Trapper Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 We have 5 chickens and the dominant female is a Miss Pepperpot, she is becoming a bit of a hand full and we have only had her 8 weeks. She is a bit of a bully and picks on one Gingernut Ranger inparticular but hopefully going to get some spray to stop the feather plucking tomorrow. However I have noticed that over the last couple of days she has taken to pacing up and down the edge of the run. Do anyone else's chickens do this, could it be bordom? The girls are kept in a cube with 3 run extentions attached so have a good 4 meter run. We have CD's and a peckablock hanging up. Also have put a beam across the run so that the girls can roost of the ground during the day and also found an old piece of drift wood which I attached to an upside down pot to give then another roosting perch for interest. Apart from pluging a DVD in the garden with a TV attached I am running out of idea's to keep them amused or am I just paranoid and new to the game? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Do they ever get out and freerange? Mine pace before they are let out, once they've been out and put back in, they just get on doing chickeny things in the run. I don't think chickens get 'bored' in the same way that we do, as long as they have plenty of room, food, water they will be fine. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucky1 Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 I can't see what else you could do - apart from showing them 're-runs' of the chicken run on the DVD you mentioned Me thinks they are just trying it on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodle Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Mine pace up and down when they think I am looking. When were are all out and then sneak back in the hse without them seeing us, they are happily foraging without out a care in the world .... little so and sos !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Mine pace when they have coaught sight of me....they try to guilt trip you into letting them out. If I observe them from a different window, and they can't see me....they stop. Madams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Ditto, it's amazing how their behaviour changes when they can see you. Having mine within close sight of the window all winter has been a real revelation - much squawking and jumping on top of each other when they first see me get up in the morning, but if I ignore them they carry on with their usual chickeny business ... until they hear the key turn in the back door, when they start it all over again! It's blackmail, Trapper, nothing more. Sounds as if your girls have got a fantastic run with lots of things to entertain them - don't let them fool you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Mine pace up and down when they think I am looking. When were are all out and then sneak back in the hse without them seeing us, they are happily foraging without out a care in the world .... little so and sos !!!! Totally agree! My Madras is happy as Larry till she knows we are about and then paces at the run door looking frantic and pecking at it and bokking as if her life depends on getting out! We know this because we can watch them from the kitchen window without being spotted. Crafty whatsits they are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Mine pace when they have coaught sight of me....they try to guilt trip you into letting them out. If I observe them from a different window, and they can't see me....they stop. Madams. Daffodil does this - she can spot me going anywhere near the back door, the run is probably about 30' from the house, so I go up to DS bedroom and watch them from his window. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickaboo Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Mine do the guilt thing when your watching too!! However, my Ruby (also a pepperpot) was incredibly frantic and never seemed settled in or out of the run - I spose they are all different, like humans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Mine pace when they want to come out of the run and think I'm watching. One of they even does it from time to time when the run is open so I take no notice. It's just one of their quirky little ways of manipulating their owners. Mine have also taken to tapping on the patio door when it is time for their treats and again when the bowl is empty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...