I got into trouble I think for talking to my chickens too loudly

[ChickensAreSweet]

Tonight when I was out closing up the chickens, my neighbor (who lives behind a hill- not in direct sight of me) used one of those noisemakers that makes the "hee-honk-hee-honk" sounds.

I got the distinct impression, though I cannot see this neighbor, that I was making too much noise and he was trying to impress upon me that noises carry between our two houses.

Ahem...I should say that I (because I just assume that I am by myself) talk silly talk to my chickens all the time. I say, "Goodnight girls...awwww girrrrrdddddiesss!!!! Gooood gurdy...... on and on.

Then I usually say, "Last call for gurdies!!!!" Just in case one of them is hiding on top of the woodpile (this has happened).

Ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Does this mean that they can HEAR ME??????????????????????

OOOOOOhhhhh how embarrassing.

I could just crawl under a rock right about now. The only reason I associated the noisemaker with my noisy talking to the chickens is, that I have read others' suggestions for doing the same with neighbors with noisy barking dogs at midnight.

Ok, can I cry now??? I really feel violated that they probably have been enduring all my baby talk to the chickens and thinking that I am some chicken nut case.

So my plan is...because as my husband says, it might have just been a coincidence, to be JUST AS NOISY tomorrow when I close up the chickens. If the noisemaker makes another appearance at that time, I have unmistakable proof that I AM BEING TOO NOISY.

Then I will make a concerted effort to be quieter. But I just have to know.

I will try to be quieter anyway...just in case - after tomorrow.

Has this happened to anyone else?

 

[CathyM]

LOL! I'm guessing it's the same with my neighbors, tho they haven't said... I just can't help chatting with my chicks, and it's only when I hear the neighbors (rarely) talk in their yard that I realize how much sound travels!!

I've tried to remember that and not chat with them... but it's hopeless -- they have such personalities and I just can't help myself! And I do sound ridiculous, I know... but I figure that lets me off the hook for looking impressive -- right?

 

[gryeyes]

Oh, Lordy, I gave up worrying about that back when I was shrieking at my elderly dachshund for chasing (and, unfortunately killing) one of my chickens. And then the two months it took to break him of that fault, shouting "NO!" and his name, and then shouting at the OTHER (good boy) dachshund who ignores poultry but races along the back fence barking at the neighbors' two large dogs. I yell at him to make him come back into the house when he does that.

If they hear me talking baby talk and silly things to the chickens, I think that may just redeem me from the shrieking bouts. The lady of the house has a standing order of a dozen eggs every Sunday, which I put over our adjoining chain link fence and she puts the empty cartons and money back on my side. She has asked me about the types of chickens, their names, and various questions. With interest.

So I'm really glad they are my neighbors. I tried to give them the eggs, gratis, but the lady of the house REFUSES to accept 'em for free.

I do think I'd be mortified if one of 'em blasted an air-horn, though. But we can talk to each other and do so, infrequently, so I don't think that would happen. They are putting up with all the roosters, though... which is much noisier than any chickie-talk I perform.

 

[Spookwriter]

It is one thing for the neighbors to hear you talking to your chickens.

It's another thing for the neighbors hearing you talking but not seeing the chickens.

Then you just become the crazy neighbor lady that talks to herself every night...after all,
it's not like anyone but you can SEE the chickens...

 

[Ema]

Quote:

sorry but it is pretty funny!!!

now if that neighbour got some chickens he/she might see why you do that. don't stop baby talking your girls, just doing it more quietly LOL

I have no direct neighbours and sound travel real well around here, both of mine are 2 acres away on each side, and even though I know they can hear me when I am outside acting like a dork I really don't care. And when I say a dork, I mean really dorky. I once didn't realize my elderly neighbours to the right were out on their porch nearing sundown, and my dh and I were cleaning up after a BBQ and I broke out to an MC Hammer song and began dancing like an Idiot. I stopped when I heard them laughing, I went back inside and my Dh spent the night laughing at me, I too thought it was funny.

late spring we were painting the side of the house, and my dh was on a ladder and I again didn't see my neighbours out and I pulled his pants down, he always wears shorts underneath, but I heard my neighbour whistle and then laugh, he later came by with a couple beers and the painting didn't get done....

so there I hope you feel better, :-D

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

CathyM- Thanks for the response! It makes me feel better when reading about others talking to their chickens, for sure.

gryeyes- You sound very busy with the dogs and keeping everyone in line over there!

I just recently sold all my roos (except my silkie roos) at auction (yes, I know- I did cave but I had to do something). So I don't understand why my neighbor would be upset at the noise level NOW that it is a whole lot quieter out there. It doesn't make sense. Maybe I've given him hope for TOTAL quiet.

Oh well...I just felt like my world fell apart because I like to think of myself as a good neighbor.

 

[Stacykins]

I don't think it is any different then someone talking to their dogs or cats, if he thinks you talking to your flock is weird

 

[featherbaby]

Quote:
Deep, deep down....does it REALLY matter what they think of you? Naaaaaaaahh! I talk baby talk to my silkie babies, I just do it quietly because I don't want to disturb anyone or give them any reason to call Code Enforcement (otherwise known as the Chicken Gestapo) on me. I am not the chicken whisperer.....I'm the rooster 'shusher' HA!

As far as them thinking you're a chicken nut case........ I think that train has already left the station. Welcome aboard.

 

[mommyofthreewithchicks]

I am pretty sure that when I am yelling at my tractor (naughty words) the people who live accross the street and the chuch and anyone in the graveyard can hear me. Couse I always forget this when shouting at the tractor.... I am pretty sure if they hear me talking to the birds or singing to them that whatever they hear from that conversation is tame compaired to the tractor talk.... And I live in the country but have two real close neibors- the one accross the street and the church which also has a house for the pastor.... Oh well!

As for being the crazy chicken lady~ I am winning as far as anyone I know. No one else has been bitten by the bird bug and so all my posts on facebook are memerable only because they are about the birds, anything I say about the kids or my hubby are ignored

Pretty sure I don't post that much about chickens or ducks but it seems to be all anyone remembers. So I have tried REALLY really hard to just post here instead of facebook. And since someone brings it up in real conversation... well they do get their ears talked off on the subject. I need to work on that a bit more

The good news is you are in good company here.

 

[justbugged]

Well I know that my neighbors can hear nearly everything I say when I am outside. We live so close with just fences between the houses. I know that my yelling at the dogs to stop barking, has to be as bad as the dogs barking in the first place. I try to keep it down, but I know that the guy behind me heard me tell the dogs that they were edible.

I heard him and his friend laughing at me.

Oh well that is just part of life. And I kind of think that your neighbor is very rude for pointing out that the sound carries. I don't know what their problem is at this time of year. It's not like the windows are open.