This is Sage our 19 week old Barred Rock. For the last month, she's been making this barack (tha't right, like President Obama's name, only really stretched out) noise with increasing frequency. She actually sounds worried and it's very loud. At this point, the noise is almost continual whenever she's awake. What I want to know is: 1) Could this just be a phase she's going to pass through (I'm hoping this is the case because my husband doesn't think he can handle years and years of baracking). 2) Are Barred Rocks known to be particularly noisy? 3) If this isn't just a phase, is there anything we can do?
She hasn't started to lay yet, but we're anticipating it any moment. Is this kind of noise a precursor to laying? (We're obviously newbies). If it is a precursor, does that mean this won't necessarily be her sound behavior for life?
I have several BR's, and they are pretty qiuet. The only time you hear them is when they are about to lay... Jason
My bared rock, Mabel, is very enquisitive. She is about the same age and not laying either. She makes that same noice. It's like she's asking a question. I don't know if it's a stage. But I would think that it's normal. Some of my other breeds do it too. But not as intence.
I have one, Yodel. And not because of the noise, because of how she looked as a chick, dark on the outside with white fluff on the butt! She's one of my quietest! Now my welsummers on the other hand, had to rehome those noisey girls! LOL
My BR hens are noisy. I have 9, and one RIR. They all lay at different times of the day--starting at about 10am through to 3 pm. Every time one lays, they all start squawking, for about 15-20 minutes.... x10 times a day. I actually like it and think its kinda funny. But then again, I have no near neighbours. And you actually do get used to it.
That worried-sounding cackling can also mean she has seen something on the ground that made her nervous, a dog outside her fence, a snake under the bushes, etc.