Red or Orange

[dwgov]

I really need to know if my flock is unique. It all started when I tried to put a pumpkin in my run. My birds freaked out... I mean the went crazy. Flying around trying to escape any way they could. Of course I took the pumpkin out immediately. My flock wouldn't come near me for 2 days. The following week I went into the run wearing red sweat pants, it was even worse. They went crazy. I will never go near them with red or orange again. Am I alone or did anyone else experience this?

 

[foreverlearning]

You are not the first. They can see color much better than us and don't like change. Here are some links to others that have had this and some funny things their chickens don't like. As far as the pumpkin goes, I would start off with a small chunk in the furthest corner of the pen and leave it to see if they can "warm" up to the idea.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/395476/is-my-rooster-a-fashion-critic

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/819963/my-girls-are-fashion-critics

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/273560/roosters-a-fashion-critic

 

[chfite]

Chickens seem to be quite keen on red color and shiny objects. They don't like change. Mine will chomp down on a pumpkin, if I break it open so they can eat the interior.

Chris

 

[azygous]

Anything big and new and different, no matter the color, will freak out chickens.

Today, I decided to top the feeders off, and since the feed sack was close to empty, I brought it into the run instead of taking the feeders out to fill them. You would have thought a wolf had entered the pen, the way they all ran away, screeching and flying against the fence in their insane effort to get away from it!

They will adjust to most anything if you just leave the thing there. They'll soon see it doesn't move, and therefor isn't a threat.