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

[chickenopolis]

Hi

 

We have 2 wonderful girls - Glo and Flo.

We have had them for about a month (they are 6 months old), and they love their "free range" time in the garden, rootling and tootling around in any nook and cranny they can find.

When we put them back in the run, we have a Cube and 2m extension, Glo paces backwards and forwards non stop for what seems like forever.

Apart from them wanted to be out all the time, is this action normal. ???

I would sit in the garden with them ALL day, but unfortunately I have to go to work.

Flo does a little bit of a pace, but she's not that fussed!

Glo and Flo are hybrids of RIR and Light Sussex.

Have looked in various chicken books but I can't see anything on this subject - have we got two girls that want their own way all the time??

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

Flo

Glo

[Christian]

Mine pace like caged lions when they are in the run, but only if they see me looking.

 

If I watch from the bedroom window, they are fine

 

Maybe add a branch for them to perch on, some fresh greens hung up to peck at etc?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Same here, they only paced if they knew I was looking .

 

I agree, perches, logs, dog treat balls and hanging stuff like sweetcorn, seed bells (honey not fat) should keep them occupied.

 

Don't feel guilty - they're just manipulative little minxes .

[chickenopolis]

Thanks for the reply - glad to know I am not imagining it.

[sjp]

mine do it to when they know I'm about I think they do it to remind me that they're here and hope I feel sorry for them and let them out if that doen't work cyclone starts to scream

[chickenopolis]

Thanks for that.

I'm not sure if it me being precious with them, but you just want to do what's best for them, but I suppose they have to get used to you as well as the other way round.

[Hen Watch]

Mine pace the run when they see me.

 

They free range happily in a huge area, but when I go outside to hang out washing, they pace up and down their free range netting........ so can't win either way

[Patricia W]

Same here - they have an enormous space, (20ftx30ft) but they are netted off from the rest of the garden. So as soon as they see/hear me, they run and pace along the boundary so I might take pity on them and let them into the forbidden bit!

 

Tricia

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

Same here, they only paced if they knew I was looking .

 

I agree, perches, logs, dog treat balls and hanging stuff like sweetcorn, seed bells (honey not fat) should keep them occupied.

 

Don't feel guilty - they're just manipulative little minxes .

 

 

Our Kilo paces when she thinks we're watching. She's fine though. Don't worry. They'd hook you round their little finger....if they had one

[Lesley]

We have Holiday Hens at the moment - I'd forgotten what hens were like when in the run. Penny paces whenever she thinks we're looking but is fine when we look out of a window. She has threee little chicks with her so no doubt she's teaching them the rules