Very noisy hens...what's up?

[linders]

We have four 6 month pullets (one has started laying) and they are all four very, very noisy at times. But it's becoming more frequent and I'm worried our neighbors (whose kitchen door is just on the other side of our fence) will complain SOON.

Did we spoil them with treats? Is this a common complaint of hens? I thought at first it was the "egg song" but don't think that's the issue.

Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[barredrock474]

I don't know ask them. Try egg laying and chicken behaviors. good luck

 

[Chickie-chan]

What breed are your chickens? Some are noisier than others.

 

[Malissa]

I thought egg song right away too. When one of my girls sings, they all chime in....sometimes even the rooster. The girls can be noisy if they are squawking about something too. Alerts and stuff. It does seem to go on for 5 min if they are really fired up about something. Most of the time they are quiet though. But anyone who says hens are quiet is full of it!

 

[goose4]

Last year when our chickens started laying we heard the egg song a lot. Now that they are older they don't seem to need to talk about it as much.

 

[linders]

Oops, I meant to post this in behavior thread. Sorry. Anyway, I have 3 EEs and 1 White Rock.

 

[jennerb]

Yesterday, one of my 6 hens was so dang loud I thought my neighbors (who don't know I have "illegal" chickens) were coming over for sure. It was a quiet Sunday morning and zero traffic noise to help me!!! Needless to say, I was in a panic. I have decided that it had to be her broken egg up in the coop/roost area. So, I do believe I have quieter hens but if they are upset about something it can be as loud as a macaw screaming.

 

[write2caroline]

They might be reacting to a predator you are not seeing. I have cats inside and out but sometimes my neighbors cat would come over and stalk the girls and they made a lot of noise. My cats sleep in the coops and nest boxes and get along with the girls but the neighbors cat got a few of the chicks when they were biddies. They also sound off when any kind of bird flies over - even if they are not hawks. Something you are not seeing might be spooking them. Look around when they make the noise and see. Mine quiet down when I go out to see what the fuss is about. The alarm they sound is different from the announcing of an egg. A little higher and more shrill.

Caroline

 

[jennerb]

I have a border collie, golden retriever, and 4 cats, all of which run around close to or sometimes stare into the run and watch them. They have never been stressed or noisy with that activity. They free range when I am with them and have not been spooked by large birds flying over. Mine was definitely not predator related and even with me being out there for comfort and shushing her like a toddler she was not calmed. The egg song is not detectable either as I live close to a fairly traffic loud road. I'm just glad it's over!! It doesn't help when you're afraid of getting "busted" I love love my chickens and would be so sad to have to rehome them
.... maybe they thought it was just a bunch of crows. Haha

 

[write2caroline]

I have been more disturbed from a Macaw or some other Exotic birds than chickens. There are things you can do to diffuse the sound. Outdoor speakers and such.

Caroline