Scottie Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Sorry - have no idea! Just thought I'd reply anyway as I was still up. Hopefully she'll be all settled again tomorrow. One of mine died today and I just don't feel like going to bed yet... Sheila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jill the potter Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Sorry for your loss Sheila. Not been keeping chooks long and agonised a long time about getting ex-batts and decided that I couldn't cope with posible problems so admire anyone who takes on these chickens!! I think that these ex-batts body clocks must be so messed up that I'm not sure they know what is 'normal' behavour! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 My guess would be that she didn't go to bed with the others because she was off being nosey somewhere, and then couldn't find them or her bed in the dark. I've had a couple of times where one or other of mine has "lost" the others and gone around yelling about it till I helped them find their friends again. Chance-chicken really was quite distressed when this happened to her, and had got herself in such a state she needed a lot of comforting and reassurance even when she'd caught up with the others again. Hope can lay her eggs late morning so sometimes ends up in the yard on her own at the weekend, as the others have gone off to play in the garden. She will sit in the Cube calling at the top of her voice for company, so I have to go and sit with her. The things we do to keep them happy... Of course, every flock does have its little troublemaker (in mine, it's Joy), so you may just have found yours . If it was accidental, she'll probably make sure she doesn't get left behind again tonight - mine seem to learn very quickly (though they don't necessarily learn good things!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piptiddlepip Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Aggie once got herself "lost" like this when the others had gone to bed. We gave her a treat, petted her a bit and guided her back to bed. she was fine afterwards and never did it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I could be wrong, but I think how well they can see when it gets dark varies from chicken to chicken! I have 2 that are ok when it is getting dark and one that just seems to get all disorinentated - enticing her back in the run with food doesn't work either because she can't see or find it. It is rare that mine are ever out of the run when it is this dark and it's only been when I am with them. It is deffinately easier and safer to put them to bed when it's light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Hi Laura Maybe she wanted to lay an egg as this can make them a bit aggitated if they are in different surroundings from what have been used to. Plus of course she will have been kept in artificially light conditions so would be used to a 12 to 15 hour day unlike our 9 hours we are getting at the moment. Maybe she has chicken SAD I know I hate the short, cold days in the winter! Edited - sorry forgot to say I always have one girl who goes to bed much earlier than the others (Splash Leghorn) and one who is ALWAYS the last (my Bluebelle). There is at least 30 to 40 minutes between the first and last one into the cube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 One of mine got lost a few months after we got them because she wandered too far and was being nosey. Mind you, mine did wander off big time and ended up seven miles away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmommasally Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 7 miles!!!!!!!! Mine panic if they're 7 yards away from the group! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 One of mine got lost a few months after we got them because she wandered too far and was being nosey. Mind you, mine did wander off big time and ended up seven miles away. How on earth did you find her 7 miles away? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAZAROO Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 One of mine got lost a few months after we got them because she wandered too far and was being nosey. Mind you, mine did wander off big time and ended up seven miles away. How on earth did you find her 7 miles away? Sounds like one of mine who was apparently spotted on the other side of town... Got her back when somebody posted about a random hen in the garden on Facebook... bizarre.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 She wandered through the back of our garden. She then wandered through two other gardens into a cul-de-sac. A lady who lived there said to her husband that he had better move the hen to a green area up the road as she didn't know of anybody who kept chickens locally. Mistletoe then proceeded to destroy one garden after another as she made her way through a row of terraced houses. An old couple who lived in one of the houses called a neighbour (who they knew used to keep hens). he said that it wasn't his but took her to his in-laws in Somerleyton (7 miles away from ours). We put an appeal onto the local radio station who renamed themselves Chicken FM for the day! We also did a bit of detective work and retraced her possible exit points from the garden, hence finding out about the gardens and cul-de-sac. We then put cards through people's doors and eventually we received a phone call and we got her back three days later. we had phone calls from the local radio station to check on progress. We were interviewed about keeping ex-batts and they also had one of the local co-ordinators in to talk about battery hen rescue. Then we had a phone call from the local papers asking if they could come and get an interview and photograph Mistletoe. Little madame jumped up on my shoulder and that's the photo that they published much to the delight of the children in school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Wow, what a little drama causer, but at least she did some really good PR for the BHWT. She just knew when to pose for that phot too as well didn't she . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Great story Janty - I wonder if she is a record holder on the forum for the the hen found furthest away from home? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
