Why is she doing this???

[toniathequeen]

I have a production blue hen named Penelope, that I presume is probably the smartest in the bunch! My husband made this cat door from our lean to out to the back pasture. Well there’s steps going up to the hole because it’s high up and she keeps escaping through this hole!! I’ll find her milling around the other parts of the property and find her and open the gate and she goes right back in with hardly any argument! Well the other day she walked up the cat ramp way up high and was almost to the cat bed when we caught her and when my husband told her what she was doing she came right back down and went back through the gate when it was open for her!! None of the other chickens do this and they have plenty of pasture to run around in and forage. Does anyone have any idea what she’s up to?

 

[SulkyBantam]

I have a production blue hen named Penelope, that I presume is probably the smartest in the bunch! My husband made this cat door from our lean to out to the back pasture. Well there’s steps going up to the hole because it’s high up and she keeps escaping through this hole!! I’ll find her milling around the other parts of the property and find her and open the gate and she goes right back in with hardly any argument! Well the other day she walked up the cat ramp way up high and was almost to the cat bed when we caught her and when my husband told her what she was doing she came right back down and went back through the gate when it was open for her!! None of the other chickens do this and they have plenty of pasture to run around in and forage. Does anyone have any idea what she’s up to?

shes just exploring. She's probably the only one who's worked out how to.

 

[Coops Dad]

Chickens are naturally curious and explore anything they can get into, looking for food, roosting areas, nest spots and things to break and knock over. At least, that's what my chickens are about. If I leave the workshop door cracked, at least one hen will squeeze inside, knock things off the shelves and workbench, then roost up on a high bench or shelf. They have also walked into the house if my wife leaves the back door open. I've found chicken poop in my truck if I leave the window open.

Some chickens are more adventurous than others; you have a natural born explorer.

 

[CalBickieMomma]

I have a production blue hen named Penelope, that I presume is probably the smartest in the bunch! My husband made this cat door from our lean to out to the back pasture. Well there’s steps going up to the hole because it’s high up and she keeps escaping through this hole!! I’ll find her milling around the other parts of the property and find her and open the gate and she goes right back in with hardly any argument! Well the other day she walked up the cat ramp way up high and was almost to the cat bed when we caught her and when my husband told her what she was doing she came right back down and went back through the gate when it was open for her!! None of the other chickens do this and they have plenty of pasture to run around in and forage. Does anyone have any idea what she’s up to?

She’s clearly a very curious and clever little biscuit. I have a RIR hen who, for some reason, really likes wet dirt. I’ve caught her purposely pulling water out of her water bucket to drip it on the ground so she can make wet dirt to eat. This is also the girl who loves to sit on my lap and snuggle up close . Chickens are smarter than we give the credit for and their personalities are so varied and complex.