theherd123 Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 (edited) Right well this looking after chicken marlarky is causing confusion to say the least Left for work this morning as usual and let the girls out beforehand - all was well they came out the eglu clucking & headed straight of their food. Come home this evening and pop up to put them away and the run looks like a riot has occurred! All around the inside edge of the run looks like it has been dug up and there are HUGE piles of hemcore and soil everywhere!!! What has gone on?????? There is no sign of a creature getting in so i just dont get it Please help can anyone explain this? Has anybody else had this happen to them?? Edited November 28, 2006 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 its not a mole is it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine C Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 Oh my goodness Good question, what has been going on? Is the dug up bit just all around the inside of the run or any excavations in the midde? Not that I have any suggestions other than moles as Chelsea suggests but if no sign of anything getting in doesn't seem likely. How were the chooks when you put them away, had they been spooked or their normal selves? Could the chooks have possibly done this themselves? Again seems unlikely probably. Sorry no answers, I'm as confused as you Hope you can get to the bottom of this. E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted November 28, 2006 Author Share Posted November 28, 2006 Hmmmmmm No digging in the middle and the chickens put themselves to bed as normal - all appeared fine. Could the chickens have done this themselves??? :eh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 huge piles of mud and chickens.... I think they would to it to the hemcore...but would be amazed if they did the earthpiles! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine C Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 huge piles of mud and chickens.... I think they would to it to the hemcore...but would be amazed if they did the earthpiles! Yes, probably unlikely. I know chooks can dig but ....and also hard to imagine why the chooks would try the great escape thing from their lovely new run. Hmm, the plot thickens. I'm completely stumped E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 My money's on a mole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 I like 's; We have one who has been destroying our lawn for 2 years. OH wants to kill it, but I won't let him. They do make an awful mess Em, I think it probably is one..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted November 28, 2006 Author Share Posted November 28, 2006 There is no hole for a mole I thought moles made holes??? All the earth & hemcore was shifted from the inside edge of the run, the run is 4m X 4m square and at least 2 1/2 metres of soil & hemcore was shifted along each edge! Do you think the chickens were making dust baths??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 No em... sounds like a mole's run to me. I'll try to find a piccie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 can you take a pic Emma and upload it? I'm puzzled now - my chooks often dig against the side of the Eglu run, but not that much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 not a very good one, but they will run just under the surface of the ground, causing it to all push up in a long mound. Its only when they surface that you get the hills. A mole's run can be 100 ft long before surfacing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine C Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 There is no hole for a mole I thought moles made holes??? That was what I was thinking when you said no sign of creatures getting in. But thinking about it you do often see piles of mud on grass with no holes in the ground. Is the soil and hemcore in isolated piles or a sort of straight line along the edge of the run? Could you get a picture of it to show us? E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine C Posted November 28, 2006 Share Posted November 28, 2006 You all got there before me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted November 29, 2006 Author Share Posted November 29, 2006 Ok will take digi cam home tonight and try & tack a piccy before the light fades. We did kick the soil & hemcore back last night but there is still some eveidence left im sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Don't dismiss the fact that they may have made the mess themselves. Mine are in a big run & one of them regularly digs deep dustbaths for herself right by the edge,& sometimes under the wire (which is skirted around outside,just in case). I have just been down there now & cought her at it.....I had to rake it all back in & stamp it down. Honestly,it looks like she is trying to burrow out,but she seems to love the loose earth & rolls about in it. Of cousre,its the white hen that does this I can see if I can get a picture of her work,so you can compare if you like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parmaviolet Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Just to confirm what Sarah/Cinnamon has posted June and Audrey are big diggers too. They've developed very strong leg muscles. They can shift masses of earth and have been known to partly excavate under the eglu itself- at one point I has to resort to putting large rocks and a paving slab inside the run near to the eglu door!! I'm glad to report that they're off this stage ot the moment- but I always keep an eye on it. They also love to dig along the inside perimeter of the run and sometimes dig out a bit from under the 'skirt' of the run. Often the middle of the run gets higher from the combination of their droppings and digging spoil.....I just shovel it up and put it into my compost bin before replacing with fresh earth and bark chippings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncanally Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 maybe a fox got in but its unlikely or the did it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted November 29, 2006 Author Share Posted November 29, 2006 Right!!! Got home again today and the run looked a total mess - not that im an overly neat & tidy person - (my name & the words 'neat & tidy' are rarely said in the same sentence) but the girls have been up to something!! Look at this! Digging More digging And this - dirty legs & feet!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 the evidence is clear ! you have digging chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted November 29, 2006 Author Share Posted November 29, 2006 Even though im sure it is the chickens are they really capable of digging up so much in just one day????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Even though im sure it is the chickens are they really capable of digging up so much in just one day????? Yes - absolutely- mine dig up all round the sides of their run and under the "skirt" - especially if its been raining and the aubiose has got a bit wet where water has dripped off the run cover.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Even though im sure it is the chickens are they really capable of digging up so much in just one day????? They are making up for lost time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Mine dig great big craters regularly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Mine dig great big craters regularly! I'll vouch for that! The one thing that sticks in mine and CTB's minds is just how much earth your girls managed to move in so little time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
