I was out watering and feeding my chickens, in and out, everytime I go out a couple try to get outside. My one EE got out 3 times but always came back in right away when she noticed she was the only one outside and alone, not to mention the cold temp. Then on my last trip out another EE pullet got out and now I can't get her back in. There I am freezing my butt off trying to coax her back in and I scared away a hawk very near by who was watching her. I was so cold and frustrated I finally gave up and went in the house , not wanting to get frostbite myself. Now I am worried what will happen to my dumb chicken. How long can they take this brutal cold we are having now? its only a couple degrees here and wind chills are like 10-15 below zero. Where will she go if i can't get her back in? Im afraid she may freeze to death . Could she?
She'll come in when it starts to get dark but what if you try to coax her w/some scratch or another treat?
I'm gona go out now again to see if she's willing to come in. She likes to stay under DH old truck, but that don't give her any protection from the bitter cold. I'll try the scratch too. If all else fails i guess I could just let them all out and wait for dusk. At least she wouldn't be all alone.
Well she finally came in. I guess she had enough fresh air, or maybe just didn't like being alone. As far as I could tell she never left out from under the truck. i think she was glad to get back inside. of course the other EE had to get out while the other one was going in lol, but she knew not to stay out. Alls well for now ...phewwwww.
When I go out to change water and check feed and for eggs, I take a few slices of bread with me. I don't worry when the girls go out, I know they don't like the cold, and just let them explore til I'm done doing my thing. For right now they're in a coop inside the garage, and as long as there's snow right outside, they stay in the garage anyway. Then I wave the bread around where they can see it, and they all come running for it. I tear off little chunks and throw it into the coop, and they all run back in for it. That's when I slam the door shut, LOL. Today the guy who plows our driveway brought his 3 little kids with him. Even tho the chickens are supposed to be 'stealth chickens' I can never resist showing them to kids. Got them some bread and opened the coop door and the girls came pouring out, and when they saw the kids with the bread they flocked (yes, they did too) right over to them. the little girl was just squealing and giggling as she fed the bread to them. "Do they lay eggs?" she asked so sweetly. "Let me look in the nest and see if they left us anything", I told her. Sure enough 3 eggs, so they all took one with them for breakfast tomorrow. (If they make it that far, haha) Sorry for hijacking your thread, I just got carried away.
MURPHY'S LAW FOR ANIMALS, #4: Animals can always be counted on to NOT cooperate when you are in a hurry. If you keep your chickens trained for a particular call, you can avoid many of the "running off" problems when you really need them to go to a particular place. I always make a certain sharp "chick, chick" call when I am feeding them, and no matter when I make the call they drop whatever they're doing and come running. It's simple, and it really helps. Glad you got her back in!
Quote:I just have to comment on that -- what a brilliant idea! I'm going to start doing the same with mine hope they're not too old to learn!
Give a certain call ,or even a whistle, and then tear some slices of bread into pieces, evey time you call them, they will learn real quick. That theirs a treat waiting for them when they hear your voice
My babies are trained also. All I have to do is open the porch door and they come running. They follow me all around the yard. I keep this old broom with me to keep them from tripping me up because they gather around my feet and move when I move. I have them on a schedule when I let them out and when I put them up. When its time to go in for the night and I haven't come out, they are standing at the back door waiting.