- Feb 18, 2009
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After asking a question about leaving lights on, and getting some great responses, I decided to turn the lights on at 5 am this morning (roughly 1.5 hrs before sunrise.)
Two things happened:
First, my rooster, which normally starts crowing at 4 am, stopped crowing. I didn't mind that at all.
Second, when curiosity got the best of me, before daylight, I crept down to the chicken house to see what was going on. I thought I might find all of my chickens nicely tucked in their boxes, laying eggs, knitting, etc.
Instead, the rooster was standing at the door, and all the hens were packed around him like fans at a concert, just waiting to rush through the door to the outside.
My question about chicken behaviors: Should I keep the door locked until they've had an hour or two to sit around, or should I open the door at the first hint of natural light outside? I opened the door this time, they walked outside and looked around as if to say, "What are we standing out here for....I can't see a thing!"
I think I really confused them...thanks an advance for comments that will help me find a good routine that will be satisfactory for the chickens.
Two things happened:
First, my rooster, which normally starts crowing at 4 am, stopped crowing. I didn't mind that at all.
Second, when curiosity got the best of me, before daylight, I crept down to the chicken house to see what was going on. I thought I might find all of my chickens nicely tucked in their boxes, laying eggs, knitting, etc.
Instead, the rooster was standing at the door, and all the hens were packed around him like fans at a concert, just waiting to rush through the door to the outside.
My question about chicken behaviors: Should I keep the door locked until they've had an hour or two to sit around, or should I open the door at the first hint of natural light outside? I opened the door this time, they walked outside and looked around as if to say, "What are we standing out here for....I can't see a thing!"
I think I really confused them...thanks an advance for comments that will help me find a good routine that will be satisfactory for the chickens.
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