Patinas
Songster
I consistently let my flock out to range at around 3pm and they obviously are expecting it because they squawk and push against the run gate like there is a fire behind them when it's time to let them out. They excitedly rush out, initially, to the same spot in the yard every time before they start to disperse and go do their own thing.
Well yesterday I decided it was time to give the coop a thorough cleaning and didn't want to start at 3PM because I had company coming over late afternoon. So I went out to let them out at around 11:30 AM and there was no pushing up against the gate or wild excited squawking.
When I opened it, they just stood in the run and looked at me like, "what are you doing??!!". It took about 30 seconds for the first hen to hesitantly step out and then the rest slowly started to follow. It was about a full 3-4 minutes before all of them finally made their way out. That never happens!
It was so strange to see them hesitate to get out! I decided they must, in their chicken heads, know the routine and time of day right? Also, I usually give them a treat tray around 4PM after they've been out for about an hour and they start congregating at the treat spot around that time. Yesterday I had to actually call them when I put the treat tray out at around 1PM, again, because I think they just weren't expecting it.
When I took everything out of the coop, poop trays, roosts, ladder and some of the nest box tubs to clean them, about 4 hens went in the coop and went squawk crazy just standing in there looking around like "what happened to our house??!". It's been about 2.5 to 3 months since the last big clean of the coop and they didn't act like this the last time. They are now 6 months old.
Anyone else notice their flock finely tuned to a daily routine and schedule? I had no idea changing up the routine would completely mystify and upset them!
Well yesterday I decided it was time to give the coop a thorough cleaning and didn't want to start at 3PM because I had company coming over late afternoon. So I went out to let them out at around 11:30 AM and there was no pushing up against the gate or wild excited squawking.
When I opened it, they just stood in the run and looked at me like, "what are you doing??!!". It took about 30 seconds for the first hen to hesitantly step out and then the rest slowly started to follow. It was about a full 3-4 minutes before all of them finally made their way out. That never happens!
It was so strange to see them hesitate to get out! I decided they must, in their chicken heads, know the routine and time of day right? Also, I usually give them a treat tray around 4PM after they've been out for about an hour and they start congregating at the treat spot around that time. Yesterday I had to actually call them when I put the treat tray out at around 1PM, again, because I think they just weren't expecting it.
When I took everything out of the coop, poop trays, roosts, ladder and some of the nest box tubs to clean them, about 4 hens went in the coop and went squawk crazy just standing in there looking around like "what happened to our house??!". It's been about 2.5 to 3 months since the last big clean of the coop and they didn't act like this the last time. They are now 6 months old.
Anyone else notice their flock finely tuned to a daily routine and schedule? I had no idea changing up the routine would completely mystify and upset them!
