Chickens won't stop squawking loudly for no apparent reason

[southernmama47]

Hi all. I am extremely perplexed about some of my chickens. Two of them (a silkie and a BO) keep patrolling the yard and squawking loudly. I put them back into the coop and they get even louder. I am a city owner and I am starting to get seriously worried about my neighbors getting upset. I've tried calming them down with treats, petting, etc but nothing. Any idea whats up or how to stop it? They are about 5 months old (and none are laying yet)

 

[mons02035]

From my experience, which isn't a lot..... They are getting ready to lay. My chickens got very vocal. I actually have a video of it.....

 

[southernmama47]

Is there a way to get them to quiet down? I mean, it's LOUD! And I'm really worried about upsetting my whole neighborhood

I'm not totally legal either...you can have 4 chickens but the coop has to be 100 ft from another house. Our coop is probably more like 50 ft. This squawking has gone on for hours...how long does it usually last?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Are they saying, "bawk- bawk- bawk- bawk- bawk - BAGAAAAWK!!! - bawk - bawk -bawk" - and then it repeats?

If so, they are practicing the egg song. They practice it before they start laying.

Then, they usually sing it after they lay an egg every day. "The egg has been laid!" (I'm quoting another BYC'er- I forget who).

 

[ARose4Heaven]

Are you CERTAIN they are hens? Young roos do some strange squawking while trying to get their crow.

 

[southernmama47]

No, I'm not 100% that they are hens. I bought them from a feed store (I'm pretty sure I was told that they were female only, but you never know I guess). But, this is my first experience with owning chickens so it's really hard for me to tell. The squawking starts in the morning (we notice they are going by 7am, might be earlier but we are asleep before then) and it has continued ALL.DAY.LONG. I knew that they would do an "egg song" but I wasn't prepared for it being all day long and VERY loud.

 

[ARose4Heaven]

post us a few pics of the offenders. We can help you decide if you have adolescent roos or pubescent hens.

 

[Where The Wild Things Are]

I am going to watch this post with interest. I have 2 Black Copper Mirans that will do this. It makes a car alarm sound soothing! I know mine are both hens (about 9 months old) and they are CRAZY. Usually one will start, and the other will soon follow. Eggs, no eggs...morning, afternoon...full moon, no moon (kidding). They just seem to be in love with the sound of their own voice, and bawgak for no reason. Anyway, I think I'm going to have to re-home them. I too am a city dweller and I'm certain if their racket bothers me, it's bothering my neighbors (but their dogs bark...so neener neener). Maybe I can sell them to ADT as a house alarm

 

[obaan1]

I think they're just being chickens and are going to make noise. Some more than others. I'm going to watch the thread to see what you end up doing. Best wishes.

 

[kla37]

I count myself lucky after reading this. Only 2 of my hens feel the need to announce that they are going to lay an egg, are laying an egg, and that they have just laid an egg. The others do some egg singing too, but not for long and not terribly loud. My Barred rock is the loudest, she's also the top hen.