How can i quiet my hens down?

[mychickensareidiots]

Lately, my hens have been a bit loud. We cannot hear them from inside the house, but when we go outside they are clucking pretty noisily. Is there a reason that they are clucking? possibly the heat? or is it just how they are?? they haven't really been like this before. they are laying right now and some of the hens seem a little territorial. (ex: pecking at others when laying) i try to always have something different for them to eat like tomotoes or fruit, but is there anything else i can do?
All suggestions are welcome.

 

[tiffanyh]

I think you spoiled them!

Now they aer demanding more treats!
Mine do the same things, I honestly cant think of a way to have them cut down on the clucking. i think it is also a matter of personality, some of my ladies are quiet, some louder.

Sorry cant be of more help....

 

[jessied1227]

My girls who lay are *terribly* noisy after they lay their eggs. I'll hear someone up at the coop making a bunch of noise, and voila, there lies a nice warm, freshly laid egg.

I don't know if this is why your girls are being so loud, but I don't see how you can make them more quiet, whatever the reason. My girls are impossible to quiet down, and once one gets going, another one or two usually join in. I swear they can make a cluck echo, lol.

Sorry if I'm not much help. We live in the country, so we have no neighbors to complain. If I remember, you live in the city? Maybe your neighbors don't mind it too much. After all, they can't be much more noise than street traffic or someone running a lawnmower, you know?

Good luck-
Jess

 

[mychickensareidiots]

yes, i do live in the city. i havent had any noise complaints from the neighbors yet, and i've had the hens since last march. i rarely see them outside either. I dont think it is something to get worried about because they are only noisy in the morning. As soon as it gets hot, they go to the cool, shady area and quiet down. thanks for your thoughts

 

[RoyalHillsLLC]

Most hens do their laying in the morning. Probably a correlation there.

 

[ChickaChickaBoomBoom]

Mine usually start in when they want out of their small enclosed run, which is 6:00am-6:30am.

Then they may make some noise if they see a neighbors cat or something. If it's before 8:00am, I'll go out and say "What - is - the - DEAL?!". This is sometimes enough to distract them.

Finally, when one is laying the other will often make a scene. Today, though, the one who laid came out and started in. It was late morning, though, so I didn't worry about it.

In the end, I don't know what you can do to keep them quiet, other than distract them. If it's really early, I might try to talk to them, or encourage them to scratch around, etc. If it's later, I usually check to make sure they're fine (if I'm home), but I know they're noisy when I'm away and that's just the way it's gonna be.

Like you, I live with close neighbors (the closest of which got 5 chickens yesterday - but that's for another thread), and I do worry about both the noise, and the "chicken" stigma. We don't really have loud dogs in our neighborhood, but all things being equal, I doubt the neighbors even care or notice our hens most of the time.

Good luck, and try to not let it bother you too much. The stress has driven me bonkers at times, but I'm learning to laugh it off when appropriate, and get them to be quiet when it isn't.

-Dave