So laying hens like listening to music. That much was made clear in the recent Westminster debate on the impending cage ban, when Montgomery MP Glyn Davies revealed that he played Springsteen to his layers, while shadow agriculture spokesman Huw Irranca-Davies said his preference was for punk. I met a farmer last year who used Radio 2 to drown out the noise of US fighter planes flying over his sheds in Norfolk. Anyone else play music to their chooks?

 Never had the need, but people used to do it when I was a boy, so there is nothing new about it. I think the hens prefer a bit of peace and quiet just the same as me. Nowadays people play music to themselves constantly.

 Yes, our neighbour uses radio in his free range laying boxes. He has it piped from an old computer and maintains they are happier more contented hens?

 Click to listen 

put some metallica or megadeth or maybe some iron maiden or dio you cant go wrong with some heavy metal

"Born to be Wild" from the movie Easy Rider seems to work for Happy Hens, so I've no reason to see why it won't work for their indoor cousins

phil clarke:

Anyone else play music to their chooks?

We don't keep chickens, but always leave a radio on in the sheep shed. We also tend to leave just one light on. The reason for this is that the sheep don't get spooked by sudden noises or when someone turns the lights on. Should you happen to turn all the lights off by mistake when it's dark, they become very agitated.

welshnwilling:

We also tend to leave just one light on

Like the dogs, they probably read. 

mursal:

Like the dogs, they probably read. 

That's just silly mursal, everyone knows that sheep only look at the pictures !

welshnwilling:

mursal:

Like the dogs, they probably read. 

That's just silly mursal, everyone knows that sheep only look at the pictures !

welshnwilling:

That's just silly mursal, everyone knows that sheep only look at the pictures !

I have a 1964 picture (bought from Timothy Whites for £8) of 'The party' by Tchechicov in the lambing pens. I also play them Mozart and Pergolesi. They don't seem to mind but probably know that they are humouring me.