Very loud pullets

[icy_flames]

Good morning all!

I woke up this morning doing my normal chicken tasks and was pretty much yelled at by all my girls for some reason?

I brought their food and water into the run then sat down to spend our usual time together. We sit together for about 15 minutes then I would get up, grab some scratch to throw in run, and then rotate their bedding in coop while they happily pick on the ground. Then I leave and come back around noon for their veggie or egg snacks.

This morning they would come up to me but lots of loud screeching noises, more loud than usual. I ended up leaving then coming back 10 minutes later to give the scratch because they were so loud. The minute they saw me LOUD noises. The only thing I can think of is they are happy to see me and know I always bring them a treat?? I love them so much but I am NOT going to reward loud behavior like that but its tough because I'm their primary caretaker. There is also only one entrance to their run so I can't really sneak around without them seeing me somehow.

Yesterday I had a very long appointment that pretty much took over their noon treat time and then I wasn't home in time to turn on their coop light and tuck them in. Are they mad at me? That is AMAZING if they can remember I didnt spend much time with them yesterday but now I feel bad.

I'm in a urban setting, mind you next to a pretty busy street, but I still need to make sure the noise is not out of control. I realize chickens can be loud sometimes but no one is getting rehomed for this. They are well behaved girls, a loud squawk every now and then. I've noticed my Mottled Java Australorp and Ameracana seem to be the most vocal. My white easter egger will make a loud annoying noise over and over when it's time for their coop light to come on at dusk but I think she's just paranoid it won't

 

[icy_flames]

Forgot to add: they are 5 months old. No one is laying yet. Also no signs of a predator trying to break in and no one is injured/sick.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Sounds like they have learned that if they make a loud sound someone comes with food or to do something for them.

 

[WindingRoad]

Forgot to add: they are 5 months old. No one is laying yet. Also no signs of a predator trying to break in and no one is injured/sick.

Sounds like the may be getting ready to lay. Where are you located. State is fine you can go back into your profile and add that. See I am in Maine. My birds laid at 20 weeks just 5 months. Are they hungry are you maybe going out a little later. I don't keep water in the coop overnight but that is the first chore in the morning. Getting them water. Maybe this is the egg song. Have they been squatting or checking out the nest boxes. What do their vents look like.

Good luck I wouldn't consider it bad behavior. Would you punish a 1 year for being loud. Chickens are really babies.

 

[lovesfarms]

Your situation is so very similar to mine! It makes you feel good that they enjoy your attention so much but on the other hand, they need to be quiet so other people don't complain!! I leave mine out in the yard in the morning to run around and if I'm a little late, they sound worse them roosters. The loudest they ever get is when the Hawks come to close. I love they missed you that much!! I really think they are emotionally like dogs
Most of mine don't sing the egg song when they lay their egg, they are just vocal to full fill a need.... or desire

 

[Jrios58]

Mine cuss at me every day because they think i should let them out earlier. (been locking them in their coop, had a predator find a small gap in their enclosure and even though we fixed it and killed the predator, still a bit paranoid). It makes me laugh, all the different sounds they make! They know who feeds them for sure

 

[icy_flames]

Ok update:

Half hour ago tried again to hang out with them. I sprinted from my back door and quickly opened up their run door then sat down. Few loud squawks but MUCH less than earlier. My ameracana and australorp got some pets, australorp was more tolerant than usual. She will normally just sit on my legs, maybe preen, but today let me pet her as I told her how sorry I was about yesterday. Then I would say after 5 minutes or so everyone went about their way scratching around the run. No noise

I was in there for 20 minutes, just sat and watched. Got up to leave and some tried to jump on me + loud squawks came back, all the way until I got to my backdoor. I have my bedroom window open and they are quiet out there.

This was intersting

 

[CluckerFamily]

Ok update:

Half hour ago tried again to hang out with them. I sprinted from my back door and quickly opened up their run door then sat down. Few loud squawks but MUCH less than earlier. My ameracana and australorp got some pets, australorp was more tolerant than usual. She will normally just sit on my legs, maybe preen, but today let me pet her as I told her how sorry I was about yesterday. Then I would say after 5 minutes or so everyone went about their way scratching around the run. No noise

I was in there for 20 minutes, just sat and watched. Got up to leave and some tried to jump on me + loud squawks came back, all the way until I got to my backdoor. I have my bedroom window open and they are quiet out there.

This was intersting

I love planning the mental game. It is very intriguing to try to figure out what causes what and how to change it.
Sounds like you are having fun and being a great detective!

 

[MissMonty]

Sounds like they are just very excited to see you and they want the world to know it!

 

[Geena]

At 5 months of age I'm thinking they are just really starting to use their "big girl" voices, and that's why they seem so much louder.