I finished my newest coop last week (except for some of the exterior painting). The coop is built with only one side and a corner inside the run; the rest of it is outside of the fence. I splurged and installed an automatic chicken door. The old coop is now being used for the segregated adolescent chicks.
Of course, the grown up chickens wanted to go into the old coop at night, but couldn't. So they gathered around it, on top of it (it's a low coop), and huddled there as dusk approached. I tried to shoo them into the new coop's pop door, which has an automatic, light sensing door. Was only successful in getting one hen inside before the door closed.
So I had to carry each chicken from its perch on the old coop, across the run, through the gate, down the path, and into the new coop through the people door. 8 chickens (since one was already inside). It was dark by the time I got done with that task.
Had to do it the next night, too. Half-grumbling, half-laughing during this extended task. No real squawking or argument by anybody, not even the rooster.
On night three, I stepped outside to do the Chicken Gathering Task and discovered all of 'em had retired to the new coop. The automatic door was just closing.
No more hand-trucking chickens around the yard.
Personally, I think TWO NIGHTS is a pretty good indication of chicken smarts.
Of course, the grown up chickens wanted to go into the old coop at night, but couldn't. So they gathered around it, on top of it (it's a low coop), and huddled there as dusk approached. I tried to shoo them into the new coop's pop door, which has an automatic, light sensing door. Was only successful in getting one hen inside before the door closed.
So I had to carry each chicken from its perch on the old coop, across the run, through the gate, down the path, and into the new coop through the people door. 8 chickens (since one was already inside). It was dark by the time I got done with that task.
Had to do it the next night, too. Half-grumbling, half-laughing during this extended task. No real squawking or argument by anybody, not even the rooster.
On night three, I stepped outside to do the Chicken Gathering Task and discovered all of 'em had retired to the new coop. The automatic door was just closing.
No more hand-trucking chickens around the yard.
Personally, I think TWO NIGHTS is a pretty good indication of chicken smarts.
