Mick or Mick
In the Brooder
- Jul 3, 2015
- 10
- 1
- 24
I am a long time lurker but today I decided to create an account and ask for some advice. Some background:
I have 2 Buff Orps, about 1.5 years old. I have had them for 1 year. Their coop is at least 6x6 feet - I just expanded it in late April with idea of getting more hens. Their run is 16x16 feet with trees, bushes, sand and mulch. Also expanded in late April.They have since decimated any greenery in the run so I have added branches for perching, a plastic table for sitting, sand and mulch for digging. They have 2 waterers, 1 inside and 1 outside.
Their door is on a timer and opens every day at 6:30 AM. I'm thinking of changing that to earlier, and here's why.
They are incredibly loud. When they want to come out and the door doesn't open early enough, they sit inside their coop and make this throaty, raspy whiney noise. My bedroom is a good 100 feet away and it wakes me up. Then, when they come out, they make the same noise until I give them a treat. I know this is enabling and encouraging them, but in order to keep peace among the neighbors, I feel I must. I went away for vacation and had a chicken sitter. She came in the afternoon so there was no one here to give them their morning treat and encourage the behaviour. I was hoping that would break the habit, but no luck.
I can't leave food in their pen over night so it's there in the morning as I don't want to bring raccoons and possums into the area. I am running out of ideas and starting to resent them.
Any help? TIA!
I have 2 Buff Orps, about 1.5 years old. I have had them for 1 year. Their coop is at least 6x6 feet - I just expanded it in late April with idea of getting more hens. Their run is 16x16 feet with trees, bushes, sand and mulch. Also expanded in late April.They have since decimated any greenery in the run so I have added branches for perching, a plastic table for sitting, sand and mulch for digging. They have 2 waterers, 1 inside and 1 outside.
Their door is on a timer and opens every day at 6:30 AM. I'm thinking of changing that to earlier, and here's why.
They are incredibly loud. When they want to come out and the door doesn't open early enough, they sit inside their coop and make this throaty, raspy whiney noise. My bedroom is a good 100 feet away and it wakes me up. Then, when they come out, they make the same noise until I give them a treat. I know this is enabling and encouraging them, but in order to keep peace among the neighbors, I feel I must. I went away for vacation and had a chicken sitter. She came in the afternoon so there was no one here to give them their morning treat and encourage the behaviour. I was hoping that would break the habit, but no luck.
I can't leave food in their pen over night so it's there in the morning as I don't want to bring raccoons and possums into the area. I am running out of ideas and starting to resent them.
Any help? TIA!