New noisemaking activities

[LaurelC]

The saddle and hackle feathers on cockerels are pointy, They're round ended on pullets. Eventually the tail will start to get long curved sickle feathers. Wing feathers will be more pointed too.

I think everyone is freaking now because the sounds are unusual. They just aren't that noisy. Many years ago at this house I wanted to fly under the radar. I was standing in the yard and thought the cackling was pretty loud. Then the neighbor across the street started cutting the grass and I couldn't hear the chickens any more.

Thank you so much for the advice and letting me know what to look for!

I agree with you on this. In general, a little noisemaking is fine, but the 5am stuff has got to stop! Even I don't like hearing it, and I'm getting eggs and giggles from them!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Mine did it for a couple of days, she would follow me around taking loudly, bawk bawk bawk, she was quite smug when she finally layed, this was a friendly chicken, the others also get loud, I find they start laying pretty quick after this, so maybe wait a few days if you want to keep her.

 

[LaurelC]

Mine did it for a couple of days, she would follow me around taking loudly, bawk bawk bawk, she was quite smug when she finally layed, this was a friendly chicken, the others also get loud, I find they start laying pretty quick after this, so maybe wait a few days if you want to keep her.

Do you not think that the chicken in question looks like a male? I would be happy to keep it, but if it's a cockerel, the sooner the better. It's been 4 days since she started up, and I've read that it's not uncommon for younger pullets to make much more fanfare about laying than more experienced girls.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Okay feeling stupid, you said it's four months old, it does look roosterish, the tail feathers, and the neck feathers look suspicious, spurs are not always an indication, I have hens with spurs.

 

[MaLoTu]

You should post that picture in the Langshan breed thread or in the section where people ask opinions on gender. That way you can get some more opinions. It might be especially useful to learn more about the breed from other owners.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I agree as I'm not familiar with the breed

 

[LaurelC]

Posted! Hopefully I get some good advice.

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

Somewhere on here someone was exspousing the as soon as you hear them you run out with the hose and spray them down with a hose. Sounds like it worked quite well.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

Keeping them in the coop until later in the morning may help.

Are you sure your neighbors even mind? I love the sound of our chickens. We have neighbors that have cows that I can hear if the wind is right, love it! I'd rather hear animals than someone revving their motorcycle or blaring a boombox or fighting and cursing.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Do you not think that the chicken in question looks like a male? I would be happy to keep it, but if it's a cockerel, the sooner the better. It's been 4 days since she started up, and I've read that it's not uncommon for younger pullets to make much more fanfare about laying than more experienced girls.

The egg song goes back to the jungle fowl days. The flock would be foraging and the hen would go back to lay eggs in her nest. When she came off the nest, she'd make the egg song call which translates to English as, "Hey, where are you guys?" The rest of the flock would call back with the same sound, "Here we are."
It is a call looking for the whereabouts of the rest of the flock. I've heard lost roosters making the same call.
Even if all the hens are in the same pen, they still can't help themselves. It's in their DNA.

Okay feeling stupid, you said it's four months old, it does look roosterish, the tail feathers, and the neck feathers look suspicious, spurs are not always an indication, I have hens with spurs.

Lots of Mediterranean class hens have spurs. I also had a Jaerhon hen with spurs. The boys' spurs don't often show up in a significant way till almost a year of age.

Somewhere on here someone was exspousing the as soon as you hear them you run out with the hose and spray them down with a hose. Sounds like it worked quite well.

I tried that many times. I had about 8 roosters crowing all day. I put the hose on them and they'd run into the coop. As soon as I'd walk away, they came out to crow again.
I did that for weeks and it had no effect. Only processing the extras had any effect.

Keeping them in the coop until later in the morning may help.

Are you sure your neighbors even mind? I love the sound of our chickens. We have neighbors that have cows that I can hear if the wind is right, love it! I'd rather hear animals than someone revving their motorcycle or blaring a boombox or fighting and cursing.

Keeping them indoors later in the morning makes a significant impact. I keep them in till about 9 on weekends. I can hear them when I'm outside but it wouldn't be enough to waken anyone.