How to deal with a screamer

[rayrose]

I have a 24 week old Blue Splash Maran that screams constantly all day long day. If I can't break her of this Royal PITA habit, I'll have to get rid of her. Does anybody have any suggestions?

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I have a 24 week old Blue Splash Maran that screams constantly all day long day. If I can't break her of this Royal PITA habit, I'll have to get rid of her. Does anybody have any suggestions?

Can you elaborate a little more on the sound she is making? Has she always done this or did it just start? Does she actually make the noise all day or for a few hours a day? Has she started laying yet? Do you have any other chickens and if so how old? Are they the same age as your Maran?

 

[rayrose]

She's been laying for over a month and is part of a 12 bird flock, all hens and same age. She's been screeching/screaming for at least 2 months. This morning it started at around 7 AM and continued non stop until about 9, when she went into a nest box, where she is now. Then she'll resume screaming, until I bring treats. But I can't bring treats all day long.
She's the only one that does this, but some of her flock mates are starting to pick up on it. I can't have a bird that screams for 2 hours every time before she decides to lay. Then screams all day, until she gets treats.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

She's been laying for over a month and is part of a 12 bird flock, all hens and same age. She's been screeching/screaming for at least 2 months. This morning it started at around 7 AM and continued non stop until about 9, when she went into a nest box, where she is now. Then she'll resume screaming, until I bring treats. But I can't bring treats all day long.
She's the only one that does this, but some of her flock mates are starting to pick up on it. I can't have a bird that screams for 2 hours every time before she decides to lay. Then screams all day, until she gets treats.

Do you know what the egg song sounds like? Do you think that’s the noise she is making? Some hens are loud. Some of mine are far noisier than any rooster. Ultimately there’s probably not much you can do for the noise except grin and bear it or rehome her. It’s okay to rehome a chicken!

 

[aart]

Then she'll resume screaming, until I bring treats. But I can't bring treats all day long.

Well, she's got you trained, eh?
Gonna be a hard and loud habit to break.
Have had a few screamers, seems to come and go, annoying but I just rode it out.

 

[rayrose]

I've thought about putting her in a crate and spraying her with a
water bottle every time she screams. Hoping that might train her
not to scream. Is that doable or wishful thinking?

 

[ILoveDaffy]

Could you record so we can hear it and guess better what it is?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a 24 week old Blue Splash Maran that screams constantly all day long day. If I can't break her of this Royal PITA habit, I'll have to get rid of her. Does anybody have any suggestions?

I've thought about putting her in a crate and spraying her with a
water bottle every time she screams. Hoping that might train her
not to scream. Is that doable or wishful thinking?

I can't have a bird that screams for 2 hours every time before she decides to lay. Then screams all day, until she gets treats.

Are you allowed to have chickens where you live?

Agree with @aart she's got you trained! Chickens are not real smart, but they can learn to manipulate. Stop the treat bringing when she complains. Don't crate her or spray her - she doesn't deserve any sort of punishment.

Put your chickens on a schedule. Bring out treats ONCE a day at around the same time every day. They will learn quickly they aren't getting anything until that time of day. She may fuss around and try to prompt you, but stick with your schedule.

 

[3KillerBs]

Then she'll resume screaming, until I bring treats. But I can't bring treats all day long.

Unfortunately, you have inadvertently trained her to scream for treats and it's going to be difficult to extinguish that behavior. ts

It might be helpful to look up animal training methods, particularly ones used on parrots.

You might also start by cutting off treats completely for a while then bringing them only when the birds are quiet -- rewarding the good behavior rather than the bad behavior.

 

[rayrose]

Could you record so we can hear it and guess better what it is?

Don't have the ability to do that