Why do they like this particular spot so much?

[User395221]

We had a rabbit once who stole the dog's bones and gnawed on them

This is what I found the other day - one of my cats helping herself to my dog's bone.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Kitty needs to learn to poop in the chickens' dust bath like mine does. Then she can sit there and laugh at them through the glass.

 

[centrarchid]

Hello

I have a bit of an odd problem. My 3 new chickens (they're around 15 weeks old) seem to have a new favourite spot where they sit all day. It's right outside the cat flap and now my cat's too scared to go out into the garden. They sit on the door mat that's on top a few paving slabs (the cat flap is too high up for the cat so I put them there for his convenience).

I have a roost in the garden but they never sat on it. In the beginning they used to sit under the bush all the time.

Is it the door mat they like? Do they just like to get off the grass sometimes? Are they too young to roost but prefer being a little higher up?

If I can figure out what it is about this particular spot then I can recreate it somewhere else in the garden and my cat will have his freedom back

This was yesterday which was pretty funny...
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...but then this morning I came into the kitchen to this sad little kitty-face.
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Sunlight.

 

[aart]

Sunlight.

Equals warmth.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Maybe the chickens think there's 3 more chickens inside looking at them.

 

[StephTheChicken]

Yes, I had one put in a full-sized glass window (next to a sliding door). The expense was quite high (but worth it, IF your cat doesn't have a chook sentry stopping them using it ) because it's tempered safety glass and the labour of fitting adds to the cost. You were REALLY lucky to get your family member to do it and not be up for the cost.

What's on the outside there? Could you add a cat run/tunnel or is it needed for people access?

Yeh this is our back door basically so we can't add anything like that.

..be close to the edge of glass?

It's very cool!

Oh how odd! I wrote this on my phone, my fat fingers must've scrambled the text up haha.. Yes, it can't be too close to the edge!

 

[StephTheChicken]

Sunlight.

This might be it because currently that spot is still in the shade and they're all sitting on the other side of the garden. I'll keep an eye on them, if they move over when the sun reaches later I'll have my proof!

 

[centrarchid]

You can make a given location more enticing by having something reflect additional light down onto a given location. Warmth is what they are probably looking so in those sunny locations.

 

[FrankHomestead]

You can make a given location more enticing by having something reflect additional light down onto a given location. Warmth is what they are probably looking so in those sunny locations.

Hey she just gave me an idea. I've read they don't like things that shine brightly like hanging cds...which would make sense because that's what some ppl use around berry bushes to keep birds away...try hanging a CD or 2 next to that spot and see if it works??

 

[FrankHomestead]

Hey she just gave me an idea. I've read they don't like things that shine brightly like hanging cds...which would make sense because that's what some ppl use around berry bushes to keep birds away...try hanging a CD or 2 next to that spot and see if it works??

Oops sorry to assume you are a she, pls don't be offended if you're not. I always assume everyone online is a she