Excessively loud Welsummers

I have 5 girls - two Barred Rocks, one Ameraucana, two Welsummers.  The Barred Rocks are the sweetest chickens I have ever had, the Ameraucana is mellow but the Welsummers scream!  They just started laying but don't scream when they lay, just the entire rest of the day.  The one even started standing at the back door and screaming until I come out.  Then she takes off and starts somewhere else.  

If my patience is being tried, I can imagine my neighbors.  Any ideas?  Or does anyone want two noisy but laying beautiful brown egg Welsummers?

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  • Funny, I had a girl named Gabby, and she talked and talked.  Then there was the hen named Attila.  Guess her personality!

    Peckerwood was a beautiful rooster who couldn't quite figure out what to do with the ladies.

    My current ladies are so very sweet and quiet.  They don't even make noise when they lay.  When I open the back door they excitedly talk, but only quietly.  THanks to Jennifer of this group for raising such polite girls.

    • Hi all - first of all, thank you to those who offered back up homes.  So far, I think they are settling down - so maybe it was just early laying noise.  They are also getting much "snugglier" - so I think as they are more comfortable laying they are just settling down.  I just love my girls and they are becoming such a neat family that I hope my neighbors stay ok with a bit of natural noise :-) 

      I am so grateful for this group...stay tuned as I'm sure I'll need help or at least have questions in the future :-)

    • Glad they are settling a little. It's not uncommon for birds just coming into lay to be excessively noisy at first. Hormones and transitions I guess. One trait I have observed in Welsummers is that they really like to be high up. Mine likes to perch on the coop, or whatever else she can get up onto, and I've heard a few others with similar experiences.

    • Rachel, its so funny, these girls are giving me a run for my money.  One of the Barred Rocks, Ying, decided to be broody which has apparently ticked off the Welsummers who, I have discovered, have been laying UNDER the grill!  They had laid one day in the top nest box, which is the second choice of the whole crew (the first choice is the box that Ying broods in).  Then I saw no dark brown eggs, figured it was an off day... but on day two, a check of the yard revealed a new nest.  

      The Welsummers, Zoe and Ziggy, are the ones who roost high at night, but when pushed to the brink, they went off and created their own egg nest.  And, just to keep me entertained, Maysa, the Ameracauna, has suddenly wanted total attention and to be held often.  They truly have moods and needs and personalities!

  • Lisa, just be glad you don't have a screaming sheep.

    • Ok, I think my kids just watched that video like 20 times!

    • Holy cow...er, sheep!  I don't eat meat, but that sheep would have to become someone else's mutton!

    • LOL ;)

  •  I too have 5 girls. Two ameraucanas, a barred rock, an australorpe and a welsummer. She (the welsummer) is the dominant hen and is also a screamer. The others are pretty quiet.  But I do like the darker eggs. I have 4 maran pullets coming up and  am looking forward to their even darker eggs. 

  • I've had a few who were louder when they were young layers, and then mellowed out. It might be because laying is new to them - hormones are wacky. In human terms, they're young, hyper-emotional ladies. :)   Over time they'll probably fall in line with the other hens and constrict their egg song to egg-laying time.

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