Devil pants! And Satan shoes!

[Farmgirl1878]

That is very odd. I have worn everything from heavily patterned leggings to boxer briefs to plaid around my birds (chicken, guinea, quail) and all manner of foot ware and the most interest they have shown is to sometimes curiously peck at colorful shoes. Are you quite sure there were no other variables?

Yeah, it if you wore the same colors and patterns for eighteen weeks, your birds would probably react too. My five Brahmas did the same as young pullets the first time I wore my carhartts to the coop. They’d never seen them before, so were wary and ran to the end of the run away from me. The older birds knew it was just my “winter plumage,” so were fine with it. They’re such funny little birds!

 

[SE_Gardener]

I’ve cared for my babies for 18 weeks today. I guess I didn’t realize it, but, I’ve always worn my jeans and black tennis shoes to go out to the coop.

So, I got some new sloggers shoes in the mail to replace my worn, tied type tennis shoes..they fit fine, camo pattern. Tonight, I went out to put the chickens to bed, I was wearing some plaid night pants, slipped on the new shoes. Went into the coop first, one of my Speckled Sussex was already exploring, I said hi sweetheart, turned around in there, suddenly, I heard a tremendous flapping, she disappeared. I thought huh, she must have gotten spooked. Got out of the coop, Went into the run, and..

They all freaked out.

They all ran to the end, away from me..and were staring at me, frozen. Apparently the new shoes and pattern of pants was the Chicken Devil’s work..guess I always wore my jeans, black shoes, or solid blue or black night pants..no matter how I apologized, or cajoled, nope, weren’t having it.

The black Australorp finally came to my lap, the others cautiously surrounded me but weren’t having any of it, kind of frozen, suspicious. I went back inside, changed clothes, came back and they were fine with it..

Ive been watching the Coghill family website, they talk about how observant their emu is, how it knows the slightest change on the property..I didn’t realize how stunningly observant the chickens were until they looked at me like I was The Devil. It was kind of endearing, or..creepy. Guess I’m stuck with wearing my jeans..! How funny!

Just read your post 2024 and had a similar experience...like you always wear jeans doing chores and stuff around the homestead. One day I had on a pair of large black and white checked lounge pants. Went into the first pen and roo/hens all freaked out and didn't care about the scratch I was tossing on their pen floor. Went into the next pen - same thing the roo/hens all huddled in the farthest corner then when I walked passed to get into the 3rd pen, you'd think all hell broke loose - normally passive hens and friendly roos they all scattered, flapping wings and causing a real ruckus. The next pen had culls waiting for processing , I went in - same thing - they all flew about screaming. I couldn't understand it - I did the same things I do every day, filled the same feeders and tossed the same scratch. I couldn't figure out what was going on and later figured it was the blk/white lounge pants that scared them.