Loud Chicken

[Kinzer]

We have 10 chickens in total - 2 white leghorns, 2 brown sexlinks, 4 Jersey Giants, and 2 unknown. This past week we have had our first eggs and now we have both white leghorns and one brown sexlink laying and the eggs are amazing, nice thick shells and amazing dark yolk color.

The behavior of the chickens changed a little once each of them started laying. First off, they have become easier to pick up and hold, they don’t really fight it like they used to. But the worst part of the laying has been the noise, and I’m curious if this is worse depending on the breed and if it gets better with time. The brown sexlink doesn’t make hardly any noise before, during, or after laying. The white leghorns on the other hand, they are loud enough to wake up the neighbors I’m sure. And that’s before, during, and after. Is this specific to white leghorns? And will they get quieter over time? If they won’t quiet down we will probably have to get rid of them because we’ve got one neighbor that will eventually say something. And we don’t want to be a menace anyway. Any thoughts?

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

It's not "noise" they're singing the egg song. They all likely do this. Mine do and the rooster even chimes in to celebrate the egg making. Perhaps someone can suggest quieter breeds.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Yeah, the egg song can get loud! My Silkies are ridiculously loud. Like car alarms. It's crazy. Not even 2 lbs, but they can rouse the dead. It hasn't gotten any quieter over the years.

I think @Wee Farmer Sarah is right. It depends on the breed/type. Or maybe even the individual bird. My Plymouth Rock, production red, and Brahma are all silent. My Orpington makes some noise, but it doesn't go on and on like my Silkies. My Cochin and Welsummer are both pretty loud, too, actually.

You get used to it. Not sure your neighbors will...

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

No, mine are all pretty vocal. The Buff Orpington's are really crazy with some of the noises they make. DD says they sound maniacal. I still prefer that sound over the noise of barking dogs.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

The smallest little hen in my flock of 25 is a little Polish hen, Poppy. Poppy is so loud that the entire house knows it's her when she's singing her egg song. I've said it a million times, people who make the "no rooster" laws have never been around chickens because hens can be just as loud, if not louder, than roosters!

 

[aliris]

Hmmm. I was coming here to ask just this question.

I've wondered whether I've enabled this incredibly loud and obnoxious behavior. For us it's beyond the "egg noise" - I get it and hear when they're proudly proclaiming their production. But I have chickens that go off constantly basically because they want me to come feed them. Is that normal?

I'm afraid I've taught them this because I have a neighbor who was complaining, so I was trying vainly to keep them quiet. Every time they'd peep I'd come running to try to get them to quiet down. Now every time they hear me move in the house they start in shrieking. And when they see me.... smh.

So after months and months of this I decided to try some behavioral psychology on them and when they start shrieking and when I know they aren't ailing or hungry, I squirt them with some water to try to get them to associate something a little less pleasant with all that squawking.

Is this cruel of me? Wrong? Mistaken? anyone got some advice to offer please? They really are loud loud loud..... tia.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

The smallest little hen in my flock of 25 is a little Polish hen, Poppy. Poppy is so loud that the entire house knows it's her when she's singing her egg song. I've said it a million times, people who make the "no rooster" laws have never been around chickens because hens can be just as loud, if not louder, than roosters!

Totally agree. And my rooster is about the nicest in my flock.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Hmmm. I was coming here to ask just this question.

I've wondered whether I've enabled this incredibly loud and obnoxious behavior. For us it's beyond the "egg noise" - I get it and hear when they're proudly proclaiming their production. But I have chickens that go off constantly basically because they want me to come feed them. Is that normal?

I'm afraid I've taught them this because I have a neighbor who was complaining, so I was trying vainly to keep them quiet. Every time they'd peep I'd come running to try to get them to quiet down. Now every time they hear me move in the house they start in shrieking. And when they see me.... smh.

So after months and months of this I decided to try some behavioral psychology on them and when they start shrieking and when I know they aren't ailing or hungry, I squirt them with some water to try to get them to associate something a little less pleasant with all that squawking.

Is this cruel of me? Wrong? Mistaken? anyone got some advice to offer please? They really are loud loud loud..... tia.

Offer your neighbor some fresh eggs and let him know this is what the noise is all about.

 

[aliris]

Oh I tried that even before he complained, lol! He's vegan and quite haughtily refused. I tried to get him to come play with the chickens, to take some eggs for friends, etc etc etc. No go big-time.

 

[aliris]

I should perhaps start a separate thread to ask for advice...and/or perhaps record the baleful moans and calls and ask whether a chicken whisperer here might know whether it bespeaks something different??