Chicks are digging a hole to China! *PICS*

[Rebekah]

@lux: I TOTALLY caught them in the act. I love these chickens, but they're a bunch of sophisticated criminals.

thanks for the advice, everyone. ok, so I'm going to get some rocks and bricks ($$), more treats ($$), and a sandbox for the new run extension ($$$). no worries, I've come to terms with the fact that I've just adopted feathered children who have full and unlimited access to my wallet. I think my real life children are starting to resent them and the attention they get

I do have some concerns about stray cats (about the only wildlife we have here besides a very bizarre and adorable infestation of bunnies), so I'll get to it right away.

darn chickens!

 

[lavacaw]

I have the same problem...inside the coop and around the perimeter of the pen. I cut (burned) pieces of tin 18" long and dug a trench all the way around the outside of the coop and pen about 12" deep and shoved the tin against the pen and building. The dirt was scraped back in and packed. They can dig all they want but they won't get out and it keeps things from digging in as well. I used regular corrugated tin and it has lasted for years.

 

[Rebekah]

@Sparkles: thanks for the compliment. photography is our life, both personal and business, so that's nice to hear

however, if I could somehow make money off of raising chickens on .08 acres or on a rooftop in Brooklyn, I would

 

[imfowl]

I use the plastic landsaping bricks. They have little spikes to keep them in place.

 

[edselpdx]

Just a note of caution. No matter why the chix are digging, if they can dig out, predators can dig in. I've seen possums and coons (and rats) in all kinds of urban settings. An "apron" of welded wire would ensure the predators can't get in and your chickens don't hurt their feet as they try to dig for dust bathing (or China).

 

[patandchickens]

I put bricks or slab-like concrete rubble around the edges where they want to dig. It keeps their pits further from the fence, where nothing bad is going to happen.

Pat

 

[CityChook]

Your avatar is beautiful and so is your coop/back yard.

As much as you don't really want to bury wire, it's probably your best bet. If it's just not an option, make sure you are locking kids up at night to prevent any problems. Maybe when your new run is built you can give them a tub to dustbathe in so that the won't figure out how to escape.

And yes, those darned spoiled chookies do have a way of spending the money, don't they? No fear - once you have your set up done and operational, you won't have the big expenses. And what a gift to your children.

Enjoy!

 

[kingme]

Good topic here. I just noticed a trench all the way around my run, on the inside. I was wondering what was going on. Now I guess it is normal. Mine are 7 week old Brown Leghorns. Does this behavior get better as they get older? They are next to my garden. They must want to get to my veggies.