They're Out!

[krista74]

OK, so I've had my flock (6 pullets and 1 cockerel) for two months now. They are about 7 months old.

Up until this afternoon they have been kept in their coop or the fenced run attached to it.

The run is quite large - maybe 25 metres long and 15 metres wide at least.

Anyway, they had turned that all over, and hubby suggested we let them out onto the rest of our property to free-range. We have a couple of creek-front acres here.

So they're out!

And I am FREAKING OUT that they won't remember where their coop is, or how to get back to it.

Or worse....

That they will know the way but just REFUSE TO GO BACK IN!

The stress of it all!

(Meanwhile, there are 7 very happy looking chickens eating bugs in my yard at the moment....)

Krista

 

[sourland]

Calm down, Krista. They will be fine, and will return to their coop tonight.

 

[krista74]

Well, bedtime came and went and I watched anxiously from inside to see if they would go to bed by themselves.

George started looking a little confused, walking around in circles and squawking, and I thought "He doesn't remember where home is!"

I went out with a piece of bread and they were happy to see me, as they always are when I have bread

Anyway, I walked towards the coop, and as soon as they saw the gate 4/7 ran inside.

The other 3 are maybe not so bright....they were trying to force themselves through the chicken wire to be with the others.

I led the way with breadcrumbs (like Hansel & Gretel, lol) and they happily went through the gate once they saw it.

The gate IS a little obscured and is around the far side of the coop. They could see others walking around in the coop, and I could tell they wanted to be with them, but just couldn't figure out how to get there!

Anyway, all is well. I will let them out for another hour each night over the next week and get them used to it. And me, ha ha!

Krista

 

[sourland]

Told ya so.