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

[tlcmurphy]

Maybe toilet paper was an accessory to the crime…

 

[pollipazzi]

Maybe toilet paper was an accessory to the crime…

weird times, huh? i wonder if some of those toilet paper people still have some left. hoarded away for next time.

 

[BDutch]

ooh! i haven't seen those around, but i will look. are they really rigid and strong? like a dog crate sort of?

Here they sell them at the DIY shop in the gardening stuff corner. The 5x5cm panels are made of sturdy iron with a solid plastic coating. I bought them 11 years ago. At the moment I use 4 for a compost heap, and one for an entrance in the run. They are still good. The rabbit fences not so much.

 

[pollipazzi]

it rained a lot last night and it's really wet inside the bird flu fort. i opened the run door, and they came out into it, but for probably a minute and they went back in the run on the roost thing.
do you think because it's cold and wet and breezy and they are low on feathers, they couldn't be bothered?
are chickens less active in winter?
or is it just the moulting?

there's a huge difference inside the run. there's no wind. i put the extra roofing on the front for winter. and it's mostly dry. in fairness, i wouldn't want to be outside in the winter either.

 

[pollipazzi]

Here they sell them at the DIY shop in the gardening stuff corner. The 5x5cm panels are made of sturdy iron with a solid plastic coating. I bought them 11 years ago. At the moment I use 4 for a compost heap, and one for an entrance in the run. They are still good. The rabbit fences not so much.

i haven't seen anything like that here. we don't have a huge amount of choice in shops. but i will keep an eye out. or there's always online.

 

[BDutch]

it rained a lot last night and it's really wet inside the bird flu fort. i opened the run door, and they came out into it, but for probably a minute and they went back in the run on the roost thing.
do you think because it's cold and wet and breezy and they are low on feathers, they couldn't be bothered?
are chickens less active in winter?
or is it just the moulting?

there's a huge difference inside the run. there's no wind. i put the extra roofing on the front for winter. and it's mostly dry. in fairness, i wouldn't want to be outside in the winter either.

If it’s cold this time of the year, my chickens are not active either. Most are done with their moult. So it must be the cold or lack of sunshine (autumn depression).

Yesterday I let my flock out to free range and after a quick round they retreated under the hazel. When I gave them some yoghurt on the terrace, they came out for a short time to enjoy the treat and repeated this again after about an hour. They didn’t even leave the terrace. Went off to roost around 4 PM , about 40 minutes before sunset. And about 1.5 hours before the auto pop door closes (light sensor).

 

[pollipazzi]

If it’s cold this time of the year, my chickens are not active either. Most are done with their moult. So it must be the cold or lack of sunshine (autumn depression).

Yesterday I let my flock out to free range and after a quick round they retreated under the hazel. When I gave them some yoghurt on the terrace, they came out for a short time to enjoy the treat and repeated this again after about an hour. They didn’t even leave the terrace. Went off to roost around 4 PM , about 40 minutes before sunset. And about 1.5 hours before the auto pop door closes (light sensor).

thanks! that's good to know! and also relatable. i hate the winter

 

[pollipazzi]

i was out there for ages with the run door open into the flu fort. i was putting up the bird netting.
they would come out for a second and run back in.
it was pretty windy and the roof makes a flapping noise, so maybe that's the problem. then they just went back in the run. they'll get used to it, i suppose. if the roof doesn't blow off first.
mine go into bed at 4 too.

 

[pollipazzi]

also! i put some grass in there thinking they must miss it. and i collected some seeds from the sage plants and the rocket. they just want the seeds.

 

[RoyalChick]

Mine are not at all keen on wind and are generally less active at the moment weather and moulting).
They go to bed early too.