Wondering how well chicken see

[JennH07]

I have 8 6 or 7 week old chicks and am very new to all this. I have started taking my chicks outside everyday to get them ready for their coop and run. I walk away from them a few feet and wait for them to catch up to me, then keep backing up and letting them catch up. Eventually about half the flock gets separated, maybe 10 feet away and they freak out, running back and forth, calling and calling with their necks all stretched out, looking and looking. It's like they can't see me or hear me calling. They look all over and eventually run back to their temporary outdoor coral, then the others with me loose it and run back to the coral also. Do they really not see me at 10 feet away?? What is going on?? It's kinda funny to watch them but then again I feel really bad laughing at them.

 

[Akane]

Chickens have better vision than you in the daylight. At night they see about as well as we do. They do lack a little brain power in comparison though. When they get seperated and panic they just sort of forget to pay attention to things. Panicked livestock do all sorts of silly things and miss obvious opportunities that would have solved their panic. Have you called them while they are panicking? They will respond more to sound which is why they are running around yelling. They want someone to answer so they know they aren't alone.

 

[patandchickens]

It's certainly not a vision issue - I would betcha anything the problem is that when you get too far away from them (regardless of who's "fault" that is) they go "aaaaauugh, we're all alone out here in this strange place, I'm scared!!!" and want to go back to the familiar area.

They'll clue up eventually; in the meantime you might consider letting them do what they're ocmfortable with. Or troll them out with food.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[JennH07]

Yes I do call to them when they are in a panic, but they are so loud I don't think they can hear me. LOL I just bought 2 more day old chicks and can't wait to add these two to the others when they are old enough. I am quickly becoming addicted to my chicks!! Thanks for the advice Pat and Akane. Jenn