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Emma L

my girls are pacing - what can I do?

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Hi, my girls arrived last weekend and we let them out to free range yesterday which was great, they had such fun in the borders but then one of them managed to fly up on to the top of our shed :shock: !

 

We managed to coax her down and we're going to have a go at clipping their wings tonight when they're sleepy but today they're pacing up and down the run. They're doing it more when they can see us so I assume that they're trying to get us to let them out. I don't want to leave them out of the run when we're in work (worried about foxes) so they are going to have to spend some time in the run during the day (and just get a couple of hours of free ranging in the evenings), but I can't bear to see them like this, they look really distressed.

 

I've tried hanging some broccolli in the run to give them something to do but they don't seem at all interested. In fact they don't seem interested in treats very much at all, they only want to eat mixed corn (which is what they used to get on the farm), they won't even eat the pellets.

 

Are they just settling in? Will they get used to eating different things? They're not used to being handled, Fanny is really shy but the other two will tolerate a stroke on the back - I'm worried that if we try to clip their wings we'll make them even more wary of us which would make it more difficult to get them back into the run again :?

 

Any advice gratefully received - sorry to ask so many questions, I just want them to settle in ok and be happy!

 

Thanks

Emma

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but today they're pacing up and down the run.

Chickens are very good at emotional blackmail :evil: . Try to watch them when they can't see you - I'll bet they're quite happy scratching about then :roll: .

 

they don't seem interested in treats very much at all, they only want to eat mixed corn (which is what they used to get on the farm), they won't even eat the pellets.

Chickens are like people, they all have different tastes. Don't worry, keep trying different things and you'll soon find out what they like (mine like half grapes, raisins, dried mealworms, strawberry tops, chopped up tomato & cucumber, cooked pasta, apple, seed bells for wild birds, etc etc). Try not to let them eat too much corn except as a treat in the afternoon. They'll get fat and won't lay so well. If you only give them pellets, they'll eat them when they're hungry enough. If they're not laying yet, they won't be eating much anyway.

 

Are they just settling in? Will they get used to eating different things? They're not used to being handled, Fanny is really shy but the other two will tolerate a stroke on the back - I'm worried that if we try to clip their wings we'll make them even more wary of us which would make it more difficult to get them back into the run again :?

Yes and yes :) . Once they start crouching (prior to laying) they become much easier to handle. For now, you can try taking them out, one at a time, at bedtime and giving them a cuddle and stroke. We used to bring ours into the house for a cuddle :oops: . They are very docile and easy to handle when they're getting ready for bed!

 

And don't worry :D . These are all common worries that most of us have had - be reassured, it gets much easier once you and they get used to it all :)

 

Edit: re flying, mine had their wings clipped last September by the farmer. I don't think they even realise it's been done so they won't resent you :lol: . They've never even attempted more than a low level run, flap, jump across the garden. They don't seem interested in escape (or maybe they're just thick :roll::lol: ).

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We have been experiencing a similar situation. We picked up our 3 from a relative of a work colleague. They were on his allotment, but he only went up ther 2 - 3 times a week. When he was there, he let them out for a bit, but most of the time they were 'cooped up' in their shed.

 

After picking up our 3 on Easter Monday, we kept them in their run for the first week or so. Then we let them 'free range' in our garden. Like you said, they LOVE scrabbling around in the borders and just foraging in general. They can't get enough of it now and, like yours, occasionally pace around the run wanting out!!

 

We both work all day, so free ranging is not an option, so now the nights are drawing out, we let them out for 2 - 3 hours in the evening, then they take themselves off to bed. Saturdays & Sundays, they have all day to free range.

 

I guess it's just a sign that they're happy to be out & about, but as long as your run is big enough I'm sure they'll be fine.

 

 

:D

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They will be trying to guilt trip you into letting them out.

 

Don't succumb.....only let them range when it suits you!!

 

One or two people have found that their hens have become noisy because they expect to be let out at first sight of their "humans", so why not try to get them used to seeing you without automatically expecting to be let out.

 

I find that mine pace when the catch sight of me, but if I observe them from an upstairs window, they are not doing it.

 

Madams. :roll:

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I had a sneaky peek before and they were sitting quite contentedly in the sunshine so I guess the pacing is mainly for my benefit!!

I gave them a washing up bowl with some compost in it which seems to have kept them entertained for an hour or so - there's compost all over the place and Fanny was almost buried in it before, half upside down! :lol::lol:

 

As for being noisy, Gertie keeps making this strange strangled low groan when she sees me and wants to be let out, I've never heard her bok or cluck, just this odd prolonged groan, it's very strange I'm sure the neighbours must think I'm strangling her!!!! :?

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They very quick learn to manipulate you into giving them what they want, don't they ? :D

 

Young chickens don't seem to have much of an appetite for food, just mischief. :wink:

 

They'll eat more when they come into lay. Our chickens aren't laying yet but their appetites have really increased over the past few days

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