Noisy Chicken Advice Please

[yorklady]

Cori, I so enjoyed your post and glad that your Orps are quieter than your other girls were!

 

[Cori A]

Thanks Yorklady!

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Thank you, you answered my question. I have had birds in the past for years, never chickens. I have 6, they are just baby chicks weeks old. I have been seeing personalitys developing. They seem to be close as a group, way to quite. They seem to whisper to each other. I expected them to make noise, lots of it. Even when I come in, they cherp quitly when they run up to me. I do expect it not to last as they mature and start to give me eggs.

 

[sleepless]

Hopefully, there will come a time when compassion is the driving force. I find it quite painful that the neighbor who cannot sleep is perceived as an evil thing. Some of the chickens you have are clearly loud and that is clearly not kind to neighbors who do not find the sound soothing or lullaby-like. Perhaps community gardens will begin to have community coop space. Lovely idea, urban gardening, but some of the things my neighbors do in the process is quite unkind. They are teaching their children to be urban garden bullies. How is that OK? My health has been severely affected by the lack of sleep. I shall say no more. My neighbors could care less. This community is economically deprived and I know when I tell people I plan to leave, they do ask WHO will buy your house next to that little farm? The lots are small and not suited to keeping chickens.

 

[glynnhoo]

I understood what you meant. And I feel the same way...we have 2 that make a hell of a racket and the other 2 are quiet. It's also illegal here to own them. I'm going to find a new home for the 2 that are too noisy. The other 2 seem to only make noise when they are hungry or thirsty.

 

[onetallady]

I am all for people having pets including Chickens, however we live in a urban area and my neighbor has three, I have no problem with the noise except when it starts at 5:30 am. Usually egg laying, however sometimes it is some kind of loud call? I just want to find a solution so that I don't have to be a complaining neighbor. I would never let my dogs out to bark that early in the morning! Is there anything that will help quiet down these chickens? Any suggestions will greatly be appreciated so that I may pass it on so not to become feuding neighbor over the noise!

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I am all for people having pets including Chickens, however we live in a urban area and my neighbor has three, I have no problem with the noise except when it starts at 5:30 am. Usually egg laying, however sometimes it is some kind of loud call? I just want to find a solution so that I don't have to be a complaining neighbor. I would never let my dogs out to bark that early in the morning! Is there anything that will help quiet down these chickens? Any suggestions will greatly be appreciated so that I may pass it on so not to become feuding neighbor over the noise!

If it sounds like a call--does your neighbor have a rooster?

Hens can be quite loud when they sing their "egg song" and sometimes other chickens join the chorus. What I would suggest to your neighbor is that they do something to block the light coming into their coop in the morning, so perhaps the hens will sleep a bit later. Also, anything they can do to soundproof the coop would help, such as adding insulation to the walls. Your neighbor might also contribute a small sum towards your air conditioning bill so that you can sleep with your windows closed.

You are being a wonderful neighbor to seek out a solution here instead of angrily confronting your neighbors. If it helps, I have 75 chickens and a rooster and I think you are well within your rights to want to not hear chickens at 5:30 am, so I'm a dedicated chicken keeper and firmly on your side. I'm a light sleeper, and I have to sleep with my windows closed or my own hens and rooster will wake me up at 5:30 am!

Oh, and welcome to BYC!

 

[Sandiwool]

I find, as a new chicken owner (5 hens) of a little over a year, that you learn as you go. I thought I was doing a good thing by building a coop where my girls were safe once they were in there and could put themselves to bed and wake up whenever they wanted. HOWEVER, that wake up time was with Dawn, around 4:30-5am every morning and then the noise would start and I would find myself out there trying to quiet them down by spraying with the hose, offering treats, putting the noisier ones in "time out" (a dog crate in a dark bathroom) to try to keep from disturbing my neighbors, who I know are not fond of my girls. So my chickens were controlling my life, stress city!. NOW, I have a coop within my big dog run coop and I lock them in it every night so it's dark to them. I get to sleep in now until 7-8am and I can leave them in there until 9am if I want and them let them out to start their day, cackling away. I figure that is a respectable time for neighbors and for me! I still have my Easter Egger who is very chatty, talks all the time and I have a Faverolle baby, not laying yet but should start any day, who is more annoying that the Easter Egger! However, I'm working on it! I keep trying different things and from what people post, it sounds like things with the Faverolle may quiet down some after the laying starts. I can only hope so! It really does become a source of stress and takes away from the enjoyment of chicken ownership. It's different if you have some property but it you are in tight quarters with neighbors, trying to please your neighbors, your flock and yourself, it can be a tough balance. I just find that you have to find/try different things and then keep trying some more, and when all else fails, hair dye and a straight jacket! : )

Thanks,
SW

 

[lazy gardener]

I find, as a new chicken owner (5 hens) of a little over a year, that you learn as you go. I thought I was doing a good thing by building a coop where my girls were safe once they were in there and could put themselves to bed and wake up whenever they wanted. HOWEVER, that wake up time was with Dawn, around 4:30-5am every morning and then the noise would start and I would find myself out there trying to quiet them down by spraying with the hose, offering treats, putting the noisier ones in "time out" (a dog crate in a dark bathroom) to try to keep from disturbing my neighbors, who I know are not fond of my girls. So my chickens were controlling my life, stress city!. NOW, I have a coop within my big dog run coop and I lock them in it every night so it's dark to them. I get to sleep in now until 7-8am and I can leave them in there until 9am if I want and them let them out to start their day, cackling away. I figure that is a respectable time for neighbors and for me! I still have my Easter Egger who is very chatty, talks all the time and I have a Faverolle baby, not laying yet but should start any day, who is more annoying that the Easter Egger! However, I'm working on it! I keep trying different things and from what people post, it sounds like things with the Faverolle may quiet down some after the laying starts. I can only hope so! It really does become a source of stress and takes away from the enjoyment of chicken ownership. It's different if you have some property but it you are in tight quarters with neighbors, trying to please your neighbors, your flock and yourself, it can be a tough balance. I just find that you have to find/try different things and then keep trying some more, and when all else fails, hair dye and a straight jacket! : )

Thanks,
SW

Interesting that you find your EE to be noisy. My BSL does a very long egg song before and after every egg. The whole county knows when she's laid an egg, or if she's even thinking about laying the next egg. My EE girls (3) are all very quiet. One does a cute little staccato growl when she's on the nest if anyone goes near her, otherwise, all 3 EE are very quiet.

 

[Checkers1558]

They are not "neurotic." This is normal chicken behaviour. Healthy and normal.

It sounds like you want a bird that makes no sound. This does not exist. If you happen to have a quiet bird or three, that in no way indicates that the species is quiet. And if you cull and cull until you have quiet birds, it is quite possible the remaining birds will begin to make noise.

One of the joys of having birds is the egg song. It is so fun!

I've heard hamsters are quiet. But, alas, no eggs.

Yes i agree there is no such thing as a quiet bird. Even my 3 girls are noisy . I even when down to my neighbors house ( my neighbors house is 2 houses down from me.) and i still heard my girls!! But the good thing is that my neighbors don't mind my hens.





I PERSONALLY THINK CHICKENS EATING CHICKEN IS WRONG !!!!!!