Help! Who turned the volume up on my pullets?

[mrsbos]

I used to have 3 very quiet EEs. Most of their sounds were the intermittant quiet clucking, or more often what I would call an equally quiet growling/gutteral noise. About two weeks ago that all changed. My pullet, Touhou, began making a chorus of "bok bok bok BAGOK!" which was very loud. I ran out to see what was the matter. Nothing. I was thinking that might have been the egg song. About 2 weeks later, I did find her first egg in the middle of the coop floor (assuming it's hers since she's been doing all the yelling). Now my 2nd pullet, Chickie, (who I think is also gearing up to lay) is joining in on the loud "bok bok BAGOKKING!" One will start, then the other will join in as if it were a competition on who's the loudest. My third pullet--and late bloomer, Fluffy--just watches from the sidelines, or contributes her quiet gutteral noises. They are all 5 months old. I thought the loud chicken talk was the egg song, but the two girls have been getting into it frequently over the last 5 hours, and I bet people can hear them all the way down the street! I'm trying to run a discreet chicken operation here as they are "illegal". I never knew the girls could be so loud. Oh, and there were no predators around during the bokking frenzy and the girls enjoy a 1/2 acre fully 6ft fenced yard to free-range in all day, in which the only danger is the occasional hawk passing through.

I don't mind the celebratory song when an egg is being laid, but if they keep this up all day, they are going to blow their cover and irritate the neighbors.

I should also mention that they quiet down once I go outside to investigate the commotion, and then all clamour to be held or brought indoors for treats and cuddling. Are they just turning into demanding little divas? Is this what I'll have to put up with for the pleasure of an egg or two a day? I love being out with the girls....except not so much when it's snowing, windy, freezing, etc. They'll just have to do with a little less human companionship until spring!

 

[NonnasBabies]

All I can say is get used to it!!

They get VERY loud!! My DH calls them the labor coaches!! One's always standing on the feed/garbage can while the others and laying and just boking up a storm!!

 

[tuesdays chicks]

yup sounds like they have you well trained, mine tend to be quiet until they see me then they start the noise, yours know if they make noise you will treat them.

 

[Lisa202]

If you are worried about the neighbors complaining, try approaching them and telling them about the chickens and about the fresh eggs you'll be giving them.

It's funny, you can have a loud barking dogs, but a clucking chicken or a crowing rooster is illegal. Go figure.

 

[teach1rusl]

Once they're all regularly laying, I'm betting the worst of the commotion will ease off, and you'll mostly hear from them just around laying time. But yeah...it can get pretty loud...lol

 

[crawfordmama]

I have two girls that absolutely love the sounds of their own voices. They talk for the sake of talking. It all started about two months before they began laying. It has calmed down a bit since they started laying, but if they're upset for any reason - the sun isn't shining, someone is on their favorite nest, the treat machine is empty (i.e. me) - they don't hold back.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

MRSBOS- I feel you. Two of my three just started laying this week and oh, my... They used to be so quiet and this afternoon I could hear their bok-boking in my bedroom! As it turned out I had one 'coaching' another in the nest and then they traded places! It was only REALLY loud for about an hour or so, but wow... I didn't know they had it in them. I started taking out spinach leaves for them and feeding them one leaf at a time for a bit. That seemed to distract them for a time. They didn't get as loud again afterwards anyway.

It's worth a try anyway...

 

[AngieChick]

Mine used to be louder, but they do seem to calm back down after a bit. Or maybe now that I have ducks I don't even notice the quiet little chicken noises anymore

 

[swimmer]

Some days ours get very vocal. The first time I heard the "egg song" I thought they were being attacked. We aren't supposed to have chickens either and was worried about the neighbors, but share some of the eggs.

 

[Cavendish Chickens]

Yup. Get used to it. It's constant. Every time they lay an egg. I don't know what all you can afford to do, but maybe you could give them a room in the house during the winter so you can give them more attention during the cold winter, and not bug the neighbors so much. (Unless you have a roo, which I'm guessing you don't.) In the summer... hmm... good luck keeping it quiet. You're either going to have to get the okays from your neighbors for the egg songs, keep the girls in the house like you would other pets, move somewhere where you can have them, or give them up. I hope you don't have to give them up. They are such a joy to have. Good luck!