How to Stop a Chicken From Being Clucky

Chickens are generally quiet birds. When people think of chicken noises, the soft "bok-bok-bok" is usually what comes to mind. Hens do, however, make a fairly loud noise daily. After laying an egg, junglefowl move away from their nests and yell loudly. This noise, known affectionately among chicken lovers as a hen's egg song, is supposed to draw predators' attention from the nest to the bird. Domesticated fowl, however, are not as instinctual in nature and often stand right next to a newly laid egg and make the noise. A hen will continue to stay calm and quiet as long as its basic needs are met and it's kept stress-free. Roosters are another story; some roosters cock-a-doo all day long. Limiting your roosters' competition for female attention will keep most less noisy.

Things You'll Need

  • Chicken feed and feeder
  • Chicken waterer
  • Fresh water for drinking
  • Bleach
  • Water for cleaning
  • Clean rag
  • Appropriate chicken housing
  • Fowl-specific pesticide
  • Clean straw for nesting
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Instructions

    • 1
      Well-tended chickens make wonderful pets.

      Evaluate your birds' food and water daily. Food and water supplies should be kept fresh and free of bugs and mold. Water should be changed daily and the waterer cleaned with a very diluted bleach-and-water solution prior to each refilling. The waterer shouldn't be returned to the henhouse unless it's thoroughly rinsed and there's no bleach smell. Feed doesn't need to be replaced daily unless bugs or mold are present. Wipe the feeder with a clean rag each time you refill.

    • 2

      Check for parasites. Sometimes you won't need to check because your birds will tell you by excessive body picking and scratching. Mites and lice tend to invade chicken houses during the hot summer months.

    • 3

      Treat for parasites. If your birds end up with bugs, remove them (and their food and water) from the henhouse, clean it thoroughly, replace the straw and douse the entire henhouse with the animal-friendly insecticide of your choice. Don't allow birds access until the product label says you can. Treat the birds in your flock individually before allowing them back inside. This is a lot of work, but doesn't need to be done often.

    • 4
      Keep your henhouse clean and stress-free.

      Keep your henhouse clean. Remove and replace soiled straw as necessary. Collect eggs before they're broken and messy.

    • 5

      Provide and maintain a stress-free environment. No flock should have an abundance of roosters. Cull the more aggressive ones to keep your hens stress-free. Keep young children and aggressive dogs from your flock and see to it that they're protected from predators at night. Chickens are hearty but nervous. Watch for signs of physical and emotional stress -- squawking, excessive picking, attacking other birds, being attacked. Separate out the aggressors by whatever means necessary