4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[LaPoule]

The second night after the arrived was the first night that the girls had to put themselves to bed. It arrived on a Tuesday, but by the time it was dark we were still fumbling around the garden with flashlights, trying to assemble everything, so they gave up, and put themselves to bed in the . Once we were finished, we fished them out, and popped them in the , but they were too tired to care at that point (as were we!).

 

So, the second night was their first proper night. Quite early in the evening, Lady Hamilton popped onto the ladder, and peered in, but obviously thought

 

“I’m not going in there on my own!”.

 

Not long after, Picasso decided it was time for bed, and spent the best part of an hour, pacing up and down underneath the ladder, eyeing up the door. She clearly understood that that was her new bed, but was completely baffled by the ladder, which was obviously an obstacle put in her way by cruel humans for their own amusement…

 

She tried flying up to the door a few times, except she doesn’t fly very well, and then decided to try and launch herself from the branch I had left in there for them. Except it was over 1m away, and as said, she really doesn’t fly very well… She did hit her head on the ceiling of the run twice! I have never seen her fly so high!

 

She then returned to pacing backwards and forwards under the ladder, and even managed to knock her head on the bottom rung a couple of times! In the meantime, Lady Hamilton decided that she really was too tired, and, very cautiously, climbed the ladder and went in – although she stood perched in the doorway for 5 minutes before summoning up the courage to enter completely! As soon as Cloudberry realised Lady Hamilton was gone (and that she had been left alone with the grown-ups – eek!) she scampered in after her.

 

All the while, Picasso’s pacing under the ladder was getting increasingly frantic and frustrated, punctuated by the odd attempt at launching herself from the branch.

 

After Lady Hamilton and Cloudberry had bravely gone where no chook has gone before, Peep (alpha-girl, and very skittish Fayoumi) ceased her doleful pining by the door for the – which she could see, but as she was locked in the evil new run, couldn't reach, and popped into the too. She gave Lady Hamilton and Cloudberry a quick peck each to tell them who’s boss, and settled down.

 

So now, poor Picasso was left all alone in the run, still pacing and starting to get weary and footsore. After smacking her head on the bottom rung again, she conceded defeat, and settled onto the erstwhile launching branch for the night. At this point, I decided to intervene, and put an upturned flower pot in front of the ladder, and put Picasso on this. That was all the help she needed, and promptly ascended to the to join the others.

 

It took two more nights, and removal of the launching branch before she would put herself to bed... just as well - hunching over, trying to crawl over chicken poop in the dark to put her to bed really is no fun

[tidygirlsuk]

Glad you got there in the end. They can be so naughty in there own little ways. but i wouldn't have it any other way.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum . Loved your description of the bedtime shenanigans . I could just picture the scene .

[Carol U]

Well done you! Sometimes it seems as though they are being deliberately obtuse

My lot will always find a way if there is a food incentive!

[LaPoule]

Thanks for the welcome. I'm just relieved that Picasso has finally figured it out She's still not very elegant, mind!

 

I've been keeping chickens for 5 years now, in the . The monsieur and I originally intended to sell the to part-finance the , but I keep putting it off. What happens if we need it for a sick chook, or intros, or for a naughty chicken? (Peep will be in it during the day, for the next week or so, as she doesn't let Lady Hamilton eat, even though there are 2 grubs in the run). And, let's face it, the design of the eglu is way cooler! If only there was a GIANT eglu (I realise that's not very practical, but still!).

 

Came across chicken keeping by accident really - had thought about it in a vague short of way, and then one evening found a Light Sussex rooster on a slip road to the M25! (Not that I knew he was a Light Sussex, or even male - had to email a photo to eglu to ask ).

[smithy36]

I can empathasize with you!!! Yesterday I finished building the cube and put my girls in the run... a little tempting with a scattering of corn and mealworms had them in like a shot. HOWEVER it got dark, as i was tidying the garden etc. They looked more and more forlorn... pacing up and down, pointing at their old house and saying "Mum, its bedtime... let us out so we can go to bed... please, PLEASE PLEASE!!! Finally they started to take note of teh steps.... We also had the jumping , flapping , launching, anything but walking up the stairs. Tallulah was most ingengious leaping onto the glug and then flapping at the steps...missed by about 2 feet, but clever try!

 

Finally Ruby got on the bottom rung... but then started to settle down for the night. Nancy being a bit brighter kept looking round her and up to the gaping door into their bedroom. She tried jumping over Ruby and also running in from the side, only suceeding in landing on her and causing a fracas! Eventaully after about 15 mins, Ruby, Nancy and Angelina made it into bed. Nancy sleeping in the doorway. while the other 3 settled into a corner under the cube, piled on top of each other, and no amount of coaxing would make them move.

 

By now it was pitch black and I did not want to leave them there, so only one option.... crawl in and scrabble under the cube and carry them to bed! Finally they were all in. I have no idea what they did, but there was a lot of s"Ooops, word censored!"ing, noises... moving furniture in the dormitory I suppose

 

Tonight they managed to put themselves to bed, but still made a meal of getting up the ladder... with lots of "corr, this is tricky Mum" from them! And still looking longingly a their little wooden house from the door of their new penthouse....

 

Remind me -why do we love them???

[Guest]

... but there was a lot of s"Ooops, word censored!"ing, noises... moving furniture in the dormitory I suppose

 

I like that description, was wondering what they were up to. I still havent seen mine go up the ladder to bed but one of them likes sitting in the doorway during the day at the top. Coming out they may use the top two steps but then this morning they all flew down...debating to clip a wing for when i let them free range.

 

But the last two nites they all put themselves in and i did put some hemcore now in the nest area as it was getting full of poos.

It was our third nite last nite and it has been good as my son has helped me capture them the first day as he has been on school holidays. He has now taken to going out to shut the door for them.

 

indie

ps i did make a wooden ladder to the floor but as i say havent seen them go up from the ground?