Alpha Hen is NOISY

[BLaBauve]

We have 5 hens in a pen out back. All are over a year old. The most dominant, alpha hen is VERY noisy. She seems to scream the most when I walk away from the coop. She either wants me to feed her a treat or let her out. So when I walk away she screams. I'm flying under the radar so a noisy hen is not the best thing. I do have someone that would take her, but would that help? If I remove her will another hen become alpha and be just as noisy, or does it vary hen to hen?

Thanks!

 

[cobrien]

I think it would get quieter if you remove the noisy hen...but you can't be sure because personalities change when you remove one, especially the dominant one. I can only say that I've had to rehome some noisy hens and it was quieter once they were gone...the others did not become noisier, although new alpha hens did rise to the top...they just werent' noisy.

If you want to experiment, you could move the noisy girl to a do crate / cage away from the others and see if they remain quiet.

good luck,
Colleen

 

[TK Poultry]

If you have all hens, then yes if you get rid of her then another hen will just slip into that spot. This happens to a flock of hens w/o a rooster, because the rooster is like the dad or the boss keeps his hen in line and taken care of. Without a roo then a hen fills that spot. Hens in this spot are even known to crow.

Hope everything goes well

 

[BLaBauve]

Geez, well I need a quiet alpha hen!

 

[phoenixbantam]

I was wondering this same thing! I live in the city so the situation is bad! My polish hen is insanely loud, starting at about 7 am... non-stop noise... I was wondering if I rehomed her if another would take its place... so frustrating... I already had to rehome my pheasant due to the noise. My other hens are polish, cochin, and silkies, and they are pretty quiet for the most part. My coop is maybe 10 feet from the neighbor's bedroom window

they rarely come outside but you can hear the noisy chicken from inside the house =/

if you end up giving away the noisy hen and the others stay quiet, please let me know! i don't know what to do

 

[cluckcluck42]

I don't think you have much to lose in getting rid of her, if another hen becomes as noisy you are only down one hen and at least you tried!! But I bet it works out foryou if sell the noisemaker.