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Hey cwrite thank you.
Sadly, it is not just early morning, she has just spent 10-15mins honking/crowing at 10:20 in the morning. It is many hours before free range time and they do know when that it as they all start up anytime after 3pm![]()
I may just have to face the fact that KiKi is not going to be happy unless she is getting attention or free ranging which is not safe if not supervised. I happily spend 3-4 hours every afternoon outside in the garden with them during the week and one or both of us spend the majority of the weekend outside with them from about 10:00am onwards but I can not be sitting out there all day with them starting at 06:00 or so in the morning, I would never get anything done.
She has got worse with time and is obviously not happy in the run during the day as the others appear to be. I am dreading tomorrow morning, I have no idea how I am going to keep her quiet until free range time.
It has got to the point that during the last 15min bout, I have drafted a Gumtree ad![]()
She is quiet at the moment but it is probably only a matter of time before she starts again .. I so hope I do not need to post that ad.
Teila ....
You have had success at broody breaking, albeit a seemingly on-going situation, one after the other at times .... so I think you can break little Kiki of her 'centre stage Diva' efforts. Try different movings of your chickens - try it when you have time at the weekends.
Move Kiki into a cat carrier or some container that is comfy, and bring her inside for about 3 days. She might still be able to hear Dustys' whinging, but won't be able to see her. She might be trying to dominate everything she sees " it's ALL mine " ....
Then try the reverse - bring Dusty inside for a while and see what happens.
Separating them where they can see one another, I don't think would work - like in the broody breaker, unless that can be put somewhere around a corner - where the occupant cannot see the other hens.
I kind of think you are attributing a little too much to your chickens' wishes. I have many times done the same thing - with cats, dogs and chickens.
Called anthropomorphising. I readily admit to much of it myself. Maybe that's why I can recognise a little of it ?![]()
I wouldn't think chickens would deliberately misbehave or cause a fuss just because they want attention or some other thing ( like breakfast or free ranging ) at a time they 'think' they want it. I believe there must be another reason - especially as she has started up in the mornings now, which has nothing obviously to do with free ranging ( they don't free range in the morning - do they, except at weekends ? ).
I am honestly not being critical here - it's a just a range of thoughts.
My girls say nothing in the a.m., but as soon as I step outside that back door - the two big girls set to with claws to tear holes in the door wire. But they make no sound. I hurry to let them out, as I don't want them to injure themselves or get caught in broken wiring. Only after being out will they grumble, honk a little, crow / shriek - for a short while. And the egg song of course, from one in particular.
That's the only suggestion I can make for you. Separate them - as an experiment - and see what happens.
Good luck with it all ......
Cheers .....
I was just wondering where you had got to Annie, haven't heard from you in a few days . Thought you might enjoy these lovely pics I took of my favorite predator
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