Hen crying wolf for attention!

[klyra]

So my alpha hen has learned that her sounds of distress bring me outside to her. Her "something is in the yard, crowing loudly" noises. Now she does it just whenever, and runs over to me when I come outside (with the four younger hens right behind her!!) They want treats, attention, and food scraps. Spoiled girls!! It's hilarious. But also frustrating. There WAS a raccoon in the yard the other day,and so I do need to keep my ears out. So I'm running outside all day just because they want snacks or a scratch behind the neck. I'll try and get a video.

 

[Chickenteacher]

Sounds like she's almost got you trained!

 

[enola]

The solution? Stop feeding them treats every time you go out side to see what they are hollering about.

 

[memphis]

Sounds like they are spoiled. ..but they're cute!

 

[klyra]

Sounds like they are spoiled. ..but they're cute!

Yep! Spoiled. I started chasing her off my deck flapping a half open umbrella (mimicking territorial wing flapping - in my mind at least) lol. They mostly stay in the yard now

 

[GitaBooks]

That is so funny!

And who said chickens aren't smart.

My chickens escape from their run to remind me when I am late to feed them. I have to use treats to get them back in. They certainly have me trained.

 

[AZGurl]

My sweet Thelma (EE) has begun "crying" all day and I run outside to see if she's ok. One day, she wasn't ok and had a three foot long string down her throat which I pulled out. I figured she'd be ok but she ramped up the noise. Like a child, at first it was cute but now it's annoying. How do I bear her of this habit? The other hens have started to make noise as well. UGH
Help please?

 

[shortgrass]

My sweet Thelma (EE) has begun "crying" all day and I run outside to see if she's ok. One day, she wasn't ok and had a three foot long string down her throat which I pulled out. I figured she'd be ok but she ramped up the noise. Like a child, at first it was cute but now it's annoying. How do I bear her of this habit?  The other hens have started to make noise as well. UGH
Help please?

Are they laying? Possibly just singing the egg song?

That or they are consistently telling you that there is something g not quite right out there... Stray cats will cause everyone to whoop and holler, and sometimes my guineas would go off when the hens were in my strawberries... Tattletales

 

[AZGurl]

Are they laying? Possibly just singing the egg song?

That or they are consistently telling you that there is something g not quite right out there... Stray cats will cause everyone to whoop and holler, and sometimes my guineas would go off when the hens were in my strawberries... Tattletales

Thank you. They are all laying and have been for a months. They are good girls and Thelma's cries used to be to tell me she's hungry (all the time) or wants treats but now, it's just all of the time. She'a the town crier and announces anyone's presence in the yard. No one can go back there without her tattling on them. We do have cats in the neighborhood but so far, her cries are mostly "wolf". LOL
My biggest concern is that now the other three girls are tarting to do the same thing.

 

[shortgrass]

The solution? Stop feeding them treats every time you go out side to see what they are hollering about.

Lol are you thinking "Pavlov's dog"?

You're probably right

Your hen might have you trained, @AZGurl lol