Loud Hen Song

[Z_chicken]

I'm in an suburban area with less than 60ft between houses, and I am new to chickens as are my neighbors. So much so that upon sight, most have asked, "What is that?" ...No kidding.

Recently, my EE pullet, who is not yet laying, is waking up early and singing loudly. She's my favorite chicken; I don't want my neighbors to complain about her especially since I can't yet calm them with fresh eggs. So, probably partially from panic, as soon as she starts, I jump out of bed and run into the yard ...which shuts her up right away ...and quietly, but aggressively, chase her around yard like she does my silkies. Then I go back inside. Luckily, she's quiet for the rest of the day.

My question, is this going to train her not to be so loud?

Or am I just chasing a chicken around my yard half naked every morning?

 

[HennyPennies2007]

She is training you well... Some hens just sing... others do it to get treats etc....

 

[Jena]

lol..... I have one that does exactly the same.

I have 4 chickens, and at one time it was Sarah that used to sing, I was constantly worried about the neighbours but they all love it, now it is Rachel, and she is really loud. I sleep on the other side of the house, and I am too stiff in the mornings to go and chase her, so I am hoping it will settle down, I think with mine it is the dominant hen that sings.

As yours are not laying yet, it could be she is announcing that something is going to happen soon. Maybe it will stop when she does get there.

Best of luck.

Jena.

 

[damselfish]

Actually, we need video to evaluate whether you are training your chicken correctly!

Seriously, there's no saying whether chasing her around will help or not.

Ask your neighbors if it's a problem for them (unless these are undercover chickens)...perhaps you're worrying about nothing.

 

[montana girl]

I laughed when I read this.

Recently my Buff Orpington, who is going 3 years old has started to sing in the morning. I too would rush out, and open up the run so she could get out and go into the garden bed and dig for worms.

After a few days I realized she was totally training me lol.

I quit doing it, and I still hear her every now and again, but for the most part she quit.

Today while working outside I listened to my neighbors dog relentlessly bark at squirrels in the trees. Way more noisy than my singing hen : )

What I did when I first got my girls, was to go around to all my neighbors and let them know what I was doing. I asked them to please tell me if the girls bothered them at all and I would try my best to fix it. They all said they LOVED the idea of chickens being in the neighborhood and I have not had one complaint in almost three years.

Just yesterday one of the neighbors walked by my yard ( I live downtown) and she said "thank you guys so much for making this little wonderland here that we can come by and see your animals, it is so wonderful!"
My husband and I blushed : )

Good luck!

 

[b.hromada]

I have to laugh, been there, done that too!

I have to agree, I think they are trying to train us. They're not as dumb as we think, huh? Gotta love our girls.