Molly, the very grumpy chicken

[sezjasper]

Grumpy hens are funny! Mine only get grumpy when I clean all the bedding out of their coop. They must think I'll forget to add clean bedding when I'm done...lol...it really drives them crazy!

 

[LilyLovesBugs]

That's funny! Mine try to sneak out while I'm cleaning the coop, which is fun till they land in the snow.... Molly and Delilah are my only grumpy ones, both are at the bottom of the pecking order which is nice, the pecking order is bad enough without having Miss Grumpypants at the top....

 

[John Clarke]

We used to have four chickens but lost three to (I believe) a fox. It was probably our fault as we got complacent. We used to let them have free access from the coop and it being very warm nights here in oz, three of them used to sleep outside leaving Jessica inside. Jessica was left with a limp after an illness so always got in first, long before the others. I guess when the 'fox' got in amongst them, the three must have been sleeping out as usual so became easy prey.
Anyway, after a few weeks and after making the coop and run predator proof or at least as best as I can make it we finally got three more. We've only been chicken people a year ago and at the time we read that you should keep them shut into the coop for them to get used to it. Well, the coop also has a small enclosed run so we decided to shut Jessica in as well thinking she'd have to get used to them and would save the bother of allowing her access in and out while keeping the others in. Well, I didn't think it was possible for a chicken to get so grumpy but she sure was! Neck and tail feathers up she make a massive racket stomping around, the limp didn't slow her down. So out she went but although her griping lessened she didn't shut up.
Previously Jessica was at the bottom of the pecking order but now she's been elevated to the top and she makes the newbies know it. No one eats or drinks when she is. Hopefully she'll mellow with familiarity.