What did your chickens do today?

[DLV58]

Today I went into the run to give treats and my girls freaked, climbing over each other, hitting up against the fence
and running away from me...what the heck ???
The only thing I think could be wrong is that the weather has been cold
and I was wearing big baggy sweat pants and a big flannel shirt.
Usually I'm in shorts and a tank top...did they noticed the different clothes???
Chickens are so funny haha and funny weird !!!

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm sure they noticed your new "get-up". With the extra clothing on, you looked bigger to them! I once had a cat do a dive off a 5' high deck when I approached her in a very different outfit... granted, I was wearing a clown suit, complete with white face, red ball nose, and orange afro wig... I opened the door to let her in, she took one look, dove off the deck and took off through the woods! Your chickens will eventually get used to your new look... wait till they see you in a hat! Just be sure to talk to them a lot as they will find your voice reassuring with your "new look!"

 

[Twinklin]

When I went to let them out of the coop this morning a little bit of the bedding in one of the nest boxes was kicked out. They've all been roosting every night even with the nest boxes in there and it doesn't look like any of them slept in it so it seems someone is exploring the boxes a little and knows they are there. Up until this point I've never seen anyone in or near them and have been worried they were too high, but I have a little roost bar on the front of the boxes just as high as their lowest sleeping roost bar so it should be ok for them to get to. All my girls are getting close to laying, 19 weeks. My BSL has a particularly large red comb and wattles compared to the others so I think she'll be first. I hope it was her exploring where she's going to cop a squat.

Well I walked over to the group today and bent down towards them as if to pick them up and normally this is followed by all of them tearing off in different directions away from me, which all but one did. My BSL squatted and let me pick her up. 3 separate times. OMG I think we're close. I scoured the bushes and checked the nest box several times. Come on Ony! You can do it! Time to pay rent!

 

[birdsrfun]

Today I went into the run to give treats and my girls freaked, climbing over each other, hitting up against the fence
and running away from me...what the heck ???
The only thing I think could be wrong is that the weather has been cold
and I was wearing big baggy sweat pants and a big flannel shirt.
Usually I'm in shorts and a tank top...did they noticed the different clothes???
Chickens are so funny haha and funny weird !!!

DLV58, my little chicks have been enjoying their new coop for a few weeks. When I put in food or treats, I usually open the front door and do it. This is no issue for them. I had totally forgotten about the door on the top of the coop! I started opening this to drop in food and treats, and the chicks run away every time. Even when I just open it, before I ever dropped anything in, they ran. This is something new they need to get used to over time. I wonder what's going through their minds?

 

[DLV58]

Lazy Gardener that was so funny!

Today I went to give the girls treats and they were just fine with me
but today is hot and I'm back wearing shorts and a tank top.

Got to luv those very silly girls!

 

[LaLa Chickie]

I let the hens out, but Jessica is sitting on an egg. About 1/2 hour later I opened the door to the nesting box and had a talk with her. So, she got up, chatted back at me and came out to be with the others. LOL

 

[Twinklin]

The chickens had a stand off with a roof rat tonight. It was pretty funny. The rat came around and tried to get to the feed while the chickens were eating and they puffed up their feathers at it and it backed off. Eleanor bolted out of the run and chased it away. Then about 1/2 hour later it came back when it was just Ony and Phillie in the run and it kept poking it's head into the run so Ony pecked it really hard and it backed off again. Phillie stood on the ramp and watched Ony be the hero. The rat jumped into the run so Ony jumped on it hawk style flapping her wings and the rat tore off out of the area.

 

[BarredRockMom]

DLV58, my little chicks have been enjoying their new coop for a few weeks. When I put in food or treats, I usually open the front door and do it. This is no issue for them. I had totally forgotten about the door on the top of the coop! I started opening this to drop in food and treats, and the chicks run away every time. Even when I just open it, before I ever dropped anything in, they ran. This is something new they need to get used to over time. I wonder what's going through their minds?

I'm wondering if they're thinking about predators swooping down from above? Clearly you're not a predator, but they're hardwired to keep an eye on the sky & bolt at the 1st sign of trouble...real or imagined. Since I imagine that you let them outside to scratch & forage, it's never a bad thing to keep an eye out for danger. I don't know if they'll adjust to the difference between you opening the door on the top of the coop v. other (real) danger from above. Silly suggestion to some but perhaps (if you don't already do do) sing to them or talk to them before you open the door to lessen their startled reaction?

 

[birdsrfun]

I'm wondering if they're thinking about predators swooping down from above? Clearly you're not a predator, but they're hardwired to keep an eye on the sky & bolt at the 1st sign of trouble...real or imagined. Since I imagine that you let them outside to scratch & forage, it's never a bad thing to keep an eye out for danger. I don't know if they'll adjust to the difference between you opening the door on the top of the coop v. other (real) danger from above. Silly suggestion to some but perhaps (if you don't already do do) sing to them or talk to them before you open the door to lessen their startled reaction?

Good suggestion. They have been getting better, but I'm not one to sing to them.

I do talk to them, and they have been getting better. We do have hawks and turkey vultures, as we are backed up to the hills, and we are always out there with them when they are out of the coop. Actually, a few days ago, I noticed about 25 to 30 turkey vultures circling around, and I was thinking they saw our chickies. I went out there, and there was a dead animal on the hill they were all eating on. Still made me nervous seeing them circling around for a few days.

 

[birdsrfun]

This post is for yesterday. My chicks experienced their first rain. How fun! Well, during the really heavy stuff, they just stayed in the coop and did not come out. While it was just sprinkling, they came out, and I let them out of the run to stretch and forage. They got rained on, and they also experienced mud for the first time too.