ladyhand
Songster
Hello! I've bee trying to compile my questions for one big post instead of several small ones.
It's gotten much cooler out (it's only 75 right now), but my chickens (16 weeks) seem to be so lazy. They're very active the first hour of their free range time in the afternoon, and eventually lay down while one - three of them dust bathe. They seem to do the majority of their scratching or preening when I'm out in the run with them. Otherwise, I seem to spend a lot of time under the coop in their run (it's 158 sq ft for 4 of them so they have plenty of room, plus several perches). Is this normal? I don't think they hate their run because if I yell chickens and have a scoop of feed in my hand, they immediately go straight into their run. I've considered boredom, but they have a bale of straw that they can get on and dig through (this has been amazing -- I just move it around the coop so they can help me with deep litter), they have several perches and branches and logs that they can jump up on. I'm not sure what else I can do for them?
Also, do your chickens "yell" at you for food every time you go out there? Even if I bring them like the leafy carrot top which they seem to love, they'll immediately start yelling for more. As they've gotten bigger, they've gotten much louder. My husband told me the other day when he was taking our dogs out that my "chickens were making very weird loud noises" until they realized it was him and not me (he doesn't like them).
So while the egg production (once they start) will be awesome, I'm also the type of person that wants them to be both healthy and happy, regardless of egg production (I'm vegan, but will eat their eggs because I know how spoiled and taken care of they are -- please note as long as you treat animals with kindness and respect, I harbor no judgment to anyone who doesn't agree with me). Part of that mentality is letting their bodies do what is natural for them. I've read that during the winter their egg production will stop or slow down significantly because there's not as much sunlight during the day. Does anyone just let their chickens lay as they will or does everyone put the lights out to help? Is there a health benefit of encouraging these extra lay time?
I'm assuming they're healthy and fine because nothing seems wrong with them. They appear to be doing all of the things that a happy chicken is supposed to do. However, they have in the last few days, taken to crouching down and bracing their wings if they think I'm about to touch them or pick them up. Is this normal?
They've been pecking me a lot more, and I've taken to "pecking" them back (poking them with a finger). They know what is going to happen, I see them looking at me like they're trying to size me up and if it's worth it. Or they'll peck me and immediately jump back like it's a game. Most of the time it doesn't hurt unless they grab a finger while I'm hand feeding them, but most of the time it's just randomly at my clothes.
Sorry for all of the questions, I have officially become the crazy chicken lady. I love them so much and just want to make sure they're getting everything out of life they should be.
It's gotten much cooler out (it's only 75 right now), but my chickens (16 weeks) seem to be so lazy. They're very active the first hour of their free range time in the afternoon, and eventually lay down while one - three of them dust bathe. They seem to do the majority of their scratching or preening when I'm out in the run with them. Otherwise, I seem to spend a lot of time under the coop in their run (it's 158 sq ft for 4 of them so they have plenty of room, plus several perches). Is this normal? I don't think they hate their run because if I yell chickens and have a scoop of feed in my hand, they immediately go straight into their run. I've considered boredom, but they have a bale of straw that they can get on and dig through (this has been amazing -- I just move it around the coop so they can help me with deep litter), they have several perches and branches and logs that they can jump up on. I'm not sure what else I can do for them?
Also, do your chickens "yell" at you for food every time you go out there? Even if I bring them like the leafy carrot top which they seem to love, they'll immediately start yelling for more. As they've gotten bigger, they've gotten much louder. My husband told me the other day when he was taking our dogs out that my "chickens were making very weird loud noises" until they realized it was him and not me (he doesn't like them).
So while the egg production (once they start) will be awesome, I'm also the type of person that wants them to be both healthy and happy, regardless of egg production (I'm vegan, but will eat their eggs because I know how spoiled and taken care of they are -- please note as long as you treat animals with kindness and respect, I harbor no judgment to anyone who doesn't agree with me). Part of that mentality is letting their bodies do what is natural for them. I've read that during the winter their egg production will stop or slow down significantly because there's not as much sunlight during the day. Does anyone just let their chickens lay as they will or does everyone put the lights out to help? Is there a health benefit of encouraging these extra lay time?
I'm assuming they're healthy and fine because nothing seems wrong with them. They appear to be doing all of the things that a happy chicken is supposed to do. However, they have in the last few days, taken to crouching down and bracing their wings if they think I'm about to touch them or pick them up. Is this normal?
They've been pecking me a lot more, and I've taken to "pecking" them back (poking them with a finger). They know what is going to happen, I see them looking at me like they're trying to size me up and if it's worth it. Or they'll peck me and immediately jump back like it's a game. Most of the time it doesn't hurt unless they grab a finger while I'm hand feeding them, but most of the time it's just randomly at my clothes.
Sorry for all of the questions, I have officially become the crazy chicken lady. I love them so much and just want to make sure they're getting everything out of life they should be.