jacquesson Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 trolling the forum but cannot find any comments on perhaps unhappy chickens, I have two omlet chickens one lays all the time the other most of the time. We did intend to free range them but we have a now one year old westie who still wont stop shouting at them, scared they will peck his eyes out, they spend alot of time pacing up and down run nearest my back door, are they happy do they know they could be out, when I feed choo he is desperate to escape, I know i sound cruel but i just dont know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Hi there, you may find they only pace when they see you as they're expecting treats. If mine are in the run they scratch about quite happily until I appear then they go bananas trying to get out. Is there not a way you could give them an hour or so every couple of days even, maybe after your dog has had his walk - mine always crashes out after a while, could you let the hens out then? Best of both worlds! Mrs Bertie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateP Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Hi, My chickens spend most of their time in the week in their run as we work full time and they are fine. I find that if they can see you are watching them, they will pace up and down. However, if you try and watch them from somewhere they can't see you, they will be scratching about happily in their run! Could you let them out for a short time while you supervise them - could your dog be kept indoors for a while out of their way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacquesson Posted January 8, 2008 Author Share Posted January 8, 2008 Hi thanks for reply - I was told not to let them out at all otherwise they would go crazy all the time to get out. obviously would prefer them to be free, actually considering getting rid just to help them, but do so love their eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 MIL'S terrier comes here when they go on holiday. She yaps constantly at the chooks but they hate her and I reckon they would certainly "have a go" at her if they could. We let the girls free range when she stays - we never let her out in the garden (not even when they are in the run - its too stressful) just best to keep your westie indoors, im afraid with terriers its hard to tell what they would do as its their instinct to chase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Nnoooooo, don't get rid, yes they would love to be out all the time but hardly anyones hens are out ALL the time. Mine are in the run whilst I do the school run, they're out in the garden if I'm in the house but if I go out they have to go back in. And when we were on holiday they spent whole DAYS in the run. They will go mad any time they see you! That's what gets them going as they think they are a)in for a treat b) going to be let out c) in for another treat..... I think better some time free ranging than none at all. Mrs Bertie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacquesson Posted January 8, 2008 Author Share Posted January 8, 2008 yes I think your right, i do think they might do him more harm but why risk it, do you no you just get into such a rut , poor choocks, if I let them out will they be expecting it all the time thou. just feel so sorry for them and everyone else seems to think its all great, poor chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacquesson Posted January 8, 2008 Author Share Posted January 8, 2008 mrs bertie, thank you x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 I always feel guilty when i leave my chooks in the run and I think they know how to make me feel guilty - little monkeys! Dont worry, compare our chooks to normal farm chooks and they live a true life of luxury and spoiledness! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacquesson Posted January 8, 2008 Author Share Posted January 8, 2008 thank you so much everyone, was ready to get rid but perhaps just needed to reavaluate. what a rut! free ranger's tomorrow, forbes will be stuck in for a while, thanks guys xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Oh good....don't get rid. Just keep the dog in when the hens are out. Re the pacing....mine only do that when they catch sight of me. They are expecting a treat. They rootle about scratching happily when confined to the run when I have observed them.......unnoticed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Oh no, don't get rid of them! Mine are confined to barracks all day Mon, Tues & Wed & are sometimes in bed before I even get home. They only get out on the other days when I'm in the garden or kitchen watching them. You'll probably find it will be better in the summer with the longer days and more opportunities to let them out. Don't feel guilty - I'm trying to stop myself doing that and am just about there . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 My chickens pace even when they don't know I'm watching them I have 3 in an eglu run whereas I see you only have 2. I can't let my chickens freerange all the time because of urban foxes I try and let them out for a minimum of 2 hours a day and watch them constantly, but after months of doing this I have decided to build them a bigger run and only let them freerange when it suits me rather than because I feel guilty Don't get rid, try and find a way to let them out and keep the dog in. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menagerie Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 my chickens pace when they are outside my patio doors (ie free rnaging) and I am inside. they pace up and down outside the glass, cross because they can't get in. so I don't think it's necessarily a distressed behaviour for a hen, maybe just an excited one. I have 3 hens in a standard eglu run and though I try to let them out each day sometimes eg when i am on holiday they can't. I still think they are OK and they seem happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 we let ours out about an hour before it gets dark, not every day, just when we are there and the weather is clement. They put themselves to bed so no chasing chickens round the garden or anything like that. why not keep your dog indoors for a bit, so you can let your girls out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 My girls can spot me even if I am just peeping out of a window at them, they either pace when they are getting ready to lay, I think checking out safety before they go into the box and when they think that there is something in it for them Mine also pace up and down outside the patio windows and tap on the glass when they are freeranging which we only let them do for a couple of hours a day when the cats are indoors. Ours have started to jump up on to our picnic bench to look for other interesting areas to explore like next doors veg patch, so they always think that the grass on the other side of the fence is greener. Oh it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
