How to make them SHUT UP!

[Katy]

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Hey! Somebody older than me!!

Katy, I'm older than dirt.

However, as long as I don't look in the mirror, I don't feel that old.

I try to avoid mirrors and that old lady looking back at me too....I don't know who the heck she is cuz I don't feel that old either!!

 

[dretd]

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Thank you for posting this, matimeo.

The OP asked for solutions to her problem of what she feels is escalating noise. It may be normal, but it also may be excessive. I can only go by her words and offer any tips I have learned that may help.

As for those who have admonished the OP that chickens are farm animals and that we should put up with everything about them or get rid of them...Respectfully I would like to remind you that this website is called BackyardChickens . com, not FarmChicken . com and if you are unable to offer constructive advice for someone's problems in the spirit of a kind supportive community, it is unhelpful to insinuate that they don't know what they got in to and they should get rid of their pets. Seems contrary to the wonderful advice and community spirit I have experienced on this website.

 

[Katy]

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Thank you for posting this, matimeo.

The OP asked for solutions to her problem of what she feels is escalating noise. It may be normal, but it also may be excessive. I can only go by her words and offer any tips I have learned that may help.

As for those who have admonished the OP that chickens are farm animals and that we should put up with everything about them or get rid of them...Respectfully I would like to remind you that this website is called BackyardChickens . com, not FarmChicken . com and if you are unable to offer constructive advice for someone's problems in the spirit of a kind supportive community, it is unhelpful to insinuate that they don't know what they got in to and they should get rid of their pets. Seems contrary to the wonderful advice and community spirit I have experienced on this website.

They are farm fowl no matter how hard people try to make them otherwise. Just because the advice given was not what they wanted to hear does not make it rude or bad advice.

 

[matimeo]

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Thank you for posting this, matimeo.

The OP asked for solutions to her problem of what she feels is escalating noise. It may be normal, but it also may be excessive. I can only go by her words and offer any tips I have learned that may help.

As for those who have admonished the OP that chickens are farm animals and that we should put up with everything about them or get rid of them...Respectfully I would like to remind you that this website is called BackyardChickens . com, not FarmChicken . com and if you are unable to offer constructive advice for someone's problems in the spirit of a kind supportive community, it is unhelpful to insinuate that they don't know what they got in to and they should get rid of their pets. Seems contrary to the wonderful advice and community spirit I have experienced on this website.

They are farm fowl no matter how hard people try to make them otherwise. Just because the advice given was not what they wanted to hear does not make it rude or bad advice.

Your argument that advice is not bad because it is not welcomed does not make sense. It is bad advice precisely because it is not taking into consideration what the OP is asking for. I have raised chickens on a farm setting and now in an urban setting and it is not the same game. Imagine how you would feel if you had to move to an urban setting, got a few chickens to teach your children a little about the farm or about responsibility, did your best to follow local regulations, had a bit of a noise problem and when you asked for some suggestions on how to minimize it, you were told that you just didn't know what you were doing and you should just get rid of your chickens? I don't imagine that would settle well with you, but that's exactly the same thing people said to me (who mind you has lots of experience raising chickens on a farm) when I recently brought up a similar topic. NOT HELPFUL! I respectfully submit that these forums would be more enjoyable and more helpful if those not experienced with a specific question (in this case about how to deal with noisy chickens in an urban environment) would not give unhelpful advice, especially when some has just politely asked for "SOLUTIONS" (of which getting rid of chickens was implicitly not an option)

 

[Farm_Maven]

This is one that can go either way. It closely resembles a post in the past by a gentleman that was concerned because he felt his chickens were too loud, and may be bothering the neighbors. The thing is, he never asked his neighbors if his chickens were too noisy, then he later stated they were getting on HIS nerves(sounded like he was more concerned for himself than any neighbor issue). "Obnoxious" noise from a chicken is a matter of perception. What may be obnoxious or excessive to one, may not be the same to others. I live in a rural area, my chickens are less than 100 feet from my house, near the bedroom end, I never hear my chickens while in the house. I can't even hear my roosters crow, but I have never heard them crow while outside either, although one is starting to try to mate. They don't get noisy when I come to the run to bring treats except for the "YAY TREATS" noises and those aren't loud either. I have 4 different breeds. Of course I have special chickens

 

[dretd]

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Katy, with all due respect, we cannot hear the lighthearted chuckles or tone of a person's voice when they are on a message board, just go by the tone of the words. And yes, they are farm foul, but we are posting on the message board BackyardChickens where some people put chicken diapers on them and have them as house pets and cry when they die.
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While one may or may not find this advice good, I personally think this is a little rude and not terribly helpful to the OP's initial query. At one point the OP stated she felt a little offended by the tone of someone's post and other people jumped on the bandwagon to rub it in. All I am asking is a little courtesy.

 

[Katy]

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They are farm fowl no matter how hard people try to make them otherwise. Just because the advice given was not what they wanted to hear does not make it rude or bad advice.

Your argument that advice is not bad because it is not welcomed does not make sense. It is bad advice precisely because it is not taking into consideration what the OP is asking for. I have raised chickens on a farm setting and now in an urban setting and it is not the same game. Imagine how you would feel if you had to move to an urban setting, got a few chickens to teach your children a little about the farm or about responsibility, did your best to follow local regulations, had a bit of a noise problem and when you asked for some suggestions on how to minimize it, you were told that you just didn't know what you were doing and you should just get rid of your chickens? I don't imagine that would settle well with you, but that's exactly the same thing people said to me (who mind you has lots of experience raising chickens on a farm) when I recently brought up a similar topic. NOT HELPFUL! I respectfully submit that these forums would be more enjoyable and more helpful if those not experienced with a specific question (in this case about how to deal with noisy chickens in an urban environment) would not give unhelpful advice, especially when some has just politely asked for "SOLUTIONS" (of which getting rid of chickens was implicitly not an option)

No, actually the OP asked how to make them SHUT UP......that they were being obnoxious. What she considers too loud is more than likely nothing more than normal noise levels for them. I don't see how telling her that what they were doing was normal for a chicken was unhelpful.

Do I think she was prepared for their noise level? Probably not.

 

[RHRanch]

Nor do I feel that I have been rude in the least. In fact, I know I haven't. I just said that loud noise from chickens is normal (as Katy said) and to be expected. As an experienced poultry keeper, I am obligated to speak up for the chickens who cannot tell the OP that they are behaving normally. I have had a lot of chances to observe chicken behavior - my opinion is based on that. Anyways, my opinion, although not what the OP was hoping for, is, I think very relevent to the OP's inquiry.

 

[matimeo]

Chickens can be obnoxious when they learn that making abnormal (that's right, abnormal) amounts of noise will get them a treat or let out of their coop a little earlier. What is wrong with suggesting the OP put treats in the run or get an automatic door or any number if other helpful and effective solutions? How is it helpful to suggest they give up on chickens? You're skirting around the real issue.

 

[Katy]

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Katy, with all due respect, we cannot hear the lighthearted chuckles or tone of a person's voice when they are on a message board, just go by the tone of the words. And yes, they are farm foul, but we are posting on the message board BackyardChickens where some people put chicken diapers on them and have them as house pets and cry when they die.
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While one may or may not find this advice good, I personally think this is a little rude and not terribly helpful to the OP's initial query. At one point the OP stated she felt a little offended by the tone of someone's post and other people jumped on the bandwagon to rub it in. All I am asking is a little courtesy.

Sorry, but I don't find beekissed's post rude. I agree with what she says.