Sand....HARBINGER OF DOOM???

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

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You're still watching TV!?! You need more chickens!

 

[lattefrog]

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I just found this out today. I removed the divider between the little chicks and the bigger chicks in the brooder and put in a stick for a roost. 14 chicks were on one side and 1 little bitty rooster was on the other and none of them would "cross" to the other side. They really didn't want to walk under it, so I just grabbed the bossy RIR and plopped her on the branch. She started tugging at a leftover leaf and that was all she wrote. The others started pecking at the branch, trying to get the hanging pieces of bark. One little girl even grabbed a piece, and while pulling, was actually hanging by her beak. It was hilarious, and now they are all one big happy family, some roosting, some sleeping in piles, one using the tiny silky as a pillow. But hey, she is soft. If I were a chicken, I'd probably choose her as my pillow too.

 

[gale65]

When we first put sand in the coop, it was funny. They didn't want to go in there and when they did, they would try to skip from the bricks under the water to the ones under the feeder, up to the roosts, etc. Anything to not walk on that evil sand. That night we had to put more than half of them in there after dark. The 2nd night they all went in though-I guess they figured if they were going to be forced in they might as well just go in on their own.

 

[Animalian]

I just put sand in mine for the first time today!
It's funny I filled and put their snack bowl in the far end of the coop, the 11 week old pullets walked in no problem, started stuffing themselves. The 2 year old hen's were scared to even go near the sand! They were getting all angry and noisy and pacing because the young ones were getting all the food!!!

And at bed time, they jumped from the outside of the coop to the ramp!!! But the young girl had already stolen the best roosts! I bet they'll forget in the morning and either be terrified and 'cornered' again!

 

[7L Farm]

Everytime I add more sand my chickens think I'm giving them a treat & start eating it. I think they eat more than I add. LOL

 

[farmerinKC]

Mine were the same way a couple of weeks ago when we added sand to their run-scared silly! After two days of hiding in the coop I let them out in the yard about three hours before dark-then we put them in the run an hour later-closing the pop door so they couldn't go in the coop. Someone had suggested scattering grass clippings on the sand so I did that. They were still really scared of the sand-but as it became dusk and they couldn't see as well, they finally started walking on the sand-one by one. The next morning when they went out into the run I guess it was OK with them by then-they acted like the sand had always been there.

 

[RoeDylanda]

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Glad to see mine aren't the only ones who flee, screaming, from treats! Yes, chickens, after caring for your every need for two and a half months, I have brought you a YOGURT MONSTER TO KILL YOU ALL.

...Actually, since they're dual purpose hens, maybe they're right to be afraid.

Not that I *plan* to eat them, but I do like having the option.