Noisy Hens

[BLaBauve]

I am new to the world of chickens, but had hoped they would be quieter pets. My neighbors are not thrilled about the idea of having them so I need to keep them as quiet as possible.

This morning I noticed from my kitchen window that one of my dog's was staring at the chicken coop, which was odd, because normally he never notices them. I opened the back door and heard all 6 of the pullets clucking away VERY loudly. I went out to them and they quieted down quickly. I threw some scratch in to occupy them. None of them are laying yet so I know that wasn't the cause. I'm assuming they were startled by something? What else would make them all start clucking so loudly? Is there anything I can do to keep them more occupied while they're in their run in case it's out of boredom? I'm hoping when they finally start laying it won't be as loud as this was!

Any ideas are appreciated!

Thanks,
Beth

 

[Happy Chooks]

Was the noise cluck cluck cluck cluck BAGAWWWWWKKK?

If so, that's the egg song. Eggs are coming soon. Mine do it before they lay, and again after to announce that they have laid it.

 

[BLaBauve]

I suppose it sounded like that, but VERY loud. I sure hope they don't make that much noise every time they lay. It could probably be heard down the street!!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Yes, the egg song can be VERY loud. My gold sex link was the loudest.

 

[Brindlebtch]

It was an egg song choir!

I have to rush out every morning to let them out and throw them crushed up sunflower seed to keep them occupied. Little finks!

 

[GardeNerd]

I am very sensitive about the noise my chickens make because the neighbors' yards are very close and we are all on small city lots. My pullets are laying and do sing the egg song, that "bawk, bawk, bawk, bawk, bawk, baGAWK! (repeat 15 times)" And yes, some can be really loud, especially the leghorn hybrid who used to be my quietest until P.O.L.

However, they each got more talkative a few weeks before they started laying, between 17 and 20 weeks. Even my supposedly quiet breeds, the Buff Orpington for instance, can occasionally be pretty noisy singing her egg song. My Easter Egger is the quietest.

My chickens seem louder (when not signing the egg song) when they are bored. A few things remedy the problem for us when it isn't just the egg song: move them out to a pen or tractor to change the atmosphere, just let them out to free range the yard, or throw a bunch of treats around the run to scratch in.

If they are singing the egg song and won't stop- I pick them up and move them somewhere else. Then they usually stop.