stripeybunny Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 I went to let my chickens out this morning and they all came out of the cube okay then Rhubarb went totally mental - flying around all over the place crashing into the side of the run making a lot of noise. She chased the other 2 back into the cube and then continued to rush around all over the place bumping into things. She then rushed out of the WIR door into the garden and disappeared. Searched for ages but couldn't find her. About an hour later we spotted her in next door's garden and went to collect her. She was very docile and quiet then. We put her back in the run and she has been okay since although a little more subdued than normal. So what caused it? a fox visiting during the night? the fire works at midnight? or have my neighbours been adding hallucinogenic drugs to their feed?? I haven't clipped the wings of my chickens, mainly because I wanted them to be able to escape if a fox did come into the garden. I wasn't worried about them flying away before now. Rhubarb flew over a 6 foot fence during her bid for freedom this morning so I might start clipping their wings from now on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burtie14 Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Goodness, that sounds like it would've given you quite a shock. Poor old Rhubarb. It's very hard to say what might have caused it - hopefully someone more experienced than me might have some suggestions. All I can say is that we've noticed all of our hens have been doing far more flying/running/flapping over the last few days - since the snow has cleared. We've speculated about whether it's the temperatures going up a bit giving them some more energy, and having more grass to run around on, but we've definitely seen much more flapping and jumping. Perhaps something had been bothering Rhubarb in the Cube? I'd be very surprised if it was the fireworks, in general chickens don't seem worried by them. Hopefully it was something temporary - keep a close watch on her and fingers crossed she'll perk up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 I'm really no expert, but sometimes one of ours goes a bit crazy! It dashes about the place, but its usually FR so it doesnt bash into the wire. In our case its because of birds flying ahead scaring it. Not sure if its the same case for you, but possibly could be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Could Rhubarb be the victim of bullying? Sometimes if the other hens are giving them a hard time they dash about the place being vocal in an attempt to frighten them off. Or maybe she's broody? Broodies tend to exit the nest with a very dramatic fuss IME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 If I hadn't experienced it with my own chickens, I might not have had any possible answers. But some time ago, when I still had my little Gingernut Ranger Desdemona - I went out to her and she showed all the behaviour you pointed out with your chicken. The reason? I had a white towel on my head and I must have looked monstrous to her. I took the towel off and slowly, she calmed down. Were you wearing a hat or anything different? Chickens get really odd phobias - the result of ahem....tiny brains... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Oh yes! The terror of anything white and wafty! Bizarre. Mine will happily sit there while a stalking cat gets closer, but freak out totally if a sheet blows on the line Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burtie14 Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 the result of ahem....tiny brains... Based on the antics of my lot this afternoon, I'd say that "tiny" is actually being quite generous... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Mine went totally berserk when I walked into their run wearing one Marigold glove! Saronne x (Edited): I hasten to add I was fully clothed - and not just wearing a Marigold glove Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripeybunny Posted January 1, 2011 Author Share Posted January 1, 2011 That could be the answer, this morning for the first time I went to let them out in my dressing gown! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripeybunny Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 There's definatley something up. This morning none of the girls came out of the cube when we opened the door. They came out after a while but didn't seem interested in food. Later they were out in the garden and I went out to see them. As I approached they rushed away from me and custard flew over the fence into the neighbours garden, the other 2 went and hid in the cube. It took me ages to coax custard back even with a handful of corn I couldn't get near her. Eventually got her back in the run. Since then whenever we go out to see them they run away from us and seem very agitated, spending a lot of time in the cube. I'm really concerned, I'm thinking either it was a fox or possibly the neighbours upsetting them on new years eve. How can I settle them again? they seem so scared of me now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Go out with some corn - so they associate you with treats. Not too much to put them off laying but just enough to be interesting- and not a frightening monster! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Have you had your hair cut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 I had a similar problem with my previously friendly girls when my OH accidentally dropped a bale of Hemcore near their run. They absolutely freaked out, and continued to run away from us whenever we approached them for about 2 weeks. The memory part of those tiny brains obviously functions quite well for a fortnight! They settled down fine eventually. Could anything similar have happened to upset your girls? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 If theres been any sort of sudden change chickens will suddenly become very flighty and nervous, until they start to think of the change as 'normal'. I expect something has changed, even if you are not aware of it - maybe a neighbour has got a new cat or something and it had scared them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Hmmm white towel. Perhaps they thought it was snow - oh no not again panic! None of mine seem to be going bonkers yet, apart from our broody silkie who already had a head start so we wouldn't notice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
