At my wits end - noisy hen

[BigBlueHen53]

Would an auto pop door help? Would she quit hollering once she's out?

 

[Emma9876]

Would an auto pop door help? Would she quit hollering once she's out?

She is out in the run when she is shouting.

 

[Emma9876]

Also, how big is your run? Is there a way to fence off a larger area (not roofed), to give them more space but not the entire area they had before?

They have two runs attached (we extentend when we knew they would be staying in the runs.

 

[Emma9876]

I'd rehome. Doesn't sound like you're having much fun owning them.

Honestly, I love them. We have children and they love them. Im just the only one who has to put up with the wake ups and the stress for the neighbours.

Im definitely going to give it a go re-training them because rehoming is 100% last resort. I think Im just going a bit insane in the mornings x

 

[BDutch]

If the chickens are quiet when they can free range early mornings -> Is it a possibility to let the girls free range after sunrise until say 8 or 9 when you and the neighbors are awake anyway?
It might be worth the try and with treats and easy to grab food you can lure them into the run again. (They learn quick you know )

Just a tought bc I would prefer to swipe the terrace once a day over waking up so early.

 

[rosemarythyme]

They have two runs attached (we extentend when we knew they would be staying in the runs.

That doesn't tell us how large they are, or what's all in them (because right now you're using food as enrichment, when it really isn't a good idea). Can you post photos of the set up? How many birds total?

 

[Emma9876]

That doesn't tell us how large they are, or what's all in them (because right now you're using food as enrichment, when it really isn't a good idea). Can you post photos of the set up? How many birds total?

4 birds. 8m by 4m approximately. And not only food for enrichment. That was desperation as a distraction at 5am. They have treat baskets to peck at. A dust bath, mirrors, a log and a different branch. I also give them grass cuttings to scratch at and rake up the hay (between changing) for them to scratch. There coop is also on the end of the runs, therefore doesnt take up any of the run space available.

If the chickens are quiet when they can free range early mornings -> Is it a possibility to let the girls free range after sunrise until say 8 or 9 when you and the neighbors are awake anyway?
It might be worth the try and with treats and easy to grab food you can lure them into the run again. (They learn quick you know )

Just a tought bc I would prefer to swipe the terrace once a day over waking up so early.

I like this idea. Do you think they would get used to the routine therefore not moan about going back?

They were furious when we first stopped them free ranging in the whole garden x

 

[Perris]

Maybe finding another way of dealing with the poo would be easier? After all, wasn't that the cause of confinement and all that has followed from it?

 

[BDutch]

I like this idea. Do you think they would get used to the routine therefore not moan about going back?

They were furious when we first stopped them free ranging in the whole garden x

Certainly the run space is adequate if the chickens have the possibility to free range a few hours each day. The change to be confined the whole day pissed them of for sure. Nagging to get out is not a strange at all.

I have a combination of free ranging and confinement. I started to give the chickens some scratch in the evening around the time they went to roost. For me it was important that they returned bc a few preferred to sleep in a tree or the hedge.

Shortly after I noticed it was way easier to lock them up during the day too. If I walk to the coop with the mixed grains (and mealworms) , scatter some in the run, and cluck to call them, the chickens arrive quickly. Only if I let them out and want to close them in before they are done with their free range walk around it’s difficult to lure them. They are happy to go inside again after 2 hours outside.

I don’t have any tree sleepers anymore and giving treats is a guaranteed success for an easy lock up. As a real treat I give mealworms, boiled rice, spaghetti, left over cooked veggies, old bread, chopped cheese crust (without the coating), almost empty yoghurt carton, etc. Never very much.

I recommend to try a few weeks on a row to see if it works out.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I’ve been surprised how quickly chickens adapt to new schedules. We let ours “yard range” for 3-4 hours in the morning and another 2-3 in the late afternoon/evening.

At first there was a lot of herding involved, but now they often put themselves back in the run, especially in the evening when dusk approaches.

This doesn’t prevent my squawker, the Barred Rock, from making a racket if we walk by the run, even if she put herself in. But that’s only if she sees us, not in general.