I told this story on here once before but I was telling a co-worker the story as she is getting chicks this spring for the first time and she is asking a lot of questions, which I love helping. Yeah I recruited one!!!!
So I thought I would tell it on myself again as my co-worker just laughed and laughed she thought it was too funny. So I hope you all get a chuckle.
Some time back I bought a fake owl with a bobble head at a garage sale for $2. I know that over time wild birds figure out it is fake and then pay no attention to it but I thought for $2 if it works for a week it will be worth the 2 bucks.
The next morning I take my owl out and put it up on run post.
I go in the coop open the pop door and go out and start the morning routine, cleaning waterers, putting feed in trough etc.
I was wondering why the hens were not coming out and I saw two come out and then make a made dash to the other side of the coop out of sight. By this time the hens in the coop are starting to raise a ruckus. I stand there a little confused, I'm not sure what the problem is. I go in and try to herd them out and they just flat refuse. I throw a couple out and they just panic trying like mad to get back in or running around to the backside of the coop.
I go back out, get on my hands and knees and a look under the coop because once there was a sick possum under there that caused all kinds of histeria. No possum, I stand there and just can't figure it out then THAT LIGHT BULB WENT OFF, THE OWL!!!
Yes, chicken = bird, bird scared of owl.
To say the least I felt a little stupid, why I thought it would scare off wild birds and not freak out the chickens is beyond me.
So I thought I would tell it on myself again as my co-worker just laughed and laughed she thought it was too funny. So I hope you all get a chuckle.
Some time back I bought a fake owl with a bobble head at a garage sale for $2. I know that over time wild birds figure out it is fake and then pay no attention to it but I thought for $2 if it works for a week it will be worth the 2 bucks.
The next morning I take my owl out and put it up on run post.
I go in the coop open the pop door and go out and start the morning routine, cleaning waterers, putting feed in trough etc.
I was wondering why the hens were not coming out and I saw two come out and then make a made dash to the other side of the coop out of sight. By this time the hens in the coop are starting to raise a ruckus. I stand there a little confused, I'm not sure what the problem is. I go in and try to herd them out and they just flat refuse. I throw a couple out and they just panic trying like mad to get back in or running around to the backside of the coop.
I go back out, get on my hands and knees and a look under the coop because once there was a sick possum under there that caused all kinds of histeria. No possum, I stand there and just can't figure it out then THAT LIGHT BULB WENT OFF, THE OWL!!!
Yes, chicken = bird, bird scared of owl.
To say the least I felt a little stupid, why I thought it would scare off wild birds and not freak out the chickens is beyond me.
