gemmcd Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 My keeps pacing up and down her run - always looking out to the side of the run . She seems really agitated. I have had them out free ranging for nearly hour and half this morning after noticing her do it this morning and when out she was fine, but just peeked out window again and she is still doing it...any ideas. Can't let them free range unsupervised as we have resident fox but this is making me feel so guilty but have too many things to do and I child mind and the kids were freezing out there this morning so don't want to subject them to it agian. when I pick my eldest son up from school he always goes out with them for a good half hour to hour. But why is she doing this - not noticied her doing this before - The 's are fine! Thanks! G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surferdog Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 Mine do this all the time - it's emotional blackmail to get out of the run! They are fine when they can't see anybody looking but all rush to the front of the run and pace if they see someone at the windows. Don't give into it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 She is doing it because she knows you are watching. Observe her from an upstairs window and I bet you'll find that she doesn't do it if she thinks there is no audience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 yep, when you back is turned they are doing normal chickeny things. As soon as they see movement in the house, or coming out from the house they are up to their old tricks! Clever little madams, dont let them make you feel guilty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forge Cottage Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 Mabel did this a couple of weeks ago, 2 days after laying her first egg. Chicken Run We have our eglu inside an electric net fence and the girls are let out into this pen during the day. Mabel laid her first one day, then when we came home the next night, she was missing from the house... After a desperate search in the dark I found her down the garden trembling under the hedge. She must have somehow pole-vaulted over the fence and been stuck outside. A bit of a fluke that the fox missed her... There was no egg, so I presumed she had had a shock that day (in more ways than one). The next day, near her time to lay, we could see her possessed with getting out again. She paced up and down, looking through at the hedge, lapping the pen checking for ways out. Then she craned up to check the top of the fence and tried to fly over, but bounced back in! Escape committee I opened the pen and she barged past (unlike them to feel the need to escape), through a small gap and straight up inside the thick hedge! I had a job to get her out. I put her back in the pen, but then wondered whether she was trying to return 'home' where I had found her. Nearby, I found yesterdays in a little nest under the hedge! Well I made the eglu nesting box comfy - and an hour or so later she laid her third in there. The next day, I kept them all in the eglu run all day to Home them again. Now there is no such manic behaviour and all three are happily laying in the eglu... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 Mine all jump up and down at the door and pace the run when they hear me trudging up the garden. I can't see them from the house as they are too far away - I spy on them with a pair of binoculars from the kitchen window though! (I probably sound like a right weirdo now!). They are perfectly happy and having a great time when they don't know I'm looking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 The chickens beat even my mother in law at emotional blackmail......and that's a feat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 One of mine does this, I didnt realise I was being taken for a ride Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 One of mine does this, I didnt realise I was being taken for a ride Oh yes you are, just try the watching from an upstairs window trick. They are totally happy then. Mine go mental and run up and down if the back door clicks or anyone walks past the kitchen window. Those chickens are organised Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
