My chickens are spoiled

[flowergirl60]

Here's the deal. All summer my girls have roamed our backyard b/c of the heat. We have lots of trees for shade. But their run has no trees that is why I let them out for the shade. They get on the deck and poop all over the place. DH has said to me today since the heat is no longer a problem he wants them to stay back in the run. The run is a good size. And I only have 3 hens. It breaks my heart to have to keep them in the run and not seeing them run around our yard pecking and scratching. Every day they are standing by the fence for me to let them out. My question is how are they going to adapt? I just hate this. I am thinking about letting them out when DH is at work and putting them back in before he gets home. This means they would have to stay locked up all weekend. Will they adapt to this after the freedom they had all summer?

 

[KarenP]

I'm going through the same thing. I promised my DH i would clean the poop of the patio and of course he can't say no to me!! I love to see my girls and their 2 men at my door! Use the puppy eyes and it should work. You only have 3, i have 16, imagine the mess i am cleaning daily!! They are so worth it!

 

[flowergirl60]

Thanks KarenP. I'll do that. Even if it means I wash the deck everyday. I haven't been consistent with that and just sweeping it off isn't working too well.

 

[easttxchick]

Don't feel bad, I've had to do the same thing.
Once I went back to work a few months ago, I decided for their safety to keep them in the run while I'm at work.
They're OK, but boy are they ready to get out when I get home!

 

[indi]

I wouldn't worry when my chicks went in their coop they would press themselves against the edge to come out, but they will stop once they realise. Maybe try food in the run as distraction? As for the poop pouring water on it before it dries means that it is alot easier to sweep off!

 

[LT]

I have the same problem but for a different reason. Our girls free-ranged all summer, and I loved coming home to see them running around the yard. Then, a few weeks ago, we had a hawk attack and lost one of our girls. Now the hawk is stalking our yard, so we can only let them out when we can be out there with them, usually now only about an hour a day. I did create some entertainment for them by hanging a screw from a wire in there run. I put an apple on the screw and they peck at it and it swings. Kind of like a chicken version of bobbing for apples. It keeps them from being bored. I am also giving them more greens to supplement what they aren't getting from free-ranging.

 

[flowergirl60]

Thanks for all the advice. It's funny, DH just came to me and said "your chickens are still on the deck". I said "I'm working on it". Trying to stall the situation.

 

[flowergirl60]

Quote:
Good idea with the apple. I hung one of those treat bells like for the birds and they were afraid of it. So I ended up putting it on the ground. I need to get more things for them to do.

 

[indi]

Good idea with the apple. I hung one of those treat bells like for the birds and they were afraid of it. So I ended up putting it on the ground. I need to get more things for them to do.

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I had the same problem when I hung it up they ran away like it was a fox or something! Kinda cute though​