how does one small hen move over 20 pounds of rock every day?

[horsejody]

One rock at a time. That's how. We have a large maple tree surrounded by ladscape timbers and rock. Everyday Missy (red jungle fowl hen) digs in the rocks and removes 20 pounds or more of rocks. It's getting to be a real pain in the butt! When we see her doing it, we spray her with the hose, but we can't seem to break the habit. Any suggestions?

 

[dacjohns]

Chickens can be entertaining and irritating.

Sounds like she is doing one of the many things that chickens do, dig and scratch.

The only thing I can think of off the top of my head is to keep her away from the area; keep her penned or fence around the tree.

 

[[email protected]@2four]

lol...I have a couple pullets that have completely dug a hole along side of my house...it gets bigger and bigger each day...their free ranging days are coming to an end soon! lol

 

[rebecca10782]

Mabye she is related to an ant

 

[speckledhen]

Chickens are master excavators!

 

[Dash Riprock]

Quote:

I have a red sex-link that loves her some dang gravel. I have a french drain that get a daily cleaning and inspection.

I just fill it back in everyday.....I look at it this way...She is giving the both of us something to do each day. Kinda reminds me of the movie "Cool Hand Luke"....

Luke, what's yo dirt doing in Boss (can't remember his name)'s hole? Get in there in get dat dirt out.

Soooooo....Am I Luke or the Boss?

Dash

 

[rebecca10782]

I guess if you're gonna have chickens, you can't worry to much about the landscaping

 

[kodiakchicken]

I thought you were actually asking how it was happening and I was going to say "with a little wheelbarrow!"

lol - I crack myself up.

What is she doing with the gravel? Just digging it out for a spot to lay in? I have a flower bed that the chickens have claimed one specific spot in and I've just given up and decided its a sacrifice area. That's an official land management term, by the way - defined as an area you sacrifice for the betterment of all other areas!

 

[AngieChick]

Imagine how frustrating it must be for the poor chicken, having to redo her careful landscaping work EVERY DAY!

I can imagine her going out there in the morning and thinking "Not Again!"

Or maybe she's just a little closer to her wild jungle roots? She's smarter and knows that the good bugs are all hiding under the rocks.

Maybe try to block off the parts you really don't want her digging in and leave her some areas to play with rocks?

 

[orcasislandchickens]

Is she building a house? Clearing out a sort of cavelike spot to put a nest and go broody? I know some fowl prefer a hidden place among the rocks? Or maybe she is hoping to come across a lot of grubs.

Interesting behaviour. I have never had those so I realy don't know anything about them, but she has sure captured my curiosity and imagination.

Here's hoping you find out what she's up to.