Disciplining Noisy Hens?

[Danniro]

I have two hens and they are both veryyy noisy. They do the "egg song" multiple times a day even though neither one has laid for more than a week because they were traumatized by a racoon attack
I love my girls but it is just so annoying! Of course I would never consider getting rid of them. But I think it's just that they want treats all the time or something... they're too bored in the background! They make really loud and warbling complaining noises whenever I leave the house and they see me leaving.
Is there anything to do? I'm going to be introducing the other two chicks I have in my basement once they're big enough and I don't want them to be noisy too.
Is it mean to spray them with water when they're noisy? Something like that?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've never heard of disciplining a chicken. You could give them some things to keep them busy. Try throwing crickets or mealworms in their bedding.
Is it really the egg song?
The egg song is a throwback to their days as jungle fowl. When a hen goes to the nest to lay, the rest of the flock continues to forage. When she's done, she calls out "hey, where are you guys?" They answer back, "here we are". They even do it when they're in the same pen together. I've heard roosters lost from the flock do the egg song.

They're smart animals but they don't have big brains.

One year the roosters were so noisy, I tried the hose thing and it didn't have any effect.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I have two hens and they are both veryyy noisy. They do the "egg song" multiple times a day even though neither one has laid for more than a week because they were traumatized by a racoon attack
I love my girls but it is just so annoying! Of course I would never consider getting rid of them. But I think it's just that they want treats all the time or something... they're too bored in the background! They make really loud and warbling complaining noises whenever I leave the house and they see me leaving.
Is there anything to do? I'm going to be introducing the other two chicks I have in my basement once they're big enough and I don't want them to be noisy too.
Is it mean to spray them with water when they're noisy? Something like that?

I'm not sure what is so negative in what they are doing that it would require any sort of discipline. It really sounds like they are being, well, chickens. When you factor in the recent trauma it is little wonder they may be a bit boisterous - and would make giving a "punishment" that much less wises, imo.
Rather than "disciplining" them, ignore their noise - if they are doing it to get your attention or to get treats, they will not receive any "payoff" by you ignoring them. Even a negative response from you is a response - which, if they are trying to get your attention is giving them what they are looking for, even when that attention is negative.

 

[iwiw60]

Here's a few pages for you to look at:

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/03/say-what-video-guide-to-understanding.html

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http://www.pinterest.com/margaret702/chicken-boredom-busters/

CHICKEN BOREDOM BUSTERS​

 

[bobbi-j]

They're chickens. Chickens make noise. If you're giving them treats every time they make noise to shut them up, you've actually trained them to make more noise when they see you. In turn, they've trained you to give them treats when they're noisy. "Disciplining" them, in my opinion, would be detrimental.

 

[iwiw60]

They're chickens. Chickens make noise. If you're giving them treats every time they make noise to shut them up, you've actually trained them to make more noise when they see you. In turn, they've trained you to give them treats when they're noisy. "Disciplining" them, in my opinion, would be detrimental.

 

[Danniro]

I guess but it seems like they're excessively noisy.
Back before we when we had a flock of 4 (3 deceased so 1 remains, and 1 was added) only one of them made a little noise. And that one is the only chicken surviving from the original flock. They used to just make a little nosie when we'd come outside but now they just walk around the yard complaining at the top of their lungs. The one older hen has gotten much noisier since it was just her and the younger one, and I swear the younger one got noisier when we started clipping her wings so she couldn't fly over the fence to court danger with the feral cats down the street. And she's made the other chicken more noisy, I'm pretty sure.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

My chickens always make a racket when there is an unseen predator afoot.

 

[aart]

Chickens are noisy, that's just how they are.....sigh........another romance story, shattered by reality.

 

[sandesnow]

lol

In the recent heat, my ladies have been much noisier than normal. Many times we have been hearing the egg song and no egg. The ladies are pretty quiet normally.. but if they squawk we check on them right away in case there is something afoot.

Not sure there is a way to curb what they do naturally. They would probably be more upset and think the person mean and thus become more unfriendly..I would think?