Hey all! Sorry in advance this is kind of a long post.
I live in a pretty urban neighborhood where chickens aren't exempt, but noise makers are. Although I planned on starting with two Buff Orpingtons pullets from the local hatchery I ended up fostering two red sex links for a friend who needs them rehomed. They're a little older but lay on average an egg a day between them and are super sweet, perfect for this beginner. Everything's been going great until yesterday morning at sun up - one girl started acting like a rooster! Cock-a-doodle and all - so loud it sounded like she was in our living room except she was actually outside and all our doors and windows were closed! I'm at no obligation to keep this girl, but she happens to be mine and my kids favorite, so I went on a mission to keep her quiet until a reasonable hour. I have a relatively small coop with a sliding door that shuts the portion of the roost and nesting boxes off to the rest of the coop. It's not naturally super dark, there's a window and cracks where light come through, so I actually changed that - making a 'blacked out bedroom' for the girls so I can have a little more control over the 'sunrise greeter'. I work nights but still get home before sunup, so snuck out and slid the door closed while the girls were asleep and when I woke up went out and slid it open to let the sun in and them out. I was pleased to see that they were still totally asleep and groggily came out of the coop for some free range time (rather than being antsy and irritated about being shut in). And thus far no cock-a-doodling, just normal happy clucking. Hoping it's a good long term solution and that this helps some of you who may have the same struggle. Also, if anyone has any better ideas or opinions would love to hear it.
I live in a pretty urban neighborhood where chickens aren't exempt, but noise makers are. Although I planned on starting with two Buff Orpingtons pullets from the local hatchery I ended up fostering two red sex links for a friend who needs them rehomed. They're a little older but lay on average an egg a day between them and are super sweet, perfect for this beginner. Everything's been going great until yesterday morning at sun up - one girl started acting like a rooster! Cock-a-doodle and all - so loud it sounded like she was in our living room except she was actually outside and all our doors and windows were closed! I'm at no obligation to keep this girl, but she happens to be mine and my kids favorite, so I went on a mission to keep her quiet until a reasonable hour. I have a relatively small coop with a sliding door that shuts the portion of the roost and nesting boxes off to the rest of the coop. It's not naturally super dark, there's a window and cracks where light come through, so I actually changed that - making a 'blacked out bedroom' for the girls so I can have a little more control over the 'sunrise greeter'. I work nights but still get home before sunup, so snuck out and slid the door closed while the girls were asleep and when I woke up went out and slid it open to let the sun in and them out. I was pleased to see that they were still totally asleep and groggily came out of the coop for some free range time (rather than being antsy and irritated about being shut in). And thus far no cock-a-doodling, just normal happy clucking. Hoping it's a good long term solution and that this helps some of you who may have the same struggle. Also, if anyone has any better ideas or opinions would love to hear it.
