Obnoxiously loud hen

[wildwestcoast]

I have a hen who was broody but with a bit of effort she is back to laying. Before the broody she was a very quiet hen and I have had her since last september. The problem now is..she is soooo loud. like she crows and crows at various times of day. This has been going on for a couple of weeks since the broody episode..so loud I can hear it in my house with the windows closed and I am increasingly concerned that she will irritate my poor neighbour (whose house is closer to the coop than mine is). so far no complaints..but it is driving us nuts. Could this just be spring hormones? Does she think she is a rooster now? I am at the point of re-homing her but I thought I would post and see if any of you experienced chicken keepers have encountered this and if there is anything that can be done about it before I put her up for a quick sale/giveaway. She is my (formerly) cute little svart hona, cheryl crow

 

[IamRainey]

Does she start at daybreak or do it during the day? I think most people can live with a natural sound like that through the day. It's the 4:30am rooster crow that turns neighbors into flaming pitchfork brigades.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Can you get a video of her in action? Seeing/hearing is often helpful on sorting behavior changes out

 

[wildwestcoast]

Does she start at daybreak or do it during the day? I think most people can live with a natural sound like that through the day. It's the 4:30am rooster crow that turns neighbors into flaming pitchfork brigades.

She starts early in the morning and then has bouts throughout the day. She starts between 6 and 7 am. It's not a regular egg song volume, which can be loud when the hens are excited. This is at a level I've never experienced. The neighbors have single pane glass and are fairly close to the coop. I think I will just head over and talk to her. I'll bring some eggs haha. See where it goes from there.

 

[wildwestcoast]

Can you get a video of her in action? Seeing/hearing is often helpful on sorting behavior changes out

Great idea! I will try to post one by tomorrow

 

[IamRainey]

I think I will just head over and talk to her. I'll bring some eggs haha. See where it goes from there.

Good place to start! You'll get more empathy and results from the neighbor than you will from the hen. ... at least I hope xo.

 

[wildwestcoast]

no video today..she was very quiet. bizarre. I'm wondering now if it's some kind of predator warning song. maybe she's super sensitive and if there is a rustle in the bush or sees something overhead off she goes. I will post a video though if I catch her in action

 

[micstrachan]

The general alarm call is obnoxiously loud and sounds a lot like the egg song to my ears. Maybe she is seeing or hearing something that is freaking her out?

 

[wildwestcoast]

The general alarm call is obnoxiously loud and sounds a lot like the egg song to my ears. Maybe she is seeing or hearing something that is freaking her out?

I'm starting to think that could be it. We had a quiet day for the most part. I've been out in the yard when shes carrying on and I havent seen anything so far.

 

[micstrachan]

In my flock, the aerial predator call is distinctively different from the ground predator or general alarm call. That said, maybe she’s alarming for a bird with the alarm call? Have you looked beyond your own yard? Some of my girls are more talkative than others... maybe she’s just a big talker. Have you looked her over to make sure she’s feeling OK?

@Shadrach is observant and knowledgeable regarding chicken language. Maybe he’ll chime in.