Never a dull moment

[Cynful481]

I will start with a little back story for those who are not familiar with what has been going on. This past spring my daughter Kayley signed up for the 4-H cackle club. We received 6 beautiful Rhode Island Reds. I just have absolutely adored them since the moment we brought them home at 2 days old. We built them a nice coop and at 8 weeks they moved into it. Got to the point they free ranged all day and would return to the coop at evening just before it was dark. Two months ago we lost 2 chickens within a 2 day time frame to what I believe was a fox. I took it pretty hard (they are pets after all). So now we are down to 4 hens. I decided after that they would stay locked up in the coop. I planted rape and would literally dig it up every morning so they would have fresh greens. They loved it but Ginger (head hen....who can be very bossy) made it very clear everyday she was not happy with this new arrangement. So after Christmas I ask my husband to build a gazing box for the inside of the small run area of their coop. He went the extra mile and built them a big new run with their coop in the middle along with 2 gazing boxes. So they could have some of their freedom back, but still be safe. I work til 5 most days so it is dark by time I get home, but the first place I go is to the coop to shut and lock the door even though they are in an enclosed area I feel better knowing the coop is closed off. Today was no different. I took what few groceries I had inside where both of my daughters were watching television. I asked Kayley if she got the eggs for today and she said no she had forgot so I grab my flashlight and make my way outside. As I round the corner of the house I see the coop door is shut. (That's weird. I left it open with a small waterer in front of the door to keep the wind from blowing it shut) I unlock the door to the run and go around to the coop door. The door is a spit. top and bottom can be opened one at a time. I normally leave the top shut and locked unless I am cleaning the coop the bottom stays open except at night. So here I am in the dark with my flashlight (and it is dark) both doors are shut but they are unlocked. Just weird. Not normal at all. I open the top door and stick my head in and count 3 hens....I count again...3. I walk to the back door that let's you access the coop house....no hens. Nesting boxes empty. I am missing 1 hen. I go back and count yet again....3 hens. I feel my heart just pounding. I start shining the light around the run looking for her but she isn't there I walked around the coop a few times...there is just nowhere for her to hide. I am just out of my mind looking for this bird. I can hear the other hens"talking" inside the coop, but all of a sudden I hear soft clucking answering back to the hens but it is coming from above me. So I shine my light up to the roof of the coop, and there is my girl. Roosting on the top on the roof where it peaks. She looks at me and clucks softly. No way can I reach her from the ground it is too high for me to reach. Obviously " come here girl" did not work in this case (yes... I did try I'll admit it) she just turned and faced away from me still softly talking back to the other hens. I finally grabbed a 5 gallon bucket full of crushed oyster shells and drug it over to the door of the coop. ( probably not the best pick but it was all I had) I set my light down and stand on the bucket. Now she is looking at me like wth are you doing and I swear the other hens are laughing by this point they are by the door watching and here I am standing in the dark on top of a bucket of oyster shells reaching up to the peak of the roof talking to a chicken who is tilting her head the way my dog does when he does not know what I am saying. My first thought is if she flies at my face this will not end well for me. I will be face down in chicken-sh#t possible dying and my two kids will never even wonder why I never came back inside. But that's just me always thinking about the worst case scenario. Anyway I managed to get my hand under her left foot and she grabbed a hold with her right foot wings totally extended, I guess balancing herself. She is still softly clucking away but does not seemed freaked out, and I am talking to her repeating "it is going to be okay". Once I had her close I had to tuck her wings back down so she would fit into the crook of my arm.I guess the other hens were bored and had went back to their roosts so after very carefully stepping down off my bucket (yeah did not want to mess things up now I had come so far). I carried her into the coop and placed her on the roost next to her sisters. I only got a small scratch from the roof. Needless to say the two teenage girls were still right where I had left them.

 

[Pjacct]

What can we say, sometimes we have a chicken that will just do it’s own thing regardless!
Hopefully she learns to roost with her flock mates soon. By the way, love the run! Great space.

 

[Cynful481]

What can we say, sometimes we have a chicken that will just do it’s own thing regardless!
Hopefully she learns to roost with her flock mates soon. By the way, love the run! Great space.

Thanks. I think maybe the wind blew the door closed not really sure how and she could not get back inside so she found herself a new spot as close to her flock as she could get. I felt bad. But at least she was okay

 

[ChickNanny13]

Love your set up, Hubby did a GREAT JOB!
As I read your "story" I could see you on the 5 gallon bucket talking to yourself and the girls talking & watching you It's not funny but yet it is, sorry. Think you're right, she got locked out & found a higher roosting place. Funny how our kids projects turn out to be ours

 

[Cynful481]

Love your set up, Hubby did a GREAT JOB!
As I read your "story" I could see you on the 5 gallon bucket talking to yourself and the girls talking & watching you It's not funny but yet it is, sorry. Think you're right, she got locked out & found a higher roosting place. Funny how our kids projects turn out to be ours

Yes you are so right!!! I never would have thought I would be this chicken crazy
Once the 4-H project was over she told me I could have them
He still has the top to put on and I have to plant the gazing boxes but with the rain and cold hitting us we may never get through