Fireworks, will they scare the chickens?

[vjbakke]

We live in town and during the summer our city has fireworks after some baseball games and some races. We can usually hear them pretty good at our house. Will these spook our chickens? Anything we can do?

 

[elmo]

Our chickens were terrified when I gave them a slice of honeydew melon instead of the canteloupe they were used to. Yet they are not frightened by the four big dogs that live next door to us behind a solid wood fence, despite the fact that those dogs bark all the time and growl menacingly. Go figure.

It seems to me with our flock that visual stimulation is more frightening to chickens than sounds, but that may not be generally true. I think you'll have to wait and see. I don't see much you can do about the fireworks, though. The good thing is that chickens do tend to get used to new things after a while.

 

[Saltysteele]

as long as they have their "safe area," they should be fine.

i wouldn't throw them out in the middle of a field and starting launching fireworks, but if they're in their area with their coop available, they'll survive

 

[patman75]

From personal expierence, I have had mini firework displays in the yard and the chickens are maybe 300 ft from the action. The next day I have gotten soft shell eggs and egg production is a little out of wack for a day or two. They bounce back.

 

[Celtic Chick]

I've noticed with mine that when they hear something for the first time, they get startled. But the next time they hear it, it doesn't even faze them. But not all chickens may behave the same way, so I would observe them and maybe try to comfort them if need be. They should be fast asleep by the time any fireworks go off, though.