Illinois...

[BReeder!]

I want some better raised beds. Where can I find the corrugated metal?

I got it from Menards I believe. It might have been Home Depot. Don't bother with the decorative panels, they cost to much and are usually smaller. I used 12' corrugated galvanized steel roofing panels. Cut them with an angle grinder. They are rated as 2' wide, but are actually 2'2". They are not necessarily cheap ($30 if I recall), but might be cheaper then making a raised bed completely of lumber right now with the lumber prices so high. I did use lumber to frame the box though. I use 2x3s instead of 2x4s. Menards sells 2x3s treated and untreated, and they are a lot cheaper.

 

[Faraday40]

YouTube is a good idea. Here's the video of Princess singing to me. Duck (a chicken named Duck that is) is in the nest box singing as well.

Awesome. It's so funny how similar it is to mine. Here: That same long "Bawk" is always followed by 5 of the short clucks (not quite as fast as Princess did). Your Princess makes the long drawn out bawk, then some medium, then many, many short clucks.

It started with my hens "Precious" & "Cuddles." I imagined they were saying
"TREATS treats treats treats treats treats" They would always follow me around making that same sound and soon many of my other hens joined in. For some reason, it was just me. The hens didn't make that specific vocalization when begging the kids for treats. For a few years, I figured it was because I did the majority of their care, so that's why they "sang" to me in that way. They know the daily morning routine and when I finish cleaning/sifting, I refill water, then put a bowl of food in the run. I figured they were just excited about the upcoming food bowl - after all, most of my hens are Orpingtons! Sometimes (if I'm busy and not acknowledging them) it can get pretty loud.

I got a book from the library about chicken communication, called How to Speak Chicken. It was a fun read (for a chicken geek like me). You probably already know & understand most of the noises your flock makes. That morning song could be my name (in chicken language) and those original hens taught it to the rest of the flock.

So now I wonder if your hens do that same noise (long BAWK -followed by many short clucks) to you regularly. If yes, is that a generalized call that all chickens make for their #1 caregiver? Or, Could your lav orp have heard it as a chick when living here and is using a different version of it for you?

Edit to add: It could also be an "Orpington thing." My seramas make all sorts of noises - but not really that one. My EE & Leghorns live with the orps, and they will sometimes do that song for me. However, they are more likely to scratch about outside while I'm cleaning. It's the big, lazy orps who stand around me, chatting, while I'm cleaning the coop/run.

 

[SnootyHen]

Much as this rain is killing me, I am so happy it's spring!! A couple of new layers this week and I just ordered some wood to expand my garden. Going to give the boys a plan and the supplies and tell them to build it for me. It might take them longer than if I do it myself but I feel like it's good for them (and keeps them out of my hair for an hour or so). Then I'll let the chickens eat some grass before I fill them with soil. Now I have to figure out what I am planting!!

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

I have to get rid of my rooster. Someone complained again. He was a pet so I didn't want to eat him. I will if there are no other options to rehome him.
A few new neighbors I believe it's one of them. It's time for them to learn a lesson. I am going to set an alarm on my spare phone for every 15 or 20 minutes to play through the radio speakers. The alarm sound will be of a rooster crowing. I even have outside speakers. As long as its 7-7 no noise ordinance violations. If it's a radio it's not will county land use department.
I cant find out who it is.
Hopefully whoever it is learns that they shouldn't try to police everyone else.

 

[SnootyHen]

I have to get rid of my rooster. Someone complained again. He was a pet so I didn't want to eat him. I will if there are no other options to rehome him.
A few new neighbors I believe it's one of them. It's time for them to learn a lesson. I am going to set an alarm on my spare phone for every 15 or 20 minutes to play through the radio speakers. The alarm sound will be of a rooster crowing. I even have outside speakers. As long as its 7-7 no noise ordinance violations. If it's a radio it's not will county land use department.
I cant find out who it is.
Hopefully whoever it is learns that they shouldn't try to police everyone else.

I'm so sorry! People can be such jerks. The amount of noise made by cars and dogs and lawn mowers and everything else... I was thinking this morning about how loud my hens are when they're laying and that if a neighbor complained, they'd have no idea how much it would hurt me to have to get rid of them. And I'd probably make sure they knew how much it hurt.

 

[cavemanrich]

and that if a neighbor complained, they'd have no idea how much it would hurt me to have to get rid of them.

Clue me in on how you would get rid of those neighbors

 

[Molpet]

I have to get rid of my rooster. Someone complained again. He was a pet so I didn't want to eat him. I will if there are no other options to rehome him.
A few new neighbors I believe it's one of them. It's time for them to learn a lesson. I am going to set an alarm on my spare phone for every 15 or 20 minutes to play through the radio speakers. The alarm sound will be of a rooster crowing. I even have outside speakers. As long as its 7-7 no noise ordinance violations. If it's a radio it's not will county land use department.
I cant find out who it is.
Hopefully whoever it is learns that they shouldn't try to police everyone else.

Well that stinks. Good luck finding a home for him.
If you want any meat mutt eggs let me know.

While going to war with the neighbor sounds like fun, why draw more attention.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

Clue me in on how you would get rid of those neighbors

Never ask a question if it might make you an accessory

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

Well that stinks. Good luck finding a home for him.
If you want any meat mutt eggs let me know.

While going to war with the neighbor sounds like fun, why draw more attention.

I honestly dont know. Theres just something inside if me that has to fight at times like this. People who like to complain and police others with their standards really irk me.
I worked in a shop and had my radio. I enjoy 80s era music. Most mechanics are metal, rap, or country. Whenever someone complained about my music I change to classical. If they complained about that I switched to la ley. I couldn't understand any of it but that was not the point. Eventually they learned 80s music wasnt that bad, it could be worse. They stopped complaining.
If you say I'm trying to police them with my standards you're probably right in this aspect I admit. But my point is if you have a problem it could be worse or try talking to a neighbor first. Every time I talk to a neighbor I tell them just say the word if he is bothering them and I'll try a collar or something to stop the crowing. They didn't do that.

One neighbor apologized once for his weeds getting out of hand. I told him 2 things. 1 as long as you aren't hurting animals, women, or children it's not my business. 2 if your weeds bothered me I'd offer to help you with them.
I have little respect for someone that goes first to authority and not a neighbor for things like this.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]