Quiet breeds for urban coop

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Off sides here, but isn't it amazing how people will complain about a hen clucking but never seem to say anything about the raucous squawking of blue jays, ravens or crows?

Tell me about it! Dogs barking all hours of the day and hearing the train until 3 am is all fine but a cockerel crowing heaven forbid my town tolerate that.


Can’t go wrong with Leghorns.

 

[Chickassan]

Well you can complain to the owner about hens if you're the grouchy sort, can't complain to a soul about jays and crows...well you could but you'd look like a looney.

Off sides here, but isn't it amazing how people will complain about a hen clucking but never seem to say anything about the raucous squawking of blue jays, ravens or crows?

 

[IamRainey]

Gorgeous birds, Brahma Chickens!

My Los Angeles neighborhood is 1/2 acre lots. I'm not tremendously experienced with chickens. The breeds I've had in 18 months of this are Barnvelder, Orpingtons, Wyandotte, Cream Legbar, Sicilian Buttercup, Plymouth Rock and Black Copper Marans. None of them make enough noise to ever bother anyone. And when I say that it's not just my wishful thinking. I have a neighbor who is behind me and 1 yard to the side. He has chickens too and my husband never even knew they were there until I pointed them out. I can ONLY hear them when I stand in the very corner of my yard about 20 yards from his coop and then it's only barely audible.

I've never heard the egg song. IF my chickens do it, they don't do it when I'm around and if I'm in my house it doesn't carry that far. If my neighbor's chickens ever do the egg song thing, it hasn't attracted my attention when I'm outside in my yard.

The one chicken that I'd even take note of is my Lavender Orp who honks like a goose. But even that isn't all that loud. Just gravelly and hoarse and surprising coming out of such a sweet and pretty girl.

 

[Nibarlan]

Off sides here, but isn't it amazing how people will complain about a hen clucking but never seem to say anything about the raucous squawking of blue jays, ravens or crows?

I know right? I was thinking that the other day when there was a mockingbird just going to town. I'm sure everything will be fine; I just want to do my due diligence you know? I really appreciate every one's input thus far; I'm glad I found this site.

 

[Nibarlan]

Well you can complain to the owner about hens if you're the grouchy sort, can't complain to a soul about jays and crows...well you could but you'd look like a looney.

With those I suppose you could write your complaint on a lead pellet and send it directly to the crow in question

 

[IamRainey]

We have a lot of crows in our neighborhood. I used to object to their gravelly voices and the fact that there were soooo many of them.

Then I started reading about them. They're amazing birds. I mean amazing! They're very intelligent. They have family structures that they're very loyal to.

Now I really value them.

 

[Chickassan]

But they'll rob you blind! Don't forget about their kleptomania, i've lost two sets of mower keys to them, pulled right out of the switch.
I gave up and just installed a push start.

We have a lot of crows in our neighborhood. I used to object to their gravelly voices and the fact that there were soooo many of them.

Then I started reading about them. They're amazing birds. I mean amazing! They're very intelligent. They have family structures that they're very loyal to.

Now I really value them.

 

[IamRainey]

Can't say I've had that problem. Unless they're responsible for the pile of single socks that's accumulating in my laundry room.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

Salmon Faverolles are sweet docile birds but are known to be loud... a few of ours are indeed quite the noise makers, the others are pretty quiet. So maybe avoid Faverolles?

 

[Acre4Me]

Of our 6 breeds laying, our EE are the quietest. They have some noticeable personality traits amongst them, but are quiet. The dark brown Leghorns we had were noticeably louder. The other breeds we have it seems more individual as to how loud/chatty they are. Some sing when they lay an egg, when someone else lays an egg, when they are being curious, just because they are chatty.

Good luck!