The Top Quiet Chicken Breeds for Peaceful Coops
The Top Quiet Chicken Breeds for Peaceful Coops
Quiet Chickens? I didn’t even know there were loud chickens! I thought only roosters were the loud ones until I started raising backyard chickens for myself.
Hens definitely aren’t as loud as roosters, but there are some chatty breeds. Their clucks, cackles, and crowing can add charm to your daily routine. Personally, I love my chatty hens! However, I do understand that not everyone appreciates the noisy aspects of these feathered friends, especially if you live in an urban area.
Why do chickens get noisy in the first place?
Evidence suggests that noise levels are primarily influenced by individual birds rather than their breed. Chickens can become noisy for various reasons, and their vocalizations serve different purposes.
Communication: Chickens use vocalizations to communicate with each other. Roosters crow to establish their presence and dominance, while hens cluck and make soft, gentle sounds to communicate with their baby chicks or other hens.
Predators: When chickens sense the presence of a potential threat or predator, they may make loud, distress calls to alert the rest of the flock. This helps other chickens become aware of the danger and take evasive action.
Laying eggs: Hens can be particularly noisy when they are about to lay an egg or after they’ve laid one. This is often accompanied by a series of clucks or cackles. I have one hen, Big Ticket who squawks really loud for several minutes after she lays an egg. I call it her egg-laying song.
Hungry or thirsty: Chickens may make noise when they’re hungry or thirsty, especially if they’ve been without food or water for a while.
Discomfort: Chickens might make noise when they are uncomfortable due to extreme temperatures, overcrowding, or health issues. They may squawk or exhibit other vocal signs of distress.
Social interactions: Chickens are social animals, and they can vocalize as part of their interactions within the flock. They might cluck, squabble, or even sing softly to establish their position in the pecking order.
Mating behavior: Roosters crow to attract hens and establish their presence as the dominant male. During the mating process, chickens can become noisier due to the interactions between roosters and hens.
Boredom: Chickens, like many animals, can become noisy when they’re bored. Providing them with toys or activities can help reduce excessive noise due to boredom. While I do provide them toys in their chicken run, Nugget, one of my other hens gets extremely loud when she wants to be let out to free range. If she sees me outside, she’ll start loudly begging to be let out.
Environmental factors: Loud noises from nearby construction, traffic, or other sources can also cause chickens to become noisy and stressed.
It’s important to pay attention to your chickens’ vocalizations, as they can indicate their well-being and whether there are any issues that need to be addressed. If you notice a sudden and prolonged increase in noise or signs of distress, it’s a good idea to check on your chickens to ensure they are safe, healthy, and comfortable. For a more in-depth look into chicken sounds, check out this article.
Quietest Chicken Breeds
If you’re looking for a peaceful flock that won’t disrupt your peace and quiet, consider these quiet chicken breeds.
Silkies
Silkie chickens are easily recognizable by their fluffy, soft feathers with a silky and downy appearance. Their feathers come in various colors, including white, black, blue, gray, and more. They have feathered feet and five toes, whereas most chickens have four toes. These bantam chickens make excellent pets due to their friendly, docile nature and ability to be good mothers. Their egg production is relatively low compared to some other chicken breeds. They lay about 100-150 small to medium-sized cream-colored eggs per year.
When it comes to noise, they are a quiet breed. You’ll seldom hear them squawking or crowing, making them an excellent choice for urban or suburban settings. The only time I hear my silkies is when one of my bigger hens decides she wants something that they have. Usually food.
Wyandottes
Wyandotte chickens are a popular breed of domestic poultry known for their distinctive appearance and excellent egg-laying capabilities. They are native to the United States and were developed in the late 1800s. Their feathers come in various color variations and are known for their classic beauty. A Wyandotte hen can lay around 200 to 220 brown eggs per year.
These chickens are friendly birds and quiet, rarely making a fuss. Their calm disposition and adaptability make them a great choice for those who desire a peaceful backyard.
Orpingtons
Buff Orpingtons are a large and docile breed that is incredibly calm and easygoing. Their feather colors can be black, blue, buff, or white. These large birds were bred to be a dual-purpose breed and on average, they can produce around 3-4 brown eggs per week. Orpingtons tend to keep to themselves, clucking softly as they go about their daily activities. Their quiet nature and tendency to be good egg layers make them a favorite among chicken keepers.
Sussex
The Sussex breed, known for its gentle disposition and striking appearance, is a favorite among those looking for a quiet, family-friendly chicken. They come in various color varieties, with the most common being white, red, and speckled. The white Sussex is perhaps the most well-known and recognized variety.
Sussex hens are excellent layers of large, brown eggs. They are known for their consistent egg production, often laying around 250-300 eggs per year. These birds rarely make a fuss and are happy to forage quietly, making them an ideal choice for those seeking peaceful companions in their backyard.
Cochins
Cochins are fluffy, feathered giants with a calm and friendly demeanor. They are known for their large size, with fluffy plumage that covers their legs and feet. They have a rounded, compact body and a small, feathered crest on their heads. Cochins come in different colors, including white, black, blue, buff, and partridge. Their fluffy feathers make them ideal for cold climates.
While Cochins are not known for their prolific egg-laying abilities, they do lay a reasonable number of brown or tinted eggs. On average, a Cochin hen can lay about 150 to 180 eggs per year. These gentle giants tend to keep their vocalizations to a minimum, making them a perfect breed of chicken for families and neighbors who appreciate tranquility.
Australorp
Australorps are typically large, heavy birds with sleek, shiny black feathers. They have a single comb and bright red wattles and earlobes. Some Australorps also come in blue or white varieties, but black is the most common. One of the standout features of Australorp chickens is their impressive egg-laying ability. They hold the world record for the most eggs laid by a single hen in a year. On average, Australorp hens can produce around 250 to 300 large brown eggs per year, sometimes even more.
Australorps are not only good layers but also one of the quieter breeds. These chickens focus on their egg production, clucking contentedly without raising a ruckus. Their gentle nature and excellent productivity make them a valuable addition to any quiet chicken coop.
Faverolles
Faverolles are known for their friendly personalities and French charm. They were originally developed in the small village of Faverolles in France during the 19th century. Faverolles are a dual purpose breed and they come in a variety of colors, including salmon, black, blue, and white.
On average, a Faverolles hen typically lays around 150 to 200 light brown eggs per year. And while they may cluck softly during their daily activities, they are far from being loud or disruptive. These birds are a lovely, quiet addition to your backyard flock.
If you’re in search of a peaceful, quiet flock of chickens that won’t disturb the serenity of your home or neighborhood, the breeds mentioned above are excellent choices. Each of these breeds possesses its unique charm and personality while maintaining a tranquil presence in your coop. Whether you’re a city dweller or a countryside enthusiast, these quiet chicken breeds can bring joy and tranquility to your backyard while keeping noise to a minimum.
Noisy Chicken Breeds
While all chickens can be noisy from time to time, there are a few breeds that are known to be loud.
Rhode Island Red
Rhode Island Red chickens are a popular breed of domestic chicken known to be great egg layers and have a friendly temperament. These hens can produce around 200 to 300 brown eggs per year. However, Rhode Island Reds are also known for their loud and persistent crowing, especially among the roosters. They are highly alert and will often act as natural watchdogs in the coop or yard. They are quick to sound the alarm if they sense danger, which can be helpful in alerting you to potential threats.
Leghorn
Leghorns are a popular breed of chicken known for their prolific egg-laying abilities. They can lay approximately 280-320 large, white eggs per year. They are also known for being quite vocal. Their vocalizations can be annoying to some people, especially if you live in a densely populated area with noise restrictions.
Polish
Polish chickens, also known as Poland chickens, are a distinctive and ornamental breed of domestic chicken known for their unique appearance. They are not from Poland, despite the name; the breed likely originated in the Netherlands or Spain and was later developed in England. Polish chickens are primarily kept for exhibition and ornamental purposes, rather than for meat or egg production. They average 2-4 white eggs per week.
Polish chickens have distinctive crests or “top hats,” and they can be quite talkative. They will cluck, squawk, and sometimes even crow (though they are typically not as loud as roosters).
Sebright
Sebright chickens are a small and ornamental breed of chicken known for their stunning appearance. They are named after Sir John Sebright, who played a significant role in developing the breed in the early 19th century. Sebright chickens are popular among poultry enthusiasts and are often kept for their beauty rather than for egg or meat production. They are known for their striking laced plumage, which is characterized by a combination of white, black, or gold feathers with distinct lacing patterns. The lacing gives them a lacy or latticed appearance. Sebrights have a rose comb, which is small and compact.
Sebrights are also known for their noisy and vocal nature, especially among the roosters. They may also cluck and squawk while foraging or communicating with other chickens.
Hamburg
Hamburg chickens are primarily raised for their ornamental and egg-laying qualities. They are excellent layers of small to medium-sized white eggs. A single hen can lay around 200 to 250 eggs per year.
Hamburgs are a small and active breed that can be quite vocal. They are often chatty and can be quite noisy, especially when they lay eggs or sense potential danger. Their distinctive cackles and calls can add a lively atmosphere to your poultry flock. There are several varieties within the Hamburg breed, including the Silver Spangled, Golden Spangled, Silver Penciled, and Golden Penciled, among others. Each variety has a distinct pattern and coloration.
Easter Eggers
Easter Egger chickens are a popular and colorful breed of chickens known for their colorful egg production. They lay around 200-280 eggs per year in a variety of pastel shades, including green, pink, and blue eggs.
Easter Eggers are not typically very noisy chickens, but they can make some noise when they lay their eggs or communicate with other flock members. Roosters, if you have any, can be louder.
Brahma
Brahma chickens are a breed of domestic poultry known for their large size, distinctive appearance, and gentle disposition. They originated in the United States in the mid-1800s and were developed from birds imported from China. Brahma chickens were originally bred to be dual-purpose birds for both meat and egg production, but they are now primarily kept as ornamental or exhibition birds due to their impressive size and striking appearance. They can lay around 150 to 200 eggs per year, which is respectable for a large, dual-purpose breed.
Each Brahma chicken has its own unique personality. Some may be more vocal if they are bored, stressed, or want to communicate with their flock or humans, while others are quieter.
Keep in mind that the noise level of individual chickens can vary, and even within a breed, there can be quieter or louder birds. Additionally, roosters tend to be louder than hens and are the primary source of noise in a flock.
Before choosing a chicken breed, it’s a good idea to research and gather as much information as possible about different breeds to make an informed decision. You might also consider consulting with local poultry experts or breeders to get advice tailored to your specific circumstances.
Let me know what questions you have in the comments!
Related Posts:
Backyard Chickens 101: Essential Chicken Supplies
What Not to Feed Chickens
How Much Space do Chickens Need?
Understanding Chicken Sounds
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