Chickens and Bonfire Night

Remember, remember the 5th of November! As we approach the highly anticipated Bonfire Night with excitement, many of our pets don’t, including our feathered friends. And since we can’t speak fluent ‘chicken’ to reassure our birds, fireworks can be a confusing and scary time for some. But, this doesn’t mean you can’t help your flock get through this explosive occasion safely and as stress-free as possible! After some tips? Let us fire away…

A chicken’s eye view

But first of all, why exactly is it that some chickens don’t like fireworks? Well, since chickens are prey animals, they’re often skittish and sensitive by nature, and on the lookout for danger. Whilst this is usually in the form of a pesky predator, the loud and sudden bright lights, bangs, crackles, and whistles of fireworks can also spook our chooks. 

Are my chickens stressed?

When it comes to chickens and stress, it can stem from all types of different factors such as inadequate nutrition, physical stress, and an overcrowded coop to name a few. You’ll notice stress signals such as stopping laying eggs, feather pecking, feather loss outside moulting season) egg eating, and lethargy over an extended period of a stressful time. 

Ever experienced a ‘fight or flight’ reaction? With fireworks, chickens can experience something similar, with temporary sudden noises such as a neighbour’s dog barking also triggering the first stage of stress AKA the alarm stage. Whilst some chickens won’t bat an eyelid (or three), at fireworks, just like us, chickens all have different personalities, and will react differently to one another. But, should you see your birds darting away, acting more skittish than usual, and fluttering their wings, they could be feeling a little stressed out. Fortunately, though, you can help make sure your flock is nice and relaxed before the main event.

Chilled chicken tunes

A spot of classical music is enough to calm any of us down on a stressful day – the same goes for chickens. In fact, hens love all types of music! A study conducted to see the effects of playing music to chickens and egg production even found a 159% increase in hens entering their nest boxes during the experiment compared to the weeks music wasn’t played! Classical tunes were a favourite for the hens, so why not try out your classical ‘Beethoven’ playlist? All you have to do is place a radio at a low level inside their coop. Even if it doesn’t mask the sound of fireworks completely, the soothing tones will support relaxing roosting.

Keep calm and try supplements

Have you ever placed lavender under your pillow at night to help you get to sleep? Lavender is a great supplement for chickens too and has the added bonus of making everything smell great! Pop some lavender in your chickens’ nesting box to use as a natural stress reliever.

A safe and secure chicken coop

You can also keep your chickens safe on Bonfire Night by making sure that they’re secured in a safe space. We know how important it is that our chickens have somewhere they can retreat to, as well as the importance of our peace of mind, too. Omlet’s Eglu Cube Chicken Coop is the perfect space for chooks to shelter the fireworks. It also goes without saying that you should ensure that the coop is well out of reach from any fireworks that are being set off. For extra security, use the manual mode on our Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener to say goodnight to your flock before the fireworks start. 

Lightproof the coop

It’s not just the loud noises that can scare chickens on Bonfire Night. The bright lights from the fireworks can also ruffle a few feathers, so cover up any windows of your chicken coop to minimise stress levels. 

All ready for the big night? Read our Pets’ Guide to Surviving Fireworks Night to see how you can help out your other furry friends.

This entry was posted in Chickens

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