Something Disturbing Chickens Roosting at Dusk and Dawn

[centrarchid]

Over last three days the roosters penned in field have been making a lot of racket sometimes with vocalization indicating something flying. This evening my kids and I walked around pens as this was going on. Woodcocks, most flying low to hard to see where flying about. It was easy to hear or see three at a time. This is first year the woodcocks have gotten in among pens. Dogs tried to chase them and a stag I released was acting funny as well. There are worm burrows and what I think are spots where the woodcocks are probing for the worms. This stuff is fun!

 

[Boonie Stomper]

i am clueless

 

[Chickassan]

If there are worms that is definitely drawing them. Silly birds, wonder if their movement style is upsetting your chickens?

 

[centrarchid]

 

[Boonie Stomper]

cute ...is it really something to be disturbed about?

 

[centrarchid]

I am not. They are part of the reason we purchased the ground. They really cool early season breeders. Displays the males put on are not like those of song birds. I like studying the chickens and this came as a surprise even though looking for woodcock to start displaying. This is first year in 10 the woodcock came right up into poultry yard. I was beginning to assume the chickens were driving them off.

 

[Folly's place]

They are very uncommon around here, too bad.
Mary

 

[centrarchid]

There numbers vary greatly from year to year. Previous the number has been very low. In 2011 it was hard to walk about with a male not almost coming down on you.

 

[centrarchid]

Roosters in pens being really disturbed by woodcock's tonight. Seeing is awesome where male woodcock can be seen and heard throughout display flights. Something the woodcock do on the ground also disturbs chickens.

 

[centrarchid]

Daughter and I in camouflage for stocking the woodcocks.