Experiment in classical conditioning to make quieter chickens

[lorain's fids]

This post about shooting chickens with a bb gun is very disturbing to me. Why would you want your chickens to live in fear of you? That's what you are doing, when they see you coming out to them they will sense that you are the one that causes them pain. What the heck is that all about? Does it make you feel good that your chickens are scared into "quiteness" when they see you? Maybe chickens shouldn't be your animals of choice. If you had a dog, cat, etc and you were shooting it with a bb gun to get it to behave, well let me tell you, that's animal abuse. Like I said before this is very disturbing to me.

 

[matimeo]

lorain's fids :

This post about shooting chickens with a bb gun is very disturbing to me. Why would you want your chickens to live in fear of you? That's what you are doing, when they see you coming out to them they will sense that you are the one that causes them pain. What the heck is that all about? Does it make you feel good that your chickens are scared into "quiteness" when they see you? Maybe chickens shouldn't be your animals of choice. If you had a dog, cat, etc and you were shooting it with a bb gun to get it to behave, well let me tell you, that's animal abuse. Like I said before this is very disturbing to me.

Thanks for sharing your concern for my chickens. Apparently I haven't been clear enough on what I'm doing here. The point of the experiment is not to randomly shoot at my chickens or to hurt them or to make them hate me. It is to spray them with water or a harmless swat of a bb (believe me, with one pump I am far from doing any damage) when AND ONLY WHEN they are making EXTREME amounts of noise VERY VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING. The rest of the time it is business as usually. Handling them, feeding them treats, etc. You ask why I would want my chickens to fear me- of course I don't want them to fear me. That would be retarded.​

 

[mylegger]

I would just re-home them. From reading your posts, I can see that you have tried other methods prior to the use of a BB Gun or a Water Gun. IMO, when you resort to the last two, it is most likely born out of frustration due to previous failed methods, and the logical thing to do would be to admit "defeat" and move on. It's possible a different flock may work out for you or possibly not keeping chickens at all. I hope you are able to figure out a solution.

 

[matimeo]

Quote:
I ain't gonna admit defeat. I like the eggs too much and have to much invested in chicken farming (small scale though it may be). We'll find a way.

And for everyone that read my post and jumped to the conclusion that I was a chicken murderer, my chickens are still alive and happy and walk right up to me when I go out to their run.

 

[RHRanch]

Quote:
I ain't gonna admit defeat. I like the eggs too much and have to much invested in chicken farming (small scale though it may be). We'll find a way.

And for everyone that read my post and jumped to the conclusion that I was a chicken murderer, my chickens are still alive and happy and walk right up to me when I go out to their run.

Its admirable that you are so determined to keep your chickens. The best thing for you to do in that case is that you move to somewhere where you are legally allowed to have chickens. BTW, I don't think anyone has alleged you are a "chicken murderer". You asked for people's opinion on your idea - and we have told you. A lot of us don't think this is likely to work the way you want it to, and is potentially harmful to your birds.

 

[Amethyste]

I don't agree either with the BB idea...that to me isn't right. But I am not going to preach, its not my way.

My question is to you...how much light is in the coop? Might it be made a little darker? I am wondering if they are so vocal so early is because there is visible light that makes them think that it is time to be up and moving.

You could try making the coop darker...and perhaps to teach them that making noise early does NOT equal getting out early, I wonder how it would be to try putting some treats or cabbage etc...something they have to work on in the coop after they go to bed. If they wake up and see that the Melon Fairy showed up while they were asleep, they might be busy enough to not make noise.

Just an idle thought....

 

[ll]

Interesting thread.

The previous post about finding the loud offender & rehoming only that one could work for you.

Suggestion: Choose your two favorites. Keep them only. Less food, less maintenance ... yeah yeah ... but less noise.

I found with 3 they were constantly chatting it up, with 2 they never squawk ~ almost as if they use telepathy to communicate because they truly are super quiet.

 

[matimeo]

Quote:
Why do you say it is the only one that can work for me?

Update: today the chickens didn't make any loud noises before I left for work at 8:00. I can't remember the last time that happened. It made me wonder if they had learned to associate loud noises in the morning with me letting them out of the coop or bringing them the previous day's table scraps (which my son now takes to them after lunch). Perhaps this experiment has been even more effective than I thought because the noise was them asking for a reward, which I had unknowingly been reinforcing all this time, but now that it only brings the squirt gun, they are quickly learning not to ask... Some said it won't work because chickens are noisy and you can't condition that out of them. But, if I only have to condition out their asking for something at a certain time, that seems doable. I'll stick with the experiment if need be and let you know how it goes.

 

[whoacowboy]

I think chickens, as with all pets, need to be accepted how they come to you. I have a rescue dog. For 8 years he has done certain things I don't care for. Can I changed them? No. Trust me, I've tried everything. Do I accept him and does he fit into my life? Yes. It was my oath I took when I brought him into my life. He is how he is. Same goes for chickens. Let them be how they are. They aren't doing anything "wrong". If their behavior doesn't fit in with your life, then chickens may not be the best pet for you. I think certain pets belong with certain people.

 

[matimeo]

Quote:
But what if you could change something? Why not try? What do you say about people who put a bark collar on their dog so they can keep them in their apartment building, or who clip their bird's wings so they don't fly away, or someone who send their dog to obedience school or trains them to not poop on the carpet? Are you really against all of those things (I am asking in all seriousness and would love a response since nobody has answered any of those questions when I bring them up). If this morning is any indicator, we've already had monumental success after only a few days.