getting bitties to shut up

[centrarchid]

I start free ranging broods at 3 weeks without hen. They are kept in coops until I get off work when they are allowed till dark under my supervision. Problem I have is when chicks go to their box they keep making all sorts of racket as they jostle for position in group. This racket is likely to attract predators that might otherwise not visit. Any thoughts on how to get chicks to settle in faster. Those attended by hen or on rare occasions broody rooster are much quiter.

 

[satay]

Nope thats normal chicken behaviour.

 

[33yardbirds]

30' of roosting poles and they still squabble over the perfect spot, just chickens being chickens.

 

[centrarchid]

Why are they so much quiter with mother present?

 

[trilyn]

Quote:
Probably because she settles the squabbles.

 

[jaimslee4u]

My bitties always quieted down faster when the light was on. R they warm enough?

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
low temps make for worse chatter. Still make too much racket on warm nights.

 

[Tala]

I would think any predator close enough to hear the chicks squabbling would already be close enough to smell them anyway. I don't think they are any more in danger because of the noise.

 

[centrarchid]

For some reason all my sub-flocks have produced less chatter when settling on roost for night. It has been getting much cooler than when making observations previously. Normally birds in physical contact making most racket. Birds at bottom of bittie pile are worst.

 

[centrarchid]

I have a bunch of chicks that retreat to a box every night outside the bedroom window. The box is then coverered by a coop that keeps out owls and oppossums but would only slow other predators. At dawn the followingmorning the coop is removed and chicks promptly go to feeder and waterer near plants and fence line serving as cover from hawks during day.

I expect to hear coop being pushed and chicks to increase chatter when predators come calling. Problem with arrangement now is that chicks extended period of chatter reduces my sensitivity to any posssible distress calls. Getting them to hush more quickly should make it so I am more likely to respond when needed versus sleep through a predators visit. I may also result to baby monitor near mobile coops once last cohort big enough to withstand cold of winter. Any recommendations on how to keep bitties from calling wolf all the time? The quality of sound very different with chatter in respect to when predator is about but still sound must be reduced.