fluffymuppet Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Hi, My girls are in the run all day because I'm out at work. Over the summer we let them out in the evenings for a scratch about and it looked like the highlight of their day and they were crotchety if we tried to get them back in too soon. Now that it's dark when I get home, they only get let out at the weekends unless is hubby is home and can let them out for a few minutes during the day. When they're out of the run now, they seem less inclined to turn the garden over for beasties, preferring instead to have a dust bath if mummy puts their bath trays out. Are they responding to a winter slow down, or are they getting bored and apathetic? They seem healthy and they're wolfing down their fresh greens when I go out and check on them in the mornings. They ate their peck-a-block a few weeks ago; I must get round to ordering another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Mine are the same. They are out at the mo but spend most of the time huddled together I think it is prob just the weather. However am sure somebody else will be along with some more advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 I think it is the weather. Mine love to rootle about when it's warmer, but now it's cold, windy and wet, they just huddled together in their shelter and looked very sad. So I moved them into their winter quarters this week - that's from free ranging in their bit of garden to the new bird flu pen which is 20ft x 8ft and woodchip on concrete. I was worried they would be miserable after their freedom but to be honest they seem much happier now. Instead of sitting huddled together, they are exploring their new home, excavating the woodchip and behaving like chickens again ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffymuppet Posted November 23, 2006 Author Share Posted November 23, 2006 Thanks for the reassurance guys Jools! Your winter quarters look like chicken heaven Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Thanks ! Let's hope the chooks think so too ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 Jools what a lovely view you have from your place! Those chooks are certainly very happy. I'm sure! A xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 It certainly is very beautiful here and I thank my lucky stars every day! The "winter quarters" aren't quite so inviting now. We're on an exposed fellside and not too far from the coast, so we get an awful lot of wind and rain. I've had to put corrugate plastic sheets over the mesh now, so the chooks don't get to enjoy the view, but at least they are more sheltered. The woodchip on the floor is a sodden mess as there obviously isn't quite enough of a fall on the conrete. And to cap it all, the rats have moved in too - we caught the first one last night - ugh!! Appearances can be deceptive eh!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
