Lavenders_Blue Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 I love watching the chickens put themselves to bed, it's always an entertaining experience. Some nights they potter straight up their ladder and that's it until morning. Other nights they faff in and out several times before deciding to settle down for the night. Tonight is a faffing night. So far Bella, Queenie and Dorothy have all been up and down the ladder umpteen times with Rosie stood watching them, rather bemused. They have now just finally decided to call it a night. Anyone else amused by the chicken bed time routine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 I have to leave it until its really dark and they have taken themselves to bed, otherwise we have the lets chase 1 or 2 or possibly 3 of them round and round the house routine, with me saying 'IN' periodically (like a chicken can understand English!) So, no, whilst I am not very amused ..... they probably are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Mine sometimes toddle. I will open up the port hole to see them jump because ive caught them snuggling up to eachother xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted March 9, 2010 Author Share Posted March 9, 2010 I should have said I watch them from the window! Otherwise they would be pecking at my feet and hoping for treats and not at all interested in going to bed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannablue Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Clara my Welsummer is a real fret pants at bedtime She is the first to return to the run, then goes into the coop. She comes back and looks for the other 3 girls who are adamant they want to play out til the last minute. She starts to get cross with them and runs up and down the ladder chuntering to herself because they are ignoring her . Eventually they give in and go into the run then she kind of herds them into the coop...I think they go to bed just to shut her up in the end Its quite amusing to watch...I too watch from the window as if I go out they all think its treat time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Yes, mine do a bedtime faffing routine too. Gwennie is the worryer/faffer. She is first up to show them the way, then comes down just as the other two are trying to come up. The traffic jam has been improved by a mezzanine shelf I installed to the side of the cube door, so they can park themselves to one side while traffic goes up and down. Gwennie always goes up and down several more times and they finally all manage to get into the cube. Blodwyn has to be last in and first out though because she is top chook, although I'm not sure that she also isn't the dimmest chook, and needs to be shown the way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Now we have two scenarios. The first one is a normal evening the second is that rare occassion that Mrs Chucky and I are going out somewhere. In scenario 1, I just say "Bedtime Lovelies, time for bed lovely girls" and off they toddle. Sometimes with a bit of grumbling. In scenario 2 we have faffing. This varies in proportion to how important/time critical the date is. Usually I have to bribe them with corn or similar. The little darlings know exactly what the time is an what time we have to leave and how much corn they can extort from us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 As long as we are in the garden our chooks will stay on the ground. So we have learned to leave them alone for half an hour and up they go into the trees as good as gold and it's not even getting dark. It's when we slink out again and finish sorting out a few things that the trouble starts. Nosy Minky cannot resist flying down and screaching that he has found something great to eat, and there is always a hen that will oblige him and fly down to see what it is. You can quess what he really wants I'm sure. Men. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grracee Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 my girls have the same routine everynight. at the moment when it gets to about 6 pm - 6:15pm they will be mooching around outside then about twenty past gertie will go in first (as she's the boss of the lot and she always has to go in first!) then my other barnebar brownie will go in around the same time. there will be more hanging about for my 2 buff orps & clb, the buff orps will go in first then rosemary, my clb is always the last to go in and i will go up to shut them up and she will poke her head around the door and come running out which makes the buffs look whats happening and then they will try to follow and come out also! so now i leave it a few more mins and ill go up and rosemary will be on the perches so she wont come out then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
