How can I make my RIR quiet down? She's bothering the neighbors…

[Pumpkinismygirl]

I love my RIR. She hasn't started laying yet, but I've noticed for a long time that she is very loud! I don't know if she's bored or something, but she has to keep quiet because I have close neighbors. None of my other girls are loud. I don't have a rooster and really don't plan on getting one. How can I quiet her down? Also, a couple months ago we clipped their wings. Ruby, my RIR, started to fly over the fence again so I reclipped them. She can still fly over. We only clip the one wing. There are so many predators that can get her on the other side of that fence. For her safety she must not fly over! Please help! How can I solve these two problems?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Chickens are noisy. There's no cure for that. Simply isn't, no matter what stories are told, chickens make noise by nature. They make calls, warnings and communications, just as other birds do.

Raise the fence. Clipped or not, a young, flighty bird, using a launching off point, such as a roost or top of waterer, or top of coop can still clear 6' if they are determined.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Can't help you with her noise--chickie gonna be as noisy as she wants to be.

With the clipping--clip both wings. Cut all the primary flights and all the secondaries. That *might* stop her. Don't worry about the chop job, since the feathers will grow back next time she molts, and by that time she should be heavier and you can try a less drastic clip. That being said, I have some white Leghorns that always need the chop job, or they fly over every day.

All my chickens are clipped on both wings to not have any primary flight feathers. They stay behind a 4' fence (with the few exceptions noted above--light bodied birds, light little pullets. Those need the chop job.)

 

[terryg]

Some hens are noisy. I have some tips here, but, basically, you can't do much.
http://hencam.com/henblog/2012/06/how-loud-are-hens/

As far as escaping hens go... you can increase the height of your fence. You can put hawk netting over the top. You can make it much more interesting inside, so that she doesn't want to wander. I have a compost pile in the chicken run and that keeps the girls content. See here:
http://hencam.com/faq/compost-in-the-chicken-run/

 

[farmguycitygirl]

Has your neighbor complained? It may not be troubling your neighbor at all!

I talked to all my immediate neighbors before getting chickens, and sounded out who didn't care and who might have an issue, and have made the point of dropping hints to that neighbor of eggs, plus leaving some veggies from my patch with them occasionally.

One of my chickens flew into their yard a couple of times, and they joyfully returned them and commented how well they were growing and has been asking when they'll start to lay.

A good turn-around if you ask me

 

[ibarbidahl]

How many hens do you have? Just curious. You didn't mention here.

She may be looking for something specific. Shade, a higher roosting area, something new to see/do, etc. But certainly if you have already tried clippng a wing - clip both. Clipping one wing doesn't keep a young hen from flight it only gets her to turn.

The PP is correct. Assuming this is a lightweight bird or a pullet you may need to take out all her flight feathers and see how she does, then go back for the secondary feathers as well if that doesn't work.

I've got a barred rock that flew the coop so I had to take all her flight feathers as well. She's the only one of my little flock that wants anything to do wtih going over my 6' fence, and she is also the noisy one so for me if she goes over again, it will be the last time. It sounds like you may be in the same (neighborhood) situation. Hopefully you aren't in quite the same spot.

Good luck - hope you find a good solution!

 

[Pumpkinismygirl]

We have three 4 and a half month old hens, and two 2 month old hens. We will definately have to try all these tips. Thanks so much for the help!

 

[littlecritters]

How can I make my RIR quiet down? She's bothering the neighbors ACovering your outside run with bird netting will help to keep your birds in and wild birds out. (wild birds can carry mites/lice). We have 2-3 pullets who liked to sit on the top of our 6' fence. So, I bought inexpensive, lightweight netting at Home Depot in the garden department. I cut pieces to the size I need and then use zipties to attach the netting to the fence. Fast and easy to install...

Some hens are noisy. I have some tips here, but, basically, you can't do much.
http://hencam.com/henblog/2012/06/how-loud-are-hens/

As far as escaping hens go... you can increase the height of your fence. You can put hawk netting over the top. You can make it much more interesting inside, so that she doesn't want to wander. I have a compost pile in the chicken run and that keeps the girls content. See here:
http://hencam.com/faq/compost-in-the-chicken-run/

Terry, your website is fabulous! I just bought a ringtone and am going to buy more. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk