How did your flock annoy you today?

[FluffyButts55]

My chickens will walk to the front AND back door, and start knocking like CRAZY. And when I open the door, they scream at me for treats and try to get inside! Also today I found my chicken that I thought was dead! I was doing my last search for her (because she was missing for 2 days) and something growled at me from the bushes down by the pond. At first I thought it was the neighbours dog, or a coyote, so I when up to the spot where I thought the growling was from... and then all the sudden I smelled something really bad and then a screaming puff of feathers attacks my foot! I looked down and realized it was our white sussex, Squash! And right beside her is a nest of 18 eggs, and 2 rotten eggs that exploded. She was covered in rotten egg ( which I didn't know at the time, so I picked up this crazy, screaming broody and took her to broody confinement,15 minutes later, I walk into the garage, and a waft of rotten eggs comes out as I open the door, directly from the frowning broody.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Typically I'm just amused by my birds, or very concerned
This story combines concern/fear, amused, and maybe mildly irked.

So, doing a head count for the night. Numbers aren't adding up. One of mine is missing.
Who's missing?
Splash Ameraucana. The primary momma pullet in my group (self appointed).
Somehow survived a mink attack a couple months back (*not wild mink)
Searched both coops, runs.
Time to get a real flashlight and search the areas they frequent, because I know I saw her free ranging with everybody mere hours ago.

Welp.
(Btw there were feral cats up there that scattered.)

I did get her (pet carrier'd her). She's safe in the coop.
I'm guessing that she panicked and forgot to get back home, then it got dark.
Resourceful little thing.

*oh and the flashlight died JUST as I was about to open the carrier and put her on the roost. So that was fun

 

[BDutch]

I did get her (pet carrier'd her). She's safe in the coop.
I'm guessing that she panicked and forgot to get back home, then it got dark.
Resourceful little thing.

Yes it’s panic that scatters them. Chickens don’t forget to come home. They can get lost and have trouble to find the way home, or coming home is blocked somehow.

Some of my chickens fly over the neighbour hedges if they see a predator (dogs mostly) . If they fly too far they its difficult for them to return home.

I had to collect one of mine (Ini mini) from a fenced garden 3 houses down the road once. And collected another hen (Black) once who was injured after an escape (hip fracture) from a porch 4 houses down the road.

A few times I have been walking down the road, clucking for them when I missed one around sunset. They respond if they are lost.

 

[Bsmac]

I have four laying pullets two GL Wyandottesand two Black Australorps. For some reason they will not go in the coop at night willingly I have to put

them in. I built a caged area in our large covered run for new bird introductions. They prefer it in there! Then there are these Australorps one has been biting since she was a chick! Now even the other one has been doing it on occasion too! Anyone else have biting Australorps? Only birds out of 23 that will bite!

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Yes it’s panic that scatters them. Chickens don’t forget to come home. They can get lost and have trouble to find the way home, or coming home is blocked somehow.

Some of my chickens fly over the neighbour hedges if they see a predator (dogs mostly) . If they fly too far they its difficult for them to return home.

I had to collect one of mine (Ini mini) from a fenced garden 3 houses down the road once. And collected another hen (Black) once who was injured after an escape (hip fracture) from a porch 4 houses down the road.

A few times I have been walking down the road, clucking for them when I missed one around sunset. They respond if they are lost.

I mean that she must have been enjoying the area she was scratching up, and didn't realize that the rest of the flock had left.
She's isn't used to the new routine (out until dark, formerly morning free-range) as she's chosen to stay in the run to raise a chick, who is now old enough to not need her.