Super Loud Australorp - Experiences?

[Peepsi]

So I finally became the proud servant of four newly-hatched chicks this past July....one Australorp (Thyme), one Easter Egger (Falcon), one Silver-Laced Wyandotte (Salt) and one Gold-Laced Wyandotte (Pepper).

They have since grown up into fluffy pullets that will start laying in one or two months (Right now, they are 22 weeks old). They used to all had the same tone of voice and spoke softly to each other and myself.

Lately though, Thyme, my Australorp, has decided that it would be fun to start shrieking every time she sees my or my husband come outside the house or enter the chicken coop. She has this deafening primordial shriek that sounds something like "RAAAAWWWRRR--AAACK--AACK--AACK--AACK". It's not a crow, and it's not anything like the other hens let out. I swear, prehistoric velociraptors probably had the same shriek. In addition to this, she is becoming more and more flighty, despite never being bullied (None of my four hens bully each other) and despite having no traumatic experiences, ever. She also never shrieks like this when she's with the flock with no humans around. She only shrieks when she sees us humans.

This is the hen in question, picture taken at about 20 weeks old (surprisingly, she has her mouth shut in this photo):

Is this normal for an Australorp? I thought they were supposed to be docile, quiet and friendly, which is why I bought I her in the first place (I never had chickens before).

But instead, despite all the treats and love, she is becoming super-loud, flighty, and hates being touched. Those of you with Australorps, I'd love to hear about yours. Are they quiet? Friendly? Loud? Flighty? I know every chicken is different, but is Thyme atypical of her breed?

 

[Lizzy733]

My hens got noisy and restless when coming into lay for the first time. If she's also squatting when you come near, eggs will be on the way in about a week. They're uncomfortable and not entirely sure what's going on which can lead to some odd behavior.
Once their hormones balance out, they do tend to calm down, but she may remain noisy.
I have a silkie who cranes her neck at an odd angle and screams when she's in lay... Thankfully, her breed doesn't lay often and she spends most of the year broody... Chickens will be chickens :/

 

[Peepsi]

My hens got noisy and restless when coming into lay for the first time. If she's also squatting when you come near, eggs will be on the way in about a week. They're uncomfortable and not entirely sure what's going on which can lead to some odd behavior.
Once their hormones balance out, they do tend to calm down, but she may remain noisy.
I have a silkie who cranes her neck at an odd angle and screams when she's in lay... Thankfully, her breed doesn't lay often and she spends most of the year broody... Chickens will be chickens :/

Thanks for your reply! She does not squat...none of my hens do yet. Dual Purpose breeds generally beginning laying around 26 weeks of age, so she has a month or so yet to go. But it could definitely be the hormones kicking in. However, she's never really acted like her breed is supposed to, so I'm curious about other people's Australorps.

 

[ValerieJ]

Yes. I agree with @Lizzy733. She is probably getting close to laying.

 

[ValerieJ]

Oh, and I have 3 australorps who are not human friendly at all. I chalk that up to how they were raised, which was without being picked up a lot. They are docile, but it's easy to make them flighty by moving too fast in their space. They aren't necessarily loud either. But, chickens have individual personalities. My buff orpingtons are very sweet and docile chickens, that is except for Surly, whose name suits her.

 

[Peepsi]

Oh, and I have 3 australorps who are not human friendly at all. I chock that up to how they were raised, which was without being picked up a lot. They are docile, but it's easy to make them flighty by moving too fast in their space. They aren't necessarily loud either. But, chickens have individual personalities. My buff orpingtons are very sweet and docile chickens, that is except for Surly, whose name suits her.

Mine were all handled a lot when they were young. I move slow in their space. I think Thyme is atypical of her breed, along with the raging hormones you and the other poster talked about. Ah well.

 

[ValerieJ]

Mine were all handled a lot when they were young. I move slow in their space. I think Thyme is atypical of her breed, along with the raging hormones you and the other poster talked about. Ah well.

Just like my Surly. She is a BO, and they are all very sweet, except for her. She was so named because she acted that way from the beginning. When I bought her and her brooding mates at Wilso, the gal said, "I'll get this one. She's lively." Next time someone says that to me, I'll say, "put that down!"

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So I finally became the proud servant of four newly-hatched chicks this past July....one Australorp (Thyme), one Easter Egger (Falcon), one Silver-Laced Wyandotte (Salt) and one Gold-Laced Wyandotte (Pepper).

They have since grown up into fluffy pullets that will start laying in one or two months (Right now, they are 22 weeks old). They used to all had the same tone of voice and spoke softly to each other and myself.

Lately though, Thyme, my Australorp, has decided that it would be fun to start shrieking every time she sees my or my husband come outside the house or enter the chicken coop. She has this deafening primordial shriek that sounds something like "RAAAAWWWRRR--AAACK--AACK--AACK--AACK". It's not a crow, and it's not anything like the other hens let out. I swear, prehistoric velociraptors probably had the same shriek. In addition to this, she is becoming more and more flighty, despite never being bullied (None of my four hens bully each other) and despite having no traumatic experiences, ever. She also never shrieks like this when she's with the flock with no humans around. She only shrieks when she sees us humans.

This is the hen in question, picture taken at about 20 weeks old (surprisingly, she has her mouth shut in this photo):
View attachment 1994176

Is this normal for an Australorp? I thought they were supposed to be docile, quiet and friendly, which is why I bought I her in the first place (I never had chickens before).

But instead, despite all the treats and love, she is becoming super-loud, flighty, and hates being touched. Those of you with Australorps, I'd love to hear about yours. Are they quiet? Friendly? Loud? Flighty? I know every chicken is different, but is Thyme atypical of her breed?

hmmm...maybe that shrieking noise is normal! My BA is 3 1/2 years old and does that. Her sister made the same shriek but she died (no I didn't knock her off for shrieking) Yes, I had TWO that did it at the same time. You get used to it

You ask some questions - are they quiet friendly loud flighty - well your definition of those might be different than mine.
I wouldn't say they are quiet, but I've had louder. The shrieking can be a little loud at times.

Friendly? Not big "cuddlers" but that's o.k. They do like to chat and follow you around.

Flighty? No. Mine isn't, she's fairly calm and bold - she's the watch dog for the flock - she has a nice growl, I love it!

 

[Peepsi]

Just like my Surly. She is a BO, and they are all very sweet, except for her. She was so named because she acted that way from the beginning. When I bought her and her brooding mates at Wilso, the gal said, "I'll get this one. She's lively." Next time someone says that to me, I'll say, "put that down!"

Thanks for that tip! I never knew that the "lively" ones could turn into surly birds!!

 

[Peepsi]

hmmm...maybe that shrieking noise is normal! My BA is 3 1/2 years old and does that. Her sister made the same shriek but she died (no I didn't knock her off for shrieking) Yes, I had TWO that did it at the same time. You get used to it

You ask some questions - are they quiet friendly loud flighty - well your definition of those might be different than mine.
I wouldn't say they are quiet, but I've had louder. The shrieking can be a little loud at times.

Friendly? Not big "cuddlers" but that's o.k. They do like to chat and follow you around.

Flighty? No. Mine isn't, she's fairly calm and bold - she's the watch dog for the flock - she has a nice growl, I love it!

Thank you so much for the response and for telling me about your BA's. Well, now I know that other people have experienced this weird shriek. Wow, 2 at one time. I probably would have knocked one of them off for shrieking, LOL. Sometimes I tell Thyme that if she doesn't quiet down, she'll be a meat bird, and not an egg layer!

Thyme definitely follows me around, along with her three coop-mates. All four of them move in unison for the most part, and it's usually right under my feet. I'm not sure if they're trying to trip me, or if they think treats grow where my feet are. Or if they're trying to trip me because they know I'm holding treats, and if only they could get me to fall, the treats would be theirs sooner.

Anyway, very interesting, and thanks for responding! I do hope others chime in as well, I'd love to hear more stories about everyone's Australorps!