LOUD LOUD hen problem (pic of offender)

[Stef in Davis CA]

My Black Australorps is ~9mo. old and has always been the "jerk" chicken of the bunch...very energetic, almost frantic, whether it's gobbling up treats, or picking on the lowest chicken in the pecking order. Well, now she's really going too far cause she has taken up making the loudest, worst noises from 6am - 8:30am

Nothing seems to dissuade her...she starts "braaaaaaaaaaaack"-ing at 6, so I go and let them out in the yard, which used to quiet her. But now, she just walks around the yard "braaaaaaaack"-ing AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS FOR HOURS and it's kind of excruciating

(she doesn't lay til mid day usually). None of the other chickens are loud...just normal chicken levels of noise, usually when they lay and egg. I'm terrified that the neighbors are all starting to hate us, we live in a suburb with houses close all around, so if I'm shutting my windows and wearing ear plugs, I'm sure the rest of my neighbors need to do the same. I've tried giving them stale bread in the morning, which distracts them and they peck for hours, but this is no longer working. I went out and held her for a few minutes to try and calm her/take her down a notch around 8am, but she HATES being held and was just freaking out, hyperventilating and pooping and acting like I was trying to kill her (I can hold all of my other chickens just fine, and some actually like being picked up and carried around the yard).

What can I do? This chicken is driving me CRAZY! I raised her from a chick, so I would like to do the best thing by her, but I'm pretty sure she can't continue to live here if she is this loud because it's unfair to the neighbors. What are the chances of re-homing her to a place where she can make as much noise as she wants? Problem is she got a comb injury so her comb flops around and I'd worry she'd get picked on in a new flock. I'm at my wits end about this! Next I'm considering catching her every night and shutting her up in a ventilated cardboard box til morning...

Bad chicken:

Offender as innocent looking chick (on right):

 

[NHN]

I had the same problem except mine was a White leghorn. I ended up giving her to a farm because it was just too stressful trying to keep her quiet

 

[consdrs]

Hummm I hear they taste like chicken...

if not put her on craigslist. she will be gone in minutes.
I sold a roo last week. he was up for no less than 15 minutes before I had a buyer. WOW.

mine were a noisy bunch this morning. from 6:30 to 8:30. oh ya beautiful Sunday morning sleep in.... yeah right! when I went out at 8:30 having had enough, found the problem. everyone wanted to lay an egg at the same time! I have 9 hens and 3 boxes full. they sat in the coop and yelled at each other to get finished. what a racket. not just one hen but no less than 4-5 all yelling this am at the same time!

Connie

 

[Stef in Davis CA]

Good to know others have had this problem...hope it's not too common! I just don't think I could eat her...I've stopped eating chicken at all since I got them as pets! (I'm such a softie

). How do people find a farm to send their LOUD chickens to? I feel like such a bad chicken owner, I'd need to find a really good home for her!

NHN, did you have less of a problem once the loud one was gone?

 

[Schultz]

There is a buy/sell/trade area on BYC, a fellow BYC member might be interested in her if you post an ad for her. You can also try Craigslist.com to try and rehome her. I would make it a point that she is loud and if you want her to go to a no kill farm, I would state that as well!
Good luck she is a pretty girl!

 

[dfchaser]

I wish i was closer! We have tons of noisy ones here what would be one more! You should have luck on craigslist, chickens go fast, just be sure you put that you want her to go to a no kill home.

 

[farmerjill]

My 2 year old australorps and sussexes are loud in the morning, before they lay, as well. Generally, things quiet down in the afternoon, by which time they've already laid their eggs. I live on a farm, so noise really isn't an issue, but I have to say that my perception of how noisy they are, and my visitors perception is quite different. (I think they're much noisier than my neighbors do, probably b/c it echoes in my yard). Have you talked to your neighbors to find out if she's really bothering them?

I actually lived in Davis for about 10 years (left in 2001), and my memories of the place were of roaring leaf blowers and air conditioners going all day long. (I loved Davis--it is a great little city--but I remember plenty of irritating suburban noise). I actually enjoyed the sound of my neighbors' chickens--someone near Cornell Drive kept a rooster back then). If I remember correctly, the city noise ordinance allows you to make noise after 10 am, so maybe you could just leave her shut up in the coop til then, which would muffle the noise....

Good luck.

 

[crazy hen quartet]

Hey Stef-

I have a bad black aus too. She is about the same age, skittish, grabby and obnoxiously loud. She clucks really loud and frantic if she finds a yummy treat she wants all to herself, and enjoys picking on the lower members of the pecking order in her free time. It is nearly impossible to get a hold of her, but when I do she will quietly submit and let me hold her. But honestly, I thought I had some kindof hoax on my hands after all the posts I have read on how nice and friendly and quiet these birds are supposed to be.

maybe ours are siblings.

 

[mybelle5]

I have a bo just like her too. She gets going with the BAWWWKKKKKKK Bawking and then she gets all the other girls going. Today I was trying everything to stop her from screaming. Finally a can of corn and she was quite. My youngest daughter said, Mom I think the chicken police are going to show up! Man you just want to grab the little beaks and tell them to use their inside voices!

 

[highcountrychickens]

I'm so sorry that I'm laughing at this, because I KNOW how frustrating it is! I've been there... Maybe some well timed eggs for your neighbors will make you feel a bit better about it.
Comb or not, she sounds cheeky enough that she should be fine in another flock... I wouldn't worry too much about it.