Got a suggestion for super-quiet hens in a small-lot suburb?

[rosemarythyme]

I think it is a problem caused by homes built too closely together.

That can't be helped when most lots in urban or suburban areas aren't that big. A typical setback in a suburban neighborhood allows for houses to be built or expanded up to 5' or so from the property line. I can't say I miss living like that, where it feels like you can borrow sugar from a neighbor by just opening a window...

 

[McChooky]

I don't think this is a noise problem per se, except maybe the screaming child---I think it is a problem caused by homes built too closely together.

That can't be helped when most lots in urban or suburban areas aren't that big. A typical setback in a suburban neighborhood allows for houses to be built or expanded up to 5' or so from the property line. I can't say I miss living like that, where it feels like you can borrow sugar from a neighbor by just opening a window...

The fewer reasons you have to deal with unreasonable people the better.

 

[schmedlap]

my polish crested ladies don't make much noise

 

[All4Eggz]

I've found Jersey Giants to be the quietest breed while still being very friendly.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Curious. Has the neighbor asked you to research quietest chickens? Would they implement your recommendations?

 

[McChooky]

Curious. Has the neighbor asked you to research quietest chickens? Would they implement your recommendations?

A recommendation would be her approval for a particular breed.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

A recommendation would be her approval for a particular breed.

I understand that, which is why she should do no such thing. My question is, did the neighbor ASK her to do this research? Did she ASK for an opinion?

 

[McChooky]

Most cities require your closest neighbors to give their written consent before the city will give you a permit . The neighbors would likely agree to whatever breed she suggested in my opinion (if they want chickens bad enough).I decided not to build a new house on an acre of land in a nearby county after I discovered I had to get 80% of my neighbors approval first.I can't see any of my "potential" future neighbors giving me approval to keep chickens before I even build my house.Ive already bought another piece of property and its zoned farming.

 

[Sara S]

Unfortunately, no. I looked into this extensively. Individuals may be quieter than normal but there would be no way to pick them as chicks or, probably, as adults. Even getting them from someone who knows their flock well enough to know who is the quietest wouldn't do it unless, maybe, you took the entire flock. This is because sometimes how quiet an individual is depends on where she ranks in the pecking order.

I'm still not sure if some breeds are quieter than others. I see some recommendations sometimes but they are usually anecdotal based on very small numbers of individuals and not consistent (as in a given breed will be on the quieter list at one source and the louder list at another source).

Quiet was one of the two most important criteria for me when I chose my chicks and they make noise about 100% of daylight hours. Most of the time it is murmuring and I can't hear it more than a few feet away. But if anything unusual happens, they will tell me (or each other) all about it - that is about the volume level of people talking (average volume of people talking to someone next to them; not whose voice just booms or shrieking children). Their version of exclamations are about twice that loud; they do that much of the time my husband spends with them, rarely in the time I spend with them, and rarely to often in the time they are alone with each other. I'm deliberately slow and calming when I am with them; he is not; when neither of us is there, it is usually about pecking order so if often when that is being established or changed and not much when it is established. Or when they are chasing a bug. When they laid an egg for the first month or so, they yelled/shouted and I can hear them up to about 50 feet away but not from inside the house (about 60 feet away) even with the windows open. That seems to have toned WAY down; now I can hear the egg song up to about 20 feet away, and it lasts a few minutes instead of ten or fifteen... they have been laying for about a month after the stopped for a month for winter.

My nearest neighbor spends a lot of time on her deck (150 feet from my coop) and did not know I had chickens until I showed them to her over six months after I got them... no shrubbery between us but there is a ten foot elevation change (both buffer noise).

Humidity will change how far sound carries, I live in a climate on the damp side of average but closer to average than really humid.

Hope this helps... sorry it is so long but it is the kind of description I wanted when I was trying to figure out if my chickens would be noticed by my neighbors.

My EEs are quiet, and my delewares. Unless there’s food. And my Bob (her siblings are hatching this week). Hope you can find your perfect breed match!

(Here’s Bob)

 

[McChooky]

My EEs are quiet, and my delewares. Unless there’s food. And my Bob (her siblings are hatching this week). Hope you can find your perfect breed match!

(Here’s Bob)View attachment 3001137View attachment 3001138

Bob is a beauty! Lol