RIP Charity & Noisy Hens in the Morning

We lost our last little ex-batt yesterday.  She'd had peritonitis a couple of months ago which we'd treated successfully, but she got it again and we thought it would be unfair to put her through medication again to give her just another few weeks each time so decided to have her put to sleep.

Very sad - we started with 4 ex-batts and lost three of them within about a year, but Charity kept on going.

My other point is how noisy our hens have become in the mornings.  From about 6 onwards they make all sorts of noises to be let out of their run.  It's driving us nuts.  I don't want to have to shut them in their house at night as being summer I'd like them to get up when it's light rather than when we roll out of bed, but thinking I may have no choice; I can't see the neighbours appreciating it!

Do yours do the same?  By getting up and giving in to letting them out, I fear they're winning and will only continue, but I don't want to start a war with the neighbours either...

We lock ours up at night at about 7.30/8.00 and they are fine with it.  We usually let them out from 6.30 onwards depending what time we get up.  They are noisy, but not overly so and I love their little chats.  I would agree with MM and ask your neighbours.  Unless you live very close, they probeably can't hear it like you can.  It's a bit like when your children play up in a restaurant/supermarket and you think it is the loudest thing when usually other people are deaf to it.