NY chicken lover!!!!

[pharmchickrnmom]

Stony--how long does it take rir;s to learn how to roost? Mine are still crowding into the corners at night instead of going onto the roosts. I have tried putting them up on the roosts after they are in but they just jump down and run to the corners. They are almost 14 weeks old now. They had no problem roosting on the branches in their brooder box so I cant figure out why they wont roost in their coop. They will get up there during the morning or during the day but not at night. Suggestions please!

 

[stonykill]

Stony--how long does it take rir;s to learn how to roost? Mine are still crowding into the corners at night instead of going onto the roosts. I have tried putting them up on the roosts after they are in but they just jump down and run to the corners. They are almost 14 weeks old now. They had no problem roosting on the branches in their brooder box so I cant figure out why they wont roost in their coop. They will get up there during the morning or during the day but not at night. Suggestions please!

mine caught right on. If they are going up there at other times, they will eventually figure it out.

You could try a low roost, 6 inches off the floor and see if they like that.

 

[Henicillin]

The people across the road from us have their TV's surround-sound volume up so high that I can hear every word clearly right now through my closed living room windows. It's actually sort of impressive, all the more so because the house is several hundred yards away from us and way up on top of a hill, and is separated from us by woods. I never want to hear word one from them about my roo!

 

[featherz]

Had a bit of a scare last night. Still not sure what it was, but my husband woke me up saying that he thought there was a chicken screaming outside. While he was trying to find shirt and shoes and flashlight I was running outside in a nightshirt and socks. LOL. We have automatic lights all over the property so I figured they would be enough to see by. Did a quick check and all birds appeared in the dark to be quiet and present, electric fences all on.. So went to bed, worrying that maybe I left a chicken outside when I locked them up - easy enough to do when you have 50 birds.

Anyways, just went out with a flashlight and did a headcount and no birds appear to be missing. Woohoo! I am wondering if whatever it was got a wild turkey or something similar. Hubby said it sounded like a big bird, not a chick.

ETA: Just looked it up and fox make a noise very very similar to that of a distressed chicken. hmm.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

The people across the road from us have their TV's surround-sound volume up so high that I can hear every word clearly right now through my closed living room windows. It's actually sort of impressive, all the more so because the house is several hundred yards away from us and way up on top of a hill, and is separated from us by woods. I never want to hear word one from them about my roo!

If they say anything about your roo, just tell them he was trying to get them to change the channel to Animal Planet because he likes that one better!

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Thanks Stony. I will hold out hope.

 

[In His Service]

Had a bit of a scare last night. Still not sure what it was, but my husband woke me up saying that he thought there was a chicken screaming outside. While he was trying to find shirt and shoes and flashlight I was running outside in a nightshirt and socks. LOL. We have automatic lights all over the property so I figured they would be enough to see by. Did a quick check and all birds appeared in the dark to be quiet and present, electric fences all on.. So went to bed, worrying that maybe I left a chicken outside when I locked them up - easy enough to do when you have 50 birds.

Anyways, just went out with a flashlight and did a headcount and no birds appear to be missing. Woohoo! I am wondering if whatever it was got a wild turkey or something similar. Hubby said it sounded like a big bird, not a chick.

ETA: Just looked it up and fox make a noise very very similar to that of a distressed chicken. hmm.

Maybe that is how the fox lures the chickens close to the fence where it can get them...

 

[featherz]

Maybe that is how the fox lures the chickens close to the fence where it can get them...

Could be! I played him the fox sounds off this site: http://www.angelfire.com/ar2/thefoxden/sounds.html and he says it did sound a lot like the grey fox noises. Just went out and checked in daylight and everyone is accounted for and I see no signs of anything else going on. I am guessing that was what happened. creepy tho!

 

[Adoravachick]

The people across the road from us have their TV's surround-sound volume up so high that I can hear every word clearly right now through my closed living room windows. It's actually sort of impressive, all the more so because the house is several hundred yards away from us and way up on top of a hill, and is separated from us by woods. I never want to hear word one from them about my roo!

Are those people deaf or what? It sounds like your roo would be safe to crow all his little heart desires. They probably would be able to hear his anyway....ehh?

 

[Adoravachick]

Had a bit of a scare last night. Still not sure what it was, but my husband woke me up saying that he thought there was a chicken screaming outside. While he was trying to find shirt and shoes and flashlight I was running outside in a nightshirt and socks. LOL. We have automatic lights all over the property so I figured they would be enough to see by. Did a quick check and all birds appeared in the dark to be quiet and present, electric fences all on.. So went to bed, worrying that maybe I left a chicken outside when I locked them up - easy enough to do when you have 50 birds.

Anyways, just went out with a flashlight and did a headcount and no birds appear to be missing. Woohoo! I am wondering if whatever it was got a wild turkey or something similar. Hubby said it sounded like a big bird, not a chick.

ETA: Just looked it up and fox make a noise very very similar to that of a distressed chicken. hmm.

Is it possible that the "hot" fence gave the fox a little zap? Glad to hear that everyone was safe and sound. After our loss on mother's day, lost 11 birds out of 18, we went a little overboard on the safety measures and I still find myself getting up to look the window to check the coop at night. Honestly, with the get up and we have now, if something got it, we are in BIG trouble.