Discourge hens from cackling

[chuckzoo]

Hi,
I live in a garden home and am raising 2 Barred Rock pullets, now 4 weeks old. Is there any way to teach them not to cackle when they start laying? I am so afraid if they annoy the neighbors I will have to get rid of them, since I am almost sure we are not permitted to have chickens in the area.

 

[Imp]

Hi chuckzoo &

.

I don't think there is a way to stop hens from cackling. Can you insulate the coop so it's not so loud outside. And bribe the neighbors. Good luck.

Imp

 

[Catalina]

First of all

Insulation in the coop and keeping the coop dark until a reasonably morning time like 9:00am instead of a chicken wake-up all at 6:00am, will help reduce the neighbor complaints.

Good luck!

 

[Imp]

Duh! Dark, what a great idea Catalina.

smacking myself

Imp

 

[jvls1942]

chickens cackle ..

If you are not allowed to have chickens, and your neighbors complain, get rid of the chickens..

Your neighbors might have moved into this neighborhood for piece and quiet.. If you disturb that , you are at fault..

to confine your chickens, like it was suggested, is not any different than having cage layers in a large egg operation,, Your chickens should not have to suffer for your enjoyment..

 

[mybelle5]

I've tried everything with my 4 Buff Orpingtons.. My alpha hen started it all too.. She started the yelling and all the others follow in nice LOUD tune... I even tell them to go back into their coop and use their inside voices..

of course they look at me like pfft whatever and on they go with the singing/BAWWKKKKing..

 

[Akane]

I don't think anyone meant darkness 24/7. Locked in a small cage 24/7 and given no enrichment is entirely different from being left in a coop a few hours later. Mine don't get out until noon at least. Sometimes 2-3pm. They are such abused chickens.

I also frequently keep a pair or trio of my japanese bantams in the house. They have a 3x6' cage with various levels to jump on, a roost, a hanging feeder to put treats in, a log house/nest box, and they get out in the herb garden for several hours a day plus sometimes running around the house in chicken diapers all day. Oh and I put up blackout curtains so they don't wake up until noon and the power compact daylight strips I used for my saltwater tank provides as close as you can get to sunlight until midnight. Yep my chickens just live a torturous life (my friend is ready to fall out of a chair laughing at that idea).

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

Quote:
I am in agreement with the above. If you aren't allowed to have chickens to begin with, whether they cackle or not is irrelevant. Anyone can report you to code compliance for any reason, not just for noise.

 

[chuckzoo]

Thank you for all the replies. My 6 sq ft chicken coop (for my 2 chickens) is a loft style over the 18 sq ft run. Insulating and keeping the coop dark are great ideas. I am thinking of hanging a canvas 'curtain' to keep the nesting boxes (2) even darker as the coop does have some light entering from the gable area and under the eaves we created for good ventilation.

 

[Davaroo]

The darkened nest is a possible answer to your dilemma - a pretty good one, really. It has similar benefits in keeping them calm and preventing egg breakage. So, yeah, it just might work.

But, keep in mind that when you stand before the "lowly" chicken, you are in the presence of a Force of Nature. Dont bank on silly human contrivances to thwart her in her pursuits.

Have a plan "B."
May I suggest you move the neighbors, elsewhere?