Why are they being so loud???

[lizm1221]

I bet they just want out of the brooder! I know around 5-6 weeks mine started getting antsy, really loud and sometimes picking at each other, especially after getting that daily taste of outdoors. Hopefully spring will come soon!

 

[kynewbchickie]

Mine haven't gone out yet, but they HAVE gotten daily treats (raw veggies like yellow squash, zucchini slices or beheaded meal worms) around the same time (7 pm), so that's when mine get loud. We're not turning ours outside until it's the permanent thing - about 2 weeks max from today. I've still got to get the big run completely fenced and gated, and I'm off to get the solar powered electric fence control here in a minute for predator control. (We're waaaaaaaay out in the country)

 

[noahsmom]

Mine haven't gone out yet, but they HAVE gotten daily treats (raw veggies like yellow squash, zucchini slices or beheaded meal worms) around the same time (7 pm), so that's when mine get loud.  We're not turning ours outside until it's the permanent thing - about 2 weeks max from today.  I've still got to get the big run completely fenced and gated, and I'm off to get the solar powered electric fence control here in a minute for predator control.  (We're waaaaaaaay out in the country)

How old are yours? When did you start feeding yours treats/veggies?

 

[kynewbchickie]

How old are yours? When did you start feeding yours treats/veggies?

I gave mashed hard-boiled egg at 2 weeks of age, then progressed to the veggies (squash, zucchini, tomato slices/chunks) at 3 weeks with chick grit, and then at 4 weeks gave the beheaded meal worms and red worms I'd dug up tilling the garden out with more grit offered in my other hand. They've got the system down-pat now - they get a peck or two of grit, then come get the veggies/grass/dandelions/worms from my other hand. If I'm not down there already by around 7ish, they get downright squawky LOL

 

[mandelyn]

Careful about them finding out what awesomeness can be found in the compost when you start digging. If you start digging in front of them, you won't get anything done. LOL

Yesterday my husband moved about 2 tons of compost soil out, and those girls were all over him with no fear of the tiller. Had to boot them out and shut the gate. They even stayed out longer than usual to keep at it when we let them back in!

I remember when I was a kid how the chickens would follow me if I had a shovel in hand, and it took twice as long to work with their "help". They help with planting, tilling, splitting flowers, they were there. Hovering. Looking for grubs.

 

[smccuen]

yes....they want OUT - even if it's just into a little enclosed area indoors - anything bigger than where they are now being kept....I let mine out daily into an area of the living room enclosed by a 3 foot high folding pen I bought at Petsmart - with an old beach towel covering the floor. I set their water bottle and a fresh bowl of food in there and they love it - especially if I set it where the sun can reach at least some spot of the pen. They don't want to be "cooped up" all day. Mine start peeping at sunrise and don't pipe down for the night until about 930 - now that they know I have a pen I can set up they will squawk loudly until I put them in it. Some days they spend most of the day in it. Same goes for the ducklings who have their own box and their own pen. Thank goodness it is now getting warmer and they will ALL be moving outside in a week or so.

 

[MontanaDolphin]

Yeah it's going to be in the 70's all week here...so they will have their daily playtime outside. They turn 6 weeks on Wednesday so they will be moving out permanently very soon.

 

[hollys chicks]

they love you they think that you are mum
they need some more running around time for sure so see if you can make a pen inside your house so they get more time they could also be getting too old for the lamp sometimes if a night i keep of chicks in the shed cause they get that noisey i just make sure that there are towels and other ways of making themselves warm depends on how many chicks you have the more the better they normally keep eachother warm

 

[BarredRockGirls]

mine do that! but that havent had the sweet taste of the outdoors yet haha they are 5 weeks tomorrow and since they were 3 weeks ive been letting them outta their brooder to roam around the basement when i clean it - 2 for 1 - they get out a bit and i can clean in peace! buuuut now every time i step next to it they all line up right where i let em out at and start poppin their heads up and down like ok im ready LET ME OUT !!! if i dont they chirp a fit and we have a discussion about it

 

[Triple Willow]

I've got 20 that are a month old this weekend. They were in the house two weeks, a week longer than I wanted! Now they are in the garage in a brooder made out of a swimming pool. About that last week in the house they drove me nuts with their constant carrying on! They sounded just like a huge flock of black birds! LOL Sometimes they would go at it what seemed like 24 hours a day. I finally started turning their light off at night so they would have to cuddle up and shut up and I could sleep. LOL Now they are quieter but still talkative. They only time they get very loud now is when they have ate all their feed (usually in the morning). These thing have grown like crazy! I have been feeding straight chick starter and some fermented chick starter. The last bag I bought is starter/grower and I am feeding some straight and fermenting some. They really like the fermented feed. I didn't want to go with 100% fermented because if I need someone to take care of them a little while they might not want to fool with it.