i somehow acquired 2 runaways and i have questions. please help

[pollipazzi]

We are here for you.
But I must warn you that nothing you have shared so far has sounded unusual to me.
I have concluded that chickens are programmed to find new ways to make us worry about them!

thank you
it's just... when i read (and i read a whole lot) other people's experiences, it sounds so lovely. here it's like every day there's some new crisis. i guess most of it can be put down to me being clueless.

this morning, they were being very quiet. they came out into the garden but were just hanging around in one spot. i was wondering if they were going to cooperate and go into the run so i could go to the supermarket. i was standing in front of the run emptying water out of the gutter (that needs to get fixed!) and they both came into the run. no treats. nothing!
they were growling a little bit too. not at me or each other. just in general. and they both went into the coop.
i thought that was really strange. but thelma has been laying her egg around that time anyway. but what's up with louise?
i did all the shopping, put everything away, lunch... they were still in the coop!
i went out to check on them and had a little conversation with them about how being broody again is not going to be happening, so i will give you a little more time and you're out.

then i was thinking...they weren't doing any of the pre-broody things they did before. not at all. and laying mostly every day.

out of pretty much nowhere, a few minutes ago.... downpour! winds! my windows looked like waterfalls.

they knew it was coming. didn't they?

 

[tlcmurphy]

thank you
it's just... when i read (and i read a whole lot) other people's experiences, it sounds so lovely. here it's like every day there's some new crisis. i guess most of it can be put down to me being clueless.

this morning, they were being very quiet. they came out into the garden but were just hanging around in one spot. i was wondering if they were going to cooperate and go into the run so i could go to the supermarket. i was standing in front of the run emptying water out of the gutter (that needs to get fixed!) and they both came into the run. no treats. nothing!
they were growling a little bit too. not at me or each other. just in general. and they both went into the coop.
i thought that was really strange. but thelma has been laying her egg around that time anyway. but what's up with louise?
i did all the shopping, put everything away, lunch... they were still in the coop!
i went out to check on them and had a little conversation with them about how being broody again is not going to be happening, so i will give you a little more time and you're out.

then i was thinking...they weren't doing any of the pre-broody things they did before. not at all. and laying mostly every day.

out of pretty much nowhere, a few minutes ago.... downpour! winds! my windows looked like waterfalls.

they knew it was coming. didn't they?

Yep, they know the downpour is coming, and they mock us. Mine will hide under that bush at the furthest side of the yard until the downpour starts, then will scream at me to come escort them back to their cozy dry coop.
Jerks.

 

[pollipazzi]

Yep, they know the downpour is coming, and they mock us. Mine will hide under that bush at the furthest side of the yard until the downpour starts, then will scream at me to come escort them back to their cozy dry coop.
Jerks.

now that's just mean

 

[pollipazzi]

2 eggs!

 

[McChooky]

i sometimes wonder if jealousy has a part in louise's obnoxious behaviour.

My 4 oldest girls have their own coop but refuse to have anything to do with my main flock.They free range in our yard and have never flown out.They give me no drama but they hate my other flock lol

 

[pollipazzi]

My 4 oldest girls have their own coop but refuse to have anything to do with my main flock.They free range in our yard and have never flown out.They give me no drama but they hate my other flock lol

oh no! how many do you have in your main flock?

 

[McChooky]

oh no! how many do you have in your main flock?

I have 12 chickens total plus a rooster.The other 8 roost in the main run coop combo and free range in a different area .I rarely have to intervene. Chickens form little clicks

 

[pollipazzi]

I have 12 chickens total plus a rooster.The other 8 roost in the main run coop combo and free range in a different area .I rarely have to intervene. Chickens form little clicks

that seems like SO MANY chickens to me!

 

[McChooky]

oh no! how many do you have in your main flock?

One flock has 4 hens and no rooster and the other flock has 8 hens and a rooster . I only have 12 hens and love all of them but they're a lot of work.I won't be getting anymore

 

[pollipazzi]

One flock has 4 hens and no rooster and the other flock has 8 hens and a rooster . I only have 12 hens and love all of them but they're a lot of work.I won't be getting anymore

i think 2 are a lot of work! i can't even imagine what you have to do. and the poop!!! gah! cleaning up poop must be like a full time job
you'll get no judgement from me. just admiration.