jellykelly Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 I need a little advice - or just confirmation really, that what I am doing is ok. I noticed that my hens weren't really eating too many pellets so I've cut their free range time. They used to spend most of the day roaming the garden. Now I only allow them out between 10ish and 12 ish and then again between 4 and 7.30. It takes a lot of coaxing to get them into their run - which is not small (11'x11'), yet when in there, rather then doing anything, they stand at the gate. I know they're longing to get out but they need to eat their pellets. Will they give up standing at the gate or is it something they'll always do to try and get me to let them out? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Stay strong!! They are trying to guilt trip you into letting them out! I had the same problems so took to leaving my girls in the run until mid to late afternoon. It took a good few weeks of me ignoring them before they stopped pacing the gate. Although they only seemed to be at the gate when they could see me. I took to covertly spying on them from the bedroom window and they were happily scratching about Neighbours now think I as some odd curtain twitcher but the girls eat their pellets and look much better for it. Eggs are up too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenopolis Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 I agreewith Palmer07 - stay strong. I still have bad guilt at putting them back in the run and then the pacing starts. The bedroom window idea works for us as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted September 7, 2009 Author Share Posted September 7, 2009 Thanks - thats the kind of reassurance I need. How can 3 balls of clucking feathers make me feel so bad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Mine free range all day and sometimes eat very little mash. They still lay well and I'm happier seeing them clucking round the garden than banged up in their run. I will shoo them in if the rain is bad as they have little sense and get very wet otherwise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 (edited) I read the thread title as 'Chicken ATE the gate!!' Edited September 7, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dippy bird Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Mine do exactly the same! Pace up and down and make me feel so guilty that I let them out! Talk about being wrapped around their fingers!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legend21 Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 I agree with speckle, mine free range but if they were hungry they would certainly eat their mash, I love them free ranging and get lots of eggs. I reckon as ex batts they wont live as long as other chickens so want them to be as happy as possible Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 In the days when I was waiting for my first eggs I kept mine in the run until they had eaten a good amount of pellets before freeranging. I now let them out first thing in the morning (they do pace like caged lions as if they have been shut up all of their lives thought!) and then shut them in at bedtime. Egg production is still 1 a day each (apart from miss broody cum moulty! ). They seem to eat pellets when they feel like it and they seem to pack a fair bit away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Min only do the gate thing when they can see me; if I watch them from an upstairs window, then they are happy pecking around in the run. Be strong; they'll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Don't let the the little devils emotionally blackmail you My lot pace up and down the run when they see me in the morning. If I let them out (into their free range area which is massive) they pace up and down the fencing or all 4 'park' themselves at the free range gate so I trip over them when I go in. Back in the days when they had the whole garden (and not just a third of it), they would camp outside the kitchen door so I had to step over them to get into the garden....... I soon put a stop to that and they started to live behind their fenced off area. Basically....... with my chickens, whatever space they have (be it run, free range area or the ENTIRE garden) it's just never enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 My chickens notice if I'm in the upstairs window and come squarking the path for treats. You really need to be a discrete curtain twitcher or you'll be sussed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 I remember when dropping my children off at nursery they would cling to me and cry something awful, it was only when i stood outside the door and listened that I realised that as soon as i was out of sight they were off enjoying themselves having a ball of a time ! CHICKENS ARE THE SAME! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 hey Mine free range alot. All i do is have a couple of feeders in the main garden so they snack as they go past. I also give them a porrigey feed in the norning n because they eat all of that they get a good dose of their food. I'd also add that untill i gave them a load of growers to use up before it went off over the last week it was one egg a day from everyone (who was old enough to lay) Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
