How Noisy Are Chickens?

Photo of Kassandra Smith

Kassandra Smith

Senior Editor • Backyard Chicken Coops

Last Updated: 16 July 2020

Got visions of rowdy chickens squawking up a ruckus? Many people are turned off the idea of getting chickens because they think their crows and calls will cause havoc with their peace and quiet. What people don’t realise is that chickens are in fact very quiet and gentle animals - the most you’ll ever get is a yelp of excitement when they’ve laid an egg, or panic if they’re in danger. Beyond that, you’ll never need any noise cancelling earphones (they definitely make less noise than a large dog or cat!)

The different noise levels of hens tends to vary with their breed. Most popular backyard breeds are perfectly placid, and you won’t hear much out of them apart from a few clucks here and there (especially when they’re laying an egg!). Most backyard chickens are virtually undetectable, only getting vocal when they have just laid an egg or there is danger about- either noise won’t last long, and isn’t particularly loud in the first place. It is true that some breeds are more chatty than others, but at their loudest, chickens have the same decibel level as a human conversation (60-70 decibels). Compared to a dog’s bark which can reach over 90 decibels, chickens can hardly be called a noisy animal.

Roosters, however, are another story...

barnevelder-rooster-and-hen

One egg-ception to this quiet chicken rule is the males of the bunch - the roosters. Roosters will crow multiple times a day, and at quite a volume. This is the reason why most residential areas won’t allow roosters, as their noise is loud enough to disturb the peace. If you're on acerage, you're probably better suited to having a rooster in your flock!  Learn more about roosters and whether they’re a good fit for you in our Do I Need A Rooster In My Backyard Flock article.

The best way to keep your hens content (and reduce any noises of irritation!) is to keep them in the perfect chicken house. Our Taj Mahal, Penthouse and Mansion chicken coop will ensure your flock is safe and satisfied - there’ll be no squawks of irritation from your flock!

From their squarks to their actions, we've all looked at our chickens and wondered what on earth are they doing? Is it a cry for help or for food or for the fun of it?Some behaviours are cute quirks for a breed and others may be a cause for concern! Like all pets, chickens can be trained to stop bad behaviours and reinforce positive ones.

Cluckily, our friends over at Chickenpedia have created an amazing Chicken Etiquette Course. This extensive online course shares useful advice on a variety of chicken behaviours. The well-structured course will also help you deal with bad behaviour and encourage positive behaviours. Keep the neighbours happy - their only complaint will be that they wish they also had chickens!

Learn how to have the best-behaved chickens in town with this beginner-friendly course. This is why I highly recommend Chickenpedia’s courses to all of my readers! They are filled with vital information that help you raise a happy, healthy flock.

Click here to check out Chickenpedia today!

Sources and further reading