TheCoop Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 ....when they can't spend any time with their chooks??? When I let them out in the morning (about 7.00am), I have an all to brief 'chat' with them (very one sided I hasten to add!) and sometimes we don't get back until after they've taken themselves off to bed, so we don't get to see them. I hate that. We try and make up for it, but letting them free-range as much as we can though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Oh yes, I'm sure you'll find most of us feel like that . I'm hoping the longer evenings will make it easier to actually be there while they're still awake (lazy little mares ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixabell Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Yeah me too, I let them out about ten to 7 and then don't get home til 6pm, I try and spend a bit of time in the garden with them, can't wait til it gets to the point where they don't go to bed til about 9pm so i can spend more time with them, but i always feel as if its abuse if i haven't popped out there to spend time about 5 times a day!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 yes I feel sorry for them when I drive off at 7am. I know they arent gonna give me a second thought! but I all I can think about when Im at work is "when is it time to go home?" and the first thing I do when I've battled with the dog to get in the front door is letting my chookies out Luckily for me and my chooks though - its only 1 week in 3 as hubby works nights 2 weeks out of 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLK69 Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 As a new chicken mum - I like working even less - I only work 3 days per week - but the chooks don't get to free range unless someone is at home. So my plan is to ask Jamie Oliver to pay of our mortgage and I can be a full time chook mum. Do you think he'll agree ? Susie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah B Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I feel guilty too. I leave for work at 8 and let them out about 7-7.30 and dont get back till 6. I do give them an hours free range when I get in though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel F Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 We can only let our chickens out to free range when we are in the garden with them. We dont have a 100% secure fence all the way round the garden, and a very inquisitive dog next door. So after supper every evening, we let them free range, usually for half an hour or more if we can. BUT my husband works from home. However, whenever my husband is moving around the kitchen, he swears the chickens can see him and they start pacing up and down by the run door, staring at him, pleading for him to let them out. He actually phoned me at work a few days ago because it was bothering him that he was in the house working, and the chickens really wanted to be free-ranging, but he had work to do and couldnt spend all day in the garden with the chickens etc etc etc... So we agreed that his best option was to avoid any eye contact with the chickens until I got back home later on! Considering he was reticent about owning chickens in the first place, it did make me chuckle! How the evenings are getting lighter, it is easier to squeeze a few more minutes out of the day. Rachel F. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixabell Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 Martha is currently pacing because she can see me in living room, she just went in and i tiptoed out to shut the hutch door and she heard me and came steaming out made me laugh so much i'm sure the neighbours heard me its like a game Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 I've had mine for less than a week,but i look forward to getting home and watching them bobbing about my garden.Such individual personalities! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 mine are out in the omlet netting area at 0630 until 0730 ten in the run all day and then I let them out when I get home for as long as I can until they go to bed. If my neighbours are about they let them out when I am at work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keanie Bean Posted April 8, 2008 Share Posted April 8, 2008 If my neighbours are about they let them out when I am at work What nice neighbours you have got there chicken licken. I think mine just think I'm bonkers. I am at home mostly during the day as I work nights, so I dont feel too bad, but I rush out to them and let them out if I havent been able to. Sarah.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...