Noisy Hens, - their last chance....

[TonyV]

Thanks everyone for all your input, - this weekend will be the testing time, - we may try a 3rd hen to keep the lonley one company when another is laying, - tho this could just double the noise of course :|

And I will try and find some Black oil sunflower seeds, - I've not seen them here in the UK, but I guess they must be available.

I dont want to give up on them, - lets hope something settles them down a bit.

Tony

 

[snowydiamonds]

I've been using those seeds w/mine, they love them (I'm so envious of everyone having their birds outside and no snow...I can't wait for mine to enjoy this summer outside! Of course, we'll be having 24 hours of daylight...)

 

[Wolf-Kim]

You could always try different breeds. Some breed hens are much quieter than the next. I had a Silkie that wouldn't make noise to save her life, my sex-links on the other hand, will let you know if they are laying a l"arger than normal egg".

I had a game type hen that wouldn't make the loud squaking noises my sex-links do, now she was talkative but it was a low muttering cluck. The sex-links will nearly "scream" squak sometimes. I'm guessing it's the loud "squaks" that are the case here.

-Kim

 

[TonyV]

Nobody could mind the normal 'talkative' clucking, and thats to be expected, - but the very loud sqwarking, - almost like a 'warning to others' alarm, is piercing to say the least.

I'm deff going to try and get some of those sun flower seeds.

We had snow here last weekend, - tho only about 4 inches, - and it had gone by lunchtime

Not quite the amounts you get I guess?

Thanks for your help

 

[Cara]

Tony you might try calling Booker Gardening Centre, I think they'd have them if anyone will. They look just like sunflower seeds but the shell is black instead of striped. I wonder if regular sunflower seeds might work instead.

 

[TonyV]

Thanks Cara, - I've got a bag of Black Sunflower seeds, - without shells.
I guess just a handfull every now and then should be ok?

Saturday and Sunday are the days they really need to keep the noise down, - fingers crossed for this weekend!

Thanks to all.

Tony

PS - Supposed to rain all Saturday (typical British weather), - perhaps that will dampen her spirits and kep her quiet.

 

[TonyV]

By the way Cara, - What is a Labradork? - I've never heard of it before, is it only found in the US?

thanks

Tony

 

[mosier]

Quote:
Did you end up keeping your hens? I'm having the same problems...my girls are LOUD and obnoxious every morning, to the point where I can't get any sleep. They are going to have to go this week if I can't get them to be quiet.

 

[MissPrissy]

Whomever spread the nasty rumor that chickens are quiet has never spent much time around chickens.

My girls are LOUD. Compared to my rooster crowing - in collective - the hens are more noisy than he ever could be.

 

[SeaChick]

I can totally relate to this thread!! We're in tight suburbia, too. I actually don't mind the laying-time bok-ba-gawking so much..... but we have a couple of girls who will stand at the door to the run and cry for hours on end to be let out. They LOVE LOVE LOVE to run around the yard (they're so happy there!) and now that it's summer they get really mad when they're shut in the run. Our barred rock in particular is incredibly mouthy. If we didn't have neightbors all around I wouldn't mind, but I am actually starting to get worried. With our victory at town hall so recent, I really don't want to jeopardize the situation with any complaints....... as much as I hate to do it, if this hen gets any worse (the complaining has been increasing) we may have to bring her to the farm where Olivia is volunteering this summer. She'd be very happy there, the hens free range dawn-dusk. And the neighbors are at least a quarter-mile away!!!