SeramaSilly Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Have you found that now the ground is softer huge craters are appearing everywhere in the garden and when you try to brush the soil back in to level off the ground there never seems to be enough soil!!! Is it anything to do with the little darlings by any chance? Do they eat the soil? Sophie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 I seem to have the same problem Sophie I think the little darlings have a lovely dust bath then carry most of the soil off in their feathers, they then seem to shake it all out in a different part of the garden........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeramaSilly Posted September 27, 2006 Author Share Posted September 27, 2006 Yes it's amazing isn't it! They also just dig (for worms I suppose) and two of the craters I swear you can see Australia! Sophie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 I'm never sure whether the holes in the run are dustbaths or attempts to escape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHen Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 I tried a bowl of sand in a corner they were interested in and guess what.....they just dug a big dustbathing crater RIGHT next to it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 yes - I put a dustbath in and they just kicked it all over the place and carried on planning their escape!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 We have them too but they're definately dust baths, not worm digging holes - I've seen them being made! I just wish they'd stick to one or two, rather than keeping on making more. I guess they get too deep when they've been used 2 or 3 times. I have tried topping them up with play sand, but then they seem to loose all appeal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 When our chickens free ranged on our grass (I never call it a lawn ) we used to have huge craters from the girls - and we have some fab pictures of them hunkering down with just their eyes and comb showing - like they were in a bunker or something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola O Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 I think my three girls are hatching an escape plan !! They have dug a hole about four inches deep right in the front corner of the run underneath the glug. It always look really difficult for them, squishing in under the glug, but they keep on digging there and have now moved outwards a couple of inches underneath the runs 'skirt'. Before they come to us, perhaps the omlet team keep them amused with films because I'm sure my chooks must have seen Chicken Run ! Nicola. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 I turned my ankle in a crater last week & dropped the 3 eggs I was carrying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernexiled Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 They have dug a hole about four inches deep right in the front corner of the run underneath the glug. Nicola. Exactly the same spot in ours - even when we moved the run - same spot again....................................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Managing Director Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 our girls are all great diggers too , we weren't worried about it until this week when we noticed they had very nearly burrowed out they are burrowing in front of the eglu door and then back under the eglu to the point where any self respecting fox could have dug back through , the weak point of the eglus defences is where the skirt meets the eglu itself , we have now re-enforced that with heavy stones but it is worth watching out for if you have 'chicken run ' minded hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
