Chickens dig tunnels?!?

[Barbs Girls]

Sorry...NOW going to spend...darn rum!!

 

[HuskerHens18]

good to know.. i skirted the fencing flat and buried it with rocks and dirt.. i sure hope they don't figure out how to escape.. i live with foxes about, so they only free range when i'm home and outside..

I tried free ranging while I was home and a coyote literally burst through the property, grabbed a pullet, and took off again. I was standing right there when it happened, I now can't even let them out while I'm standing there.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Muscovy dig really well too. The bottom of all fences are either buried six inches, or I put logs on the inside of the fence so that they can't dig under. I've also used loose sand and gravel which collapses in as they dig, but after a few years it becomes compact and they can dig again.

I'm trying to buy sand to use in my coops and runs, so that's good to know! Thanks!

 

[HuskerHens18]

Now suddenly my elderly EE has begun digging a massive escape hole in her retirement pen. Is it in the air???!!! Ive never had this issue!!!

 

[BY Bob]

Why are we all surprised? Didn't anyone else see the movie Chicken Run? I keep picturing this girl stuck under the house.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Why are we all surprised? Didn't anyone else see the movie Chicken Run? I keep picturing this girl stuck under the house.

View attachment 1458262

 

[BlackHackle]

Imagine my shock as I go outside and discover my flock, who is on strict lockdown, walking around my lawn and helping themselves to mulberries.
I panic — there is a pack of coyotes living behind my house, hence the strict lockdown.
I race to the chicken run and find the gate still locked, no holes in the wire, everything looks fairly normal.
Except,
There's now tunnels dug underneath my chicken house. I grab a flashlight and peek under, sure enough, there's one of my hens in the middle of digging a bigger hole so she can fit through like the rest did. She's halfway through, so I can't reach her from either side.

Now what?!? If I block the holes they dug, won't they just dig under it? Now am I going to have to worry about other animals discovering these tunnels? I am so frustrated right now

I've had chickens do the same thing. They dug under a fence to get into my breeder pen to eat their game bird food

 

[HuskerHens18]

I've had chickens do the same thing. They dug under a fence to get into my breeder pen to eat their game bird food

Smarty pants. They know the grass is greener on the other side

 

[BlackHackle]

Smarty pants. They know the grass is greener on the other side

They sure do...or they see how nice my breeders turn out on their food so they want to sneak in a couple pounds into their diet

 

[ChickieChickieMama]

Why are we all surprised? Didn't anyone else see the movie Chicken Run? I keep picturing this girl stuck under the house.

View attachment 1458262

This was EXACTLY what went through my mind when I discovered their tunnels!!!!