My buff orpington, who I'mguessing is about 18-20 weeks old, doesn't want to go inside at night, but wants to lay in the grass by the garage. I've sat with her, waiting for her to decide it's time, but I end up carrying her in. She is often off by herself and doesn't seem to notice that the rest have left her behind. She doesn't even get bothered by the others screaching and carrying on. She just seems oblivious. No one is mean to her. She's always been very friendly and my favorite to hold and pet. I worry that she lacks normal chicken instincts. Shouldn't she be with the flock while free ranging? If only we could be as carefree as she is... She reminds me of a hippie chick.. maybe under the influence of something... perhaps I'll change her name from sunshine to hippie chick. But then I may come home to find her living in my camper and having tattoos.
mine don't do that but I was letting mine out of the cage and sat down in the grass to watch them it got dark and instead of going in the cage they ran back and decided I would be a nice roosting spot...
I wondered if she had hearing or sight problems. She seems to be able to see me okay. She runs along with the others at times, like she's following. Is she following by sight or sound? I don't know. She's not very vocal like the others her age. She seems perfectly healthy and I've spent a lot of time watching her. She chases bugs, so I think she can see okay and she looks at me directly.
First of all you need to get her off the junk. Having a chicken who dopes up and tries to work the neighborhood for Roo "Johns" is a bad sign. Are her pupils dialated? Is she prone to quick jerky movements? Speding extended hours awake? Do you notice grain or hay missing? These could be used as currency to trade for smack? Maybe a flock intervention would help with you as a mediator, but just sitting with her is really enabling this behavior.
