Following a Free-range Chicken from Roost in Morning to Roost at Night

[centrarchid]

Already following a chicken. Sun not up yet birds are already foraging. Twilight appears good enough to see by but the birds are moving around in my opinion to see much. And then the sun pops up.

 

[centrarchid]

Chickens eating a lot of deer meat. Intake not enough to distend crops, but they are still eating a lot. Otherwise they move about 50 feet to loaf in protected location with direct sunlight where they preen.

 

[centrarchid]

Birds still alternating between eating deer and loafing. The chickens are eating strips pushing 6" long. Some are also cherry picking fat.

They are also working on rumen contents where they are really taken a liking to the acorns. Yum, Yum!

 

[TheChiggens]

Interesting!
Will y'all take into account the observers impact on the birds behaviors?

Very good point.

 

[centrarchid]

Anytime you observe a system where you exercise some level of control, you impact how that system operates. This holds especially for living systems. Being aware of how the birds might be impacted by our presence, last spring the process was began to acclimate the adults to our activities where food was provided only when carrying a blue bucket. No bucket, birds show no interest in me as a source of eats. Young learned same arrangements. Then comes the daily activities I do see when birds are not followed. Patterns appear similar when someone is out within a few feet of subject or a 100 yards away. Second, the birds do not alter course or change behavior when some one stands or walks slowly by. These birds are exceptional in their acclimation to human activity even when close by. These birds will stand among a group of humans where the birds will then preen, dust bath, eat and even sleep as if the people are not there. This level of acclimation has not been realized by my American Dominiques that are likely as tame as any backyard chickens on this site.

That said, I am certain the behavior of the birds is impacted in someway by the observer. Then real question is, does that totally discredit the scientific effort? I think not, especially when observations are in part to generate baseline data evaluating the collection of several types of behavior that can happen rapidly in succession. If you think the effort is a waste, then find something else to tickle your fancy.

 

[centrarchid]

While feeding on deer carcass, the area foraged was comparatively small. They appear to have consumed all Pokeweed berries they could reach by jumping within a 50 yard radius. Some were knocking down milo heads and eating the grain. They also put the moves on another pumpkin where they consumed the seeds and most of the flesh. Normally it takes a couple days to eat a pumpkin of that size.

 

[centrarchid]

Today I am doing the following. Data will not be pulled with that collected by student. Temperature is down around 8 F and we have a little over an inch of snow / freezing rain on ground, sky mostly clear. Birds showing obvious signs of cold stress. No body has done more the bill ground so far, as in no eating. They have feeding station in their coop which they ignored. They have changed loafing locations twice. Current location looks like what the want, cover from wind with direct sun. I can see chickens in barn getting up into sun as well.

Loafing pattern is different. Birds either getting a couple feet off ground into tree or sitting close to each other. They are high stepping as walking, feet cold I am sure.

Deer carcass was moved by dogs. Chickens have not checked previous or current location for it.

 

[centrarchid]

In same location used for loafing, the birds are pecking at ice / snow and tipping head back as is drinking. I think they are consuming it. Also engaged in twitter-bitting.

 

[centrarchid]

Day is flying by fast. Birds still loafing in same spot and have not eaten a lick. Singleton birds not part of a flock are moving about a lot more than those as part of social groups. Pullet in yard is hanging with dogs trying to find warm places to perch. This making out of be a weight loss day for the chickens.

 

[centrarchid]

First loafing location after leaving roost. Sun not quite up yet. Trying to used damaged pen as wind block. Not good enough.

Then moved to plum thicket where they stayed for next 3 hours.

Dog consuming deer carcass the chickens will likely stumble upon before day is up. Dog not good about sharing.