Weird Behavior

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Kelliekevin

Kelliekevin

In the Brooder
7 Years
Jul 7, 2012
21
0
22
So every time we go into the coup one of our chickens (we only have two) will get low to the ground and stomp her feet once or twice and fluff out her feathers and wont move. She only does this for a few seconds then walks around like normal What does this mean? Thanks in advance for your help!

Kellie
 
she is squatting for you. It's the position they assume for mating so she thinks that you are the 'head guy in charge" If she isn't already laying, she will be soon :)
 
Oh my goodness that`s so not the answer I was expecting!! LOL Well thank you very much! One of our hen`s is laying (the one who thinks I`m the head guy) she is the one who is squatting, the other one is very shy and has just started squatting and has yet to lay an egg so I guess I will expect an egg from her soon then!

So I have another question for you.... I really want to let the girls (Bella & Buttercup) out of the coup to run around the backyard but they are not comfortable with us yet. We just got them to feed out of our hand but they don`t let us to pet them yet. Anyway I`m terrified if I let them out I won`t be able to get them back in. What can I do to get them back in the coup? Also how do I know they won`t take off?

Thank you so much for your help. I look forward to hearing from you!

P.S. We have had the girl`s for 3 weeks, we bought them `ready to lay` they are Red Sexlinks

Kellie
 
Keep them in the coop for a bit longer. On a weekend, during the late afternoon/early evening, let them out of the coop. Sit back and watch them if you want. Have a drink and enjoy the view. Chickens have a good sense of "home" and will put themselves to bed around sunset. If you let them out too soon, before they know where "home" is, they might get lost. Make sure they know where the coop is before you let them out.
smile.png
 
When I brought home my two ladies (they were about 18mo) I kept them in their coop/run for a week, then kept a close eye on them the first time I let them out. Just as Kanga77510 said, they returned to their coop at sunset. I offered scratch as an incentive to eat from my hand. Its like candy to them and they couldn't resist.
 
Make a call whenever you feed them, even if they are standing right there. It is a good practice in that it allows you to round up your chickens even in the middle of the day. I call, when they come drop down some scratch, and they are busy, while I secure the run.

I think they know where home is, usually after a couple of days.

MrsK
 
Mrs. K said:
Make a call whenever you feed them, even if they are standing right there. It is a good practice in that it allows you to round up your chickens even in the middle of the day. I call, when they come drop down some scratch, and they are busy, while I secure the run.

I think they know where home is, usually after a couple of days.

MrsK
Click to expand...
This is what I do. Some scratch or grain in a coffee can, shake it so they can hear the sound and call "chick chick chick" as you scatter some on the ground. Do this for several days and they'll be conditioned to come to wherever you're feeding them. I'd say always give the grain in the coop or run, not out free ranging, just to reinforce the returning to the coop.

Course here, when you shake grain in a coffee can you get not only chickens but horses, goats and dogs wanting a bite!

But it's great to condition them to come to the sound. That way, even if you run out of grain, you can drop some dog or cat food in the can, or even some gravel in a pinch if you need to try to catch a loose animal. It makes the same noise when you shake it.
 
Hi Ronnymalia!
Thank you so much for your response! I have one question... what is scratch? I think I have an idea what it is I just think we call it something different over here in Canada.

Look forward to hearing from you and thanks again for your help!
D.gif
 
Hi Kanga 77510

Thank you so much for your advise, but how do I know that they know where home is?

Everybody gave such great advise... I`m gona do it I`m gona let them out this weekend I think!

Kellie
 

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