goldenkippers Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Not really asking for advice here but just wondered if anyone else gets pestered by free-range chickens when eating in the garden. Our two chickens both like to be near the table when we are eating and Peggy, our Gingernut Ranger, jumps up on the chair arm and then tries to grab food on the table. Putting her in the Eglu as punishment doesn't seem to work - I don't know if she's got the brain power to connect the two! Still love having them and watching their amusing antics, even though they keep putting their heads through the Omlet wire to eat cabbages, pecking the tomatoes through netting and generally making a mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Ours free range but we have electric chicken netting around the gardan, we eat on the decking that is next to the house so they can see us and beg for food but not hassle us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Mine do it whenever I'm eating in the garden...I wasn't impressed when one of the madams stole my steak!! Thankfully, it was a small piece I'd cut off...but still!! So now they get kept at leg length or we put them in a pen with a few treats of their own!! Putting her in the Eglu isn't punishment because being in a safe, pleasant environment isn't negative to her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 They're a complete pain - one of the bluebelles stole a whole piece of fried bread from my plate, I chased her and got it back I had to eat a piece of cake standing up earlier (my diet is not usually this unhealthy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 My Bluebell's a thief too, she whipped the whole of DD's piece of steak the other night .....she was most unimpressed when I stole it back.......the dogs were happy when it turned up in their breakfast the next morning though As a result all my little feathered beasts get put back in their run when we eat outside Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Mine are no longer allowed out when we have friends around. Posh marjorie loves red wine and cheese and has become a real pain So over the years I have toughened up and they no longer come out to play when friends come around in the summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 one of mine once made off with a sausage that fell onto the floor... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Visions of you all round the table with napkins and glasses of vino passed thro my mind. I draw the line at eating with my girls - not keen on worms thanks all the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 My first set of chickens (Miss Pepperpot and two Gingernut Rangers) were very naughty and would jump onto the table to eat food from it at dinner time. One day my Dad got a new electric pan and decided to make paella outside. My Mum and I were upstairs and a few minutes later we heard him swearing and shouting, looked out the window to see the chickens jumping into the pan to eat the food and him trying to wave them away They won't learn not to do it, in the short term they get the bonus of getting on the table and eating people food so they won't consider the long term punishment of being shut in the run! You're only option is to put them in the run whenever you're eating outside (or get some netting and put them in a netted off area if you want them to have more room). Don't feel guilty! I know they like to run up and down the run looking for a way out, but they already get much more freedom than most hens and it's only for an hour or so while you eat Plus, it could get better. My original three were killed by a fox but all the chickens I have gained since then have lovely manners! They hang around the table and eat anything that falls (or 'falls') on the floor but they never try to jump onto the chairs and table when we're eating. The only exception is if you are sat on the bench eating by yourself Lily will jump up and join you and want to 'share' your food Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I can't eat outside if my Rosie is out, I can't even walk past her with the shopping without her running over and trying to stick her beak in the bag . Then she looks up as if to say "owt for me in there" She's a bit of an alcoholic too . A few times I have been having a real ale whilst watching the chooks FR and generally pottering about. And if I put my glass down for a minute, Rosie has her head in my glass glugging my beer . I even tried not using a glass and drinking from the bottle, but she pecks that too (it's quite funny when her little tongue comes out and licks the outside of the bottle ). She loves her real ale . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 standing and eating outside is the only way if they are out with us,. One of my first girls ran into the house from a long way up the garden came straight up to me and cobra snatched half of a baked potatoe... Too funny to be cross absoloute shockers!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueandwhite Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 I sit with a water sprayer and kind of aim it over them, it keeps them away long enough to scoff whatever we've got! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 My patio is fenced off, so while they watch us (accusingly ) they can't get to the food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted January 14, 2012 Share Posted January 14, 2012 We were sat at our outdoor table one night last year surrounded by 5 hens and a cat, they wouldn't normally go anywhere near each other! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
