TooLilac Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 We've just got two new POL girls (a Speckledy & a Blubelle). My god they are so stupid. no really, they are ! We've got four other - the Black Rocks aren't the sharpest, but our Legbars are inquisitive, sneaky and very nosey. These news girls are about 18-20wk by my guess, whereas we got the legbars at 14 wks (last year). But the new chickens are super-stupid ! they don't understand what corn is, have no idea what to do with a hanging cabbage, it took couple of days for them to figure out the hanging water drinker & feeder ! They haven't even noticed the enormous inviting dustbath crate of compost ! I'm amazed at the difference between breeds. Our legbars jumped straight in the dustbath when we first got them, they had a lovely time I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to "teach" the new clucks how to do things.... Any ideas ? (I am not going to give them a demonstration of how to dustbath!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henslaved Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Awwwww bless them, give them time they'll work it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 If my ex batts can work all those things out, I have no doubt your new girls will too. They will soon copy and learn from your existing girls. I don't mean that ex batts are stupid by the way - quite the reverse in fact - any hen who can work out how to roost, use a nestbox, dustbathe, eat mice etc after having been deprived of all these normal behaviours is pretty smart in my book! (Would love to see you give a dustbathing demo by the way ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 Oh yes, I know where you are at. Our Bluebelle was originally named Primrose but now renamed Dimrose! She is super THICK! Even time has made little difference! After having her a couple of weeks or so I did wonder if she was deaf as she really took ages to get the bowl and food link, did a hearing test on her and she is just THICK! She has no brain capacity in particular to spatial awareness or gates/doors enclosures where they start and end and does not understand when gates are shut, flings herself at them in a mad frenzy. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooLilac Posted August 6, 2012 Author Share Posted August 6, 2012 oh my word, Clucker1 - it sounds like they won't even have a learning curve !!! I thought we'd made some progress this morning when I tried to give them some sardines mushed up with some soggy strawberries. My other chickens were going mental with envy, but the new girls were unable to get the link between the pet food bowl and food. I had to sprinkle some mealworms on the top before they got the idea to eat !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 oh my word, Clucker1 - it sounds like they won't even have a learning curve !!! I thought we'd made some progress this morning when I tried to give them some sardines mushed up with some soggy strawberries. My other chickens were going mental with envy, but the new girls were unable to get the link between the pet food bowl and food. I had to sprinkle some mealworms on the top before they got the idea to eat !! sorry I am with the girls ther sardines and strawberries.... yuk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooLilac Posted August 7, 2012 Author Share Posted August 7, 2012 Sandy, maybe I can tempt you by sprinkling some dried mealworms on the top ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HennyPenny59 Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 Hi Im new to this forum today, and new to chicken keeping having recently become mum to 4 lovely Hybrid Girls ... Gretel who is a Speckeldy, Amber who is an Amber Link, Ruby who is a Warren and Blackie who is a Rhode Rock. Mine all seemed a bit daft as well, by not seeing what they should be seeing, i.e. me throwing scratch, ignoring the dustbath etc .. So what I now do is to tap my finger slowly in the dustbath or on the scratch etc etc and say "Bok Bok Bok" slowly and quite loudly and they all come running to see what they think I have found lol .. Its so cute! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooLilac Posted August 8, 2012 Author Share Posted August 8, 2012 thanks HP, I probably have to be more patient with them. I'm just used to my legbars who come running to me, sit on my knee (and my OH's shoulders!) and march into their run when I whistle ! they are such easy and good girls. Our new girls are still unnamed - my OH is favouring Dimrose (thanks for the suggestion) and Ralph Wiggum... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
