Some more questions regarding our new girls

[torsinadoc]

We have had our black aussies for 1.5 weeks (12 weeks of age). They seem to tolerate us better everyday. It helps if I have watermelon or mealworms. I swear that must be like crack to chickens. They are trying to determine who is the dominate bird. Having little tiffs here and there. The last two evenings the smaller one went from sleeping on the roost to sleeping in the nesting box. I will start blocking the boxes tomorrow.Other than being juveniles, why would they start to change sleep behavior? It is much cooler at night. Could she be trying to stay warm (dropping into the 50s).

They have learned the maltese and poodle are not a concern. They see the yorkie and start chatting and run away. Kinda interesting how quickly they learned.

Btw, they seem much happier free ranging in the yard and really like the compost area. I will work on a hawk net this week.

 

[Judy]

That's kind of like asking why the chicken crossed the road. We can guess, but they do what they do, in the end. Lots of people have to close off the nesting boxes at night, especially before they start laying.

The 50's doesn't even come close to being cold for a chicken. I'm actually surprised it doesn't find the nest box too warm at 50F. Chickens are in trouble with the heat at 100F, and easily tolerate below zero without heat in a well ventilated coop.

 

[torsinadoc]

lesson learned. Cardboard does NOT keep them out of the nesting box. They pushed it back and are both laying in the same box. One of top of the other. I just left them. I was afraid that if I grabbed the big girl they would freak and increase risk of injury........we will find out if a neurologist is smarter than a chicken tomorrow......