Sound-activated barking dog to keep hens quiet?

[Marbleheader]

I may get flamed for this, but here goes:

I live on a 1/3 acre suburban lot, and my six hens are noisy. The noise last from about 8 am until about noon. The noise doesn't really bother me, but it bothers my wife because she thinks it bothers the neighbors. Speaking with the neighbors won't help much, because my wife thinks that they'll be too polite to be honest with us.

I found this weatherproof, sound-activated barking dog on the interwebs.

The idea is to put it near the coop, so when the girls get load, the dog barks to quiet them.

Think it will work?

 

[JeffOeuf]

Let me see....

As your neighbor would I rather hear a few hens clucking or the mechanical sound of a fake barking dog?

I'll go with "A".

 

[real_redhead]

Too funny, not sure if it will work but I also live on a small lot (I am in the city and have 11 girls) and one in particular who likes to tell everyone when she is about to lay or has just laid. You can hear her all the way down the block. I also have lots of neighbors with dogs who are left out all day and they make much more noise, I finally decided that my chickens who don't all day sound better than dogs barking all day so I don't worry about it anymore! Good Luck! I am sure if the loud chickens bothered your neighbors they would eventually say something to you or let you know somehow!

 

[canesisters]

HA HA HA

I think that is the nastiest looking 'yard art' I've ever seen!

I'm sure that if you're wanting to try something like that to distract the chickens you should be able to find something a little prettier. LOL
Unfortunately, they will probably figure out that it's not real and eventually start ignoring it. It might last longer if you sneak out each night and move it - maybe hide it so they can't figure out exactly where the sound is coming from. I know that my girls will go still and silent when they hear something different - but only for a moment. You might end up with more of a nuisance dog problem than a noisy chicken one.

 

[Ashdoes]

I agree, dogs barking are more annoying. I don't think chickens are loud enough to be a terrible nuisance. Some people actually enjoy the sound. Since you're allowed to have chickens, it doesn't really matter if the neighbors hate it....but as someone who has lived next to a non-stop barking dog, skip it.

 

[katescountryfarm]

Just offer the neighbors some eggs.

 

[real_redhead]

Quote:
My chickens who don't cluck all day...oops

 

[Marbleheader]

Well, the hope is that after a while, the girls will learn to be quiet. I hope.

 

[OldGuy43]

I would thing that the look of that thing alone would scare the hens, maybe enough to stop them from laying?

 

[canesisters]

Well, the hope is that after a while, the girls will learn to be quiet. I hope.

Most likely not going to happen.

sorry

However - how old are they? It's possible that as they get older, they will settle down a bit and not be quite so chatty.