Uh-Oh. The girls might not be secret for long.

[dianaross77]

Today was the first day since the girls have been laying that I could hear them from inside the house! Our lot backs up to the freeway and their run is 100ft from the house! Stupid Marina was out there honking. I had to run out there and snatch the egg and push her out of the nest. I also took their dummy eggs that I've been catching her laying on. She was napping in there the other day. Didn't anyone tell her Isas are supposed to drop the egg and walk away! It doesn't help that their temporary coop is open air. There is nothing to block the noise at all. I'm sure people that have never had chickens would've just thought some geese were flying over. Because of the Michigan Right to Farm Act, I am allowed to have them. But that doesn't mean the township couldn't try like hell to fight me on it. And I don't have very nice neighbors. I'm going to have a heart attack!

 

[Denninmi]

Hmmm. I know the feeling. I try to keep mine as quiet as possible as well. I feel confident that I am covered and could make a convincing argument under the MRTFA, and I would be willing to gamble and take it to court if I had to, but .... I'd rather not ever have to find out.

It sounds to me like coop design and placement are issues for you -- you said "temporary" coop. Are you doing something different soon?

Knowing that they make the "egg song" as soon as they lay, can you make a relatively soundproof coop to enclose the nest boxes?

PS - I hate some of my neighbors, too. One is a jerk.

 

[dianaross77]

We have a 10x16 shed kit being delivered on Monday. We're going to use the front for a garden shed and section off the back for a coop. I'm going to insulate it too to help with the noise. Our neighbors are almost never outside except to mow the lawn and we are covered on 3 sides with a brand new privacy fence. Only one side to go.

 

[zengrrl]

I felt the same way when my silkie turned into a boy and started crowing....my heart just dropped!

 

[dianaross77]

Don't worry zen! I'll keep these Silkies and if they both stay girls I'll give you first dibs. Check out my BYC page. They're really cute. hint hint.

 

[zazouse]

Put a radio out there mabe the sound will blend in.

living next to a freeway, i can only imagine the noises ya hear sometimes

 

[zengrrl]

Hey Diana I may just take you up on that offer. All I see are your gorgeous dogs though, I have far too big a building to keep only 4 little birds....

 

[dianaross77]

It's not as bad as you'd imagine and it beats having a bunch more neighbors!