It's funny how each pullet has it's own personality!

[goldeneggtees]

Hi all, just think it's really funny as I watch my chickies turn into pullets how they each have their own likes, dislikes, and routine. There is one who is always last out of the coop in the morning and then there is one who is first in at night and will not stray far away from her coop and run in the evening. All the others are like la, di, da, this is fun wandering onto the forbidden grass area. But not this one, she calls the others and pleads for them to come in but they ignore her. Sometimes I go in there just so she feels better and not all alone.

Anyway, I think they are sooo funny and entertaining.

Oh! Question: any suggestions for keeping my free ranging pullets during the day from wandering onto our grass? They have a .25 acre "wild" area behind their run and coop but keep venturing further and further onto our grass, which leads to our front yard. I'm afraid one day I'll return home and find them in the street! Actually, if I know I'll be gone long, they get locked up so this doesn't happen but any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[spook]

I believe the only way you can keep them from going anywhere is a fence.
Not intending to convince you other wise, but I allow mine out to eat green grass so that we can receive the benefits of the summer with the omega-3 's.

Also, that one of the awsome things to watch as our girls become "ladies", they have likes, dislikes, favorites and because I only have 5 girls, I can tell voices! Weird I know, but its so fun!

Enjoy your girls, they become friends and entertainment!

 

[goldeneggtees]

Hmmm, I would hate to fence it as we just took down a really ugly fence. Maybe a temporary structure might keep them off the grass? I guess it's worth a try. Funny, I wasn't intending to let them free range for this very reason but it's just so nice for them and they plead and beg with me at their gate every time I go by. Even my husband who was against having them in the first place, let's them out if he's home.

We just literally spent a ton of money on our back yard. When we moved here, it was nothing but brambles and debri! So I'm afraid they won't be able to snack on our expensive and back breaking sod.

Not yet anyway, give us a year.

Wouldn't they get the omega-3's from eating weeds and all the greenery that's in the back? There is wild grass back there and loads of different plants and such.

 

[tasymo]

My Girls really prefer short, tender grass to the tall, tough stuff. It's better for them too, less likely to get bound up in their crops. Maybe you could mow a section of the weedy area for them?

 

[goldeneggtees]

Hi, thanks, it is mowed so they do have an area to eat the lower stuff. Maybe we'll throw down some grass seed in the fall and hope it grows! That'll be nice for them :–)

 

[spook]

We fenced in a large area with that cheap plastic 3' high fence from Walmart that comes in 50' rolls. Its gray and believe it or not you can hardly see it. DH did put a string through it for support and its pretty decent.
I never wanted to fence these guys in, but one day I had to get them from the fisher/fox/hawk swampy area 1 acre away...they would not stay home! But they would stay in a 3' high fence...go figure.
anyways, good luck to you and also, that 2' high bunny fence is around the garden spots and they do not offer to jump over those either.
Its your girls, you will know what they will do...mine are heathens! LOL!!!

 

[The Zoo]

I have found that chickens will go EVERYWHERE eventually if they're not gated off.
My husband fenced off the potato beds, the asparagus beds, the veg garden and the herbs because we found them in all those places and though I only have 2 hens and 2 chicks, they're destructive!

I agree - they have such personalities - my girls come running when I walk out the backdoor - looking for goodies and treats - and have no fear. They're so much fun to watch.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I love sitting there watching them interact with each other and me. My BR will come up in my face and give me a loud BAWK.

I have to admit, I never thought having chickens would be so amusing.

 

[cmom]

I fenced in my birds because when I let them free range they were destroying my gardens. They dug up my newly planted plants and got into the compost piles and was spreading them out. Since your fence isn't very tall hopefully they won't fly over it. I use chicken wire which is 48" high. I still have a yellow rope several inches above the top of the fence. These are older pictures. I also have electric wire around the outside of the fence along the bottom as prior a neighborhood mutt dug under my fence and killed one of my hens. I have moved the coops, runs, yard and have added more electric wire since these pictures were taken. I love to go out and watch the chickens and all of their different personalities. I call it chicken TV.