maryn7
Songster
My three girls are close to 13 weeks old. Since they were between 6 and 7 weeks, they've been in their coop at night (they have run of our backyard during the day). They've been happily putting themselves away for weeks. We have an automatic door that opens at 7a and closes at 8:40p. There's been a little bit more screwing around before going in the last couple weeks. They've barely made it in for curfew, and missed it once. Like the teens they are, I suppose.
About the last week or so, the barred rock has been coming up onto our back porch to see what's a'happening in the kitchen in the evenings. It's only slightly unnerving to be cooking dinner, hear a knock at the window and see a chicken staring at you, but whatever she likes to do. She then usually wanders away and goes to bed. (I should also say there have been a couple instances where they've eaten (and loved.....) the wet food we *used* to put outside for the cat; two of them frequently turn up in the morning to see if they can get some more cannibal food. The upshot is: the porch is a cool place to hang out in the minds of these girls.)
The last two nights, all three of them are now on the porch in the evening and roosting on the porch railing. They look majestic - perched in a line, looking out over the yard, surveying their domain. Their bedtime came and went. The first night we put them in ourselves about 8:45. Last night, I let them hang out until about 9-9:15pm figuring at some point they'd head to the coop. It was getting really pretty dark by that point (sunset is 8:30), so we decided to put them in. They argued about going in, but settled right down when I shut the door.
I've checked to see if there was anything in the coop that might be freaking them out - there is nothing. And the thing will probably survive a nuclear blast, so I don't think they feel insecure. It's got lots of ventilation, and they like to roost by a big open window covered in hardware cloth, so I also don't think it's too hot.
About midnight last night, we saw a raccoon wandering through the yard and walking down the path in the direction the coop (but also a large bush, which is how it'd leave the yard). Raccoons are pretty rare in our area; haven't seen one in a long time. We went out and chased it away. So there's some probability that it's been hanging around. But the chickens were just making their quiet roosty noises when we went out; I feel like we woke them up.
So.... is this just teen chicken behavior? Should I do another lock in to re-acclimatize them? Would they avoid the coop if they were aware of the raccoon? Other ideas?
I was pretty pleased about their ability to put themselves to bed. Feel like I've had some sleep regression with a toddler here..... and I'd like my evenings (and porch) back.
Thanks!
About the last week or so, the barred rock has been coming up onto our back porch to see what's a'happening in the kitchen in the evenings. It's only slightly unnerving to be cooking dinner, hear a knock at the window and see a chicken staring at you, but whatever she likes to do. She then usually wanders away and goes to bed. (I should also say there have been a couple instances where they've eaten (and loved.....) the wet food we *used* to put outside for the cat; two of them frequently turn up in the morning to see if they can get some more cannibal food. The upshot is: the porch is a cool place to hang out in the minds of these girls.)
The last two nights, all three of them are now on the porch in the evening and roosting on the porch railing. They look majestic - perched in a line, looking out over the yard, surveying their domain. Their bedtime came and went. The first night we put them in ourselves about 8:45. Last night, I let them hang out until about 9-9:15pm figuring at some point they'd head to the coop. It was getting really pretty dark by that point (sunset is 8:30), so we decided to put them in. They argued about going in, but settled right down when I shut the door.
I've checked to see if there was anything in the coop that might be freaking them out - there is nothing. And the thing will probably survive a nuclear blast, so I don't think they feel insecure. It's got lots of ventilation, and they like to roost by a big open window covered in hardware cloth, so I also don't think it's too hot.
About midnight last night, we saw a raccoon wandering through the yard and walking down the path in the direction the coop (but also a large bush, which is how it'd leave the yard). Raccoons are pretty rare in our area; haven't seen one in a long time. We went out and chased it away. So there's some probability that it's been hanging around. But the chickens were just making their quiet roosty noises when we went out; I feel like we woke them up.
So.... is this just teen chicken behavior? Should I do another lock in to re-acclimatize them? Would they avoid the coop if they were aware of the raccoon? Other ideas?
I was pretty pleased about their ability to put themselves to bed. Feel like I've had some sleep regression with a toddler here..... and I'd like my evenings (and porch) back.
Thanks!
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