bluekarin Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 So my ED and I did a proper clean of the chooks house on Saturday, and have moved it down the garden to try and save the grass a bit as its all gone rather boggy out there - not used to us walking on it this much during the winter months. At dusk, I looked out to see if the girls had gone to bed, only to see them wandering about near to where their house was pitifully moaning away! So I had to go and put them to bed. Was rather hoping that by carrying one down the other two would follow. But no, they just wanted to wander around moaning and carrying on. The next evening they seem to have it sorted and managed to get home absolutely fine. The funny thing is, they'd been in the house when it had been cleaned and moved during the daylight hours. They aren't too impressed by the ceramic eggs I have put in the nesting boxes, either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 Yes, I have been told this too...if you have to move the house, do it when the girls are in there. When they come out of it they seem to 'imprint' on where it is for use in the evening. Our local farm shop said that they made that mistake once and moved their (rather large) hen coop one day and that evening they found a huge chicken pile where the house used to be, with the empty house in full view about 10 metres away! Funny creatures aren't they! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 I didn't even have to move their eglu and run to cause confusion. All I had to do was add Hemcore to their run Poor Fred didn't know what to make of it all. Refused to go in - not even for corn... Had to catch her, and almost throw her into the run and shut the door quick, as I had a dentist appointment and daren't leave them out unattended! She was fine when I got back... Silly thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Kettle Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 I wonder if there's a cut-off distance for confusion? Our eglu's in a fixed run and I moved it just a metre (easier access to droppings tray) with only slight astonishment from the girls. However they do tend to assume that cleaning out/relocating the coop is a consultative exercise in which they are expected to participate fully: oooh! new straw! - no I wouldn't put it there - here {vigorous scratching} would be much better... soapy water? shall I just test it with my beak? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
