Up late chicken????

[Farming Feathers]

I must ask this question...we have an old chicken Plymouth Rock that lives on our property and she has been seen at 2:30 AM browsing the yard for scratch food we put out. Not being use to chicken behaviour and what I recall they don't venture into the night or early morning hours in search of food...for they may become food for certain night critters like raccoons or local domestic critters like dogs and cats....Has anyone seen such behaviour and is there any is there any suggestions to help the bird out...It is not my hen and sure she is not egg laying so no one is really concerned for her well being.

 

[path.otto]

It may be that it is no longer able to fly up to a safe roost? From what I have been reading on here, chickens have horrible night vision. Unfortunately, behavior like that will insure she doesn't get much older. I have a 4 year-old Ameraucana and with good food and calcium she is laying lovely large blue eggs (2 every 3 days). When you say old, just how old do you think?

 

[IslaBean]

Interesting! My chickens won't move after it gets dark. Even if I put them down they still won't go anywhere.

 

[Farming Feathers]

It may be that it is no longer able to fly up to a safe roost? From what I have been reading on here, chickens have horrible night vision. Unfortunately, behavior like that will insure she doesn't get much older. I have a 4 year-old Ameraucana and with good food and calcium she is laying lovely large blue eggs (2 every 3 days). When you say old, just how old do you think?

Don't know how to estimate her age...she has few tail feathers, and at times try to lay down while she eats...her feathers seem kept but some what in a not ideal condition. don't know how long a Plymouth Rock lives and would put her more than two years old, but the estimate is conservative for she seems older, and don't know how to estimate...When working with the hens will soon enough learn.
Still her behaviour was strange and my wife said she did get upon the hand rail (2x4 railing) but soon fell off...
I feel she could have been spooked by some critter and why my wife saw her at that hour...have not seen her tonight (stayed up to see for myself)...no hen tonight.

 

[Farming Feathers]

Don't know how to estimate her age...she has few tail feathers, and at times try to lay down while she eats...her feathers seem kept but some what in a not ideal condition. don't know how long a Plymouth Rock lives and would put her more than two years old, but the estimate is conservative for she seems older, and don't know how to estimate...When working with the hens will soon enough learn.
Still her behaviour was strange and my wife said she did get upon the hand rail (2x4 railing) but soon fell off...
I feel she could have been spooked by some critter and why my wife saw her at that hour...have not seen her tonight (stayed up to see for myself)...no hen tonight.

I agree with your words as that is how my memory was about chickens...sun down to bed and there to stay all night till dawn or thereabouts....Spooked is my only thoughts for being out at that hour.

 

[Farming Feathers]

I do not know how to post on a forum as both of my replies where on the same page and make no sense when trying to answer to both persons...Sorry for that...I must learn how to do this.