Special Needs Chickens

[Uncle Marc]

I have become fascinated by chicken behavior. I won't detail all of my observations about their actions, communications, social ranking etc, but let me ask this question.

Last night we let our chickens out of the coop and the run into the yard to graze about an hour before dark. That was suggested as the safest time to keep them from running off.

We repeated that opportunity for them again tonight. But tonight we had two hens running around the coop unable to find the open door to inside. Yes, the access was through the run underneath and yes it was dark compared to the light coming out of the auto door above, but.....chasing chickens, catching them by the legs, and then transporting them into the coop for the night takes a lot of the fun out of sitting in their midst as they graze before sunset.

Is it possible that among my flock, 16 out of 18 of which made it inside on their own, that I might have a couple of special needs chickens?

 

[RachaelS]

Nope I think they just got confused by it being dark. They don't see very well in the dark. They will learn

 

[sourland]

Absolutely!

 

[chickiemomy]

I have to add a comment on my (limited) observations -- I have one chicken (out of 6) that can't see to find the door to the run regardless of the light outside. All 5 of the others will be safely inside enjoying their bribe (scratch, or mealworms) and the other will run around outside the run - near where the others are - trying to get through the fencing, or find a way in -- the opposite end of the run from the door. She will run 15 feet in the wrong direction, before finding the door that was one foot away to begin with. I have even resorted to throwing scratch near the door, moving the already safely inside chicks towards the door, so that the one clueless chick will see them & move in that direction as well. It's always the same chick.....

Mind you, I have NOT moved the door - it's been in the same place since they moved out to the coop/run almost 2 months ago. LOL

Special needs, direction-impaired?? I roll my eyes, & patiently wait - eventually she figures it out! Usually before the others make their escape back to the outside!