's not constant picking, but it is noticeable that she doesn't like Marie, but she will also pick on the others from time to time as well.
I'm so desperate to figure out how to soothe Marie and get her to quiet down. It's been around 9 months since Fil passed away, so I'm not sure if grief is really the cause. My husband wants to rehome her because it's hard for him to focus when he works from home and he is worried about the neighbors. Our neighbors have not complained and we give them eggs, although two of them did think Marie was a goose because of how she sounds. I also think part of the issue is she has intensely strong vocal chords. She seems physically healthy, but this screaming makes me so sad.
Before rehoming her as a last resort, I was desperate to see if anyone here had any idea on what changes we could make so that she doesn't seem so upset all the time. I love all my hens and would prefer to keep them around. I like to think we give them a great life, but any advice on what I can do better to make her happier is appreciated.
We have a french black copper maran (Marie) who will NOT STOP screaming all day. There is the occasional break for an our or two, but most of the time it is constant. It is NOT her egg laying call. She is also not broody and is laying fine. Our hens have full run of our backyard that has nice grass, plenty of bugs to chase around, and multiple areas of shelter including our garage, covered patio, and trees. They have plenty of food and water, nesting boxes, and dustbathing areas.
We got Marie along with a soeckled sussex we named Filianore when they were little babies. They got along okay with our slightly older girls, but mainly kept to themselves. Fil was especially freindly toward humans and was a lap chicken after she started laying. One night she passed away from what we think was liver failure. We buried her under our big oak tree. I don't remember if that is what triggered it or not, but I think after Fil died, that is when Marie got really loud. She wanders around the yard screaming and will do it while scratching and sometimes while eating. The only time she doesn't scream is when she is sleeping and when she is actively laying an egg in the nesting boxes.
Our buff orpington tries to hang out with her, but Marie always walks away from the others. I believe this is because she is at the bottom of the pecking order and our easter egger (at the top and our lady rooster-wannabe) is mean to her. It's not constant picking, but it is noticeable that she doesn't like Marie, but she will also pick on the others from time to time as well.
I'm so desperate to figure out how to soothe Marie and get her to quiet down. It's been around 9 months since Fil passed away, so I'm not sure if grief is really the cause. My husband wants to rehome her because it's hard for him to focus when he works from home and he is worried about the neighbors. Our neighbors have not complained and we give them eggs, although two of them did think Marie was a goose because of how she sounds. I also think part of the issue is she has intensely strong vocal chords. She seems physically healthy, but this screaming makes me so sad.
Before rehoming her as a last resort, I was desperate to see if anyone here had any idea on what changes we could make so that she doesn't seem so upset all the time. I love all my hens and would prefer to keep them around. I like to think we give them a great life, but any advice on what I can do better to make her happier is appreciated.
