Something's troubling my adult flock - can't figure it out!

[gritsar]

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Mine don't like wind either, but it's not been windy today. The only other thing we can think of is that there was three cows in the garden/chicken area early this morning. One of the cows may have stuck her head up under the shutter, to look in the window and spooked them. Not likely though since they have been free ranging with cows since they were babies.

I did let them out this evening, when I was able to be out there with them. They came out of the coop willingly and foraged without incident.

 

[gritsar]

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We couldn't today because of all the rain, but tomorrow morning we will take our two shepherds out there and let them do their male dog thing. Might help, can't hurt.
Though we've trained the dogs to leave the chickens alone, I don't trust them to remember their training when we aren't out there with them. The coop is outside the fenced yard. The dogs are house dogs so only out with supervision.

 

[Kittymomma]

It sure sounds like they got a good scare in the vicinity of the window last night/early morning. No telling if it was a real predator or the chicken version of the boogeyman though. Any chance you can get ahold of a game cam for a few nights and set it up with a view of the side of the coop that the scary window is on?

 

[duckking]

We had a bobcat poking it's nose around for a couple of days. We covered the window of the coop on the side where it could see in and also put some plywood along that side of the run as it started stalking them. The other side is not exposed to the outside, but looks into their yard which is protected. Haven't seen the critter since, and the hens have all calmed down now. Thank goodness. They were a mess!

 

[gritsar]

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I'll ask DH about borrowing a game cam. Might put one on my christmas wish lish too.

 

[Kittymomma]

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It's on mine! Figure I've got a good chance of getting one, but a little worried dh plans on "borrowing" it. He doesn't seem to think I *really* want to have one (or more) up around the coop full time...

 

[Dixiedoodle]

I love my game camera.. I used it in the coop to find out who was laying.. it was fun! My girls seem spooked on really windy days--It's also the only time I have ever lost a bird to a predator --so they must know what can happen.. Good luck in finding your problem..so they can get back to normal..