jjiande Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Still new to all of this and each week seems to bring something different... We've had our two hybrids for almost 10 weeks now. Both were pol when we got them, and they both started laying every day after a couple of weeks. They are in a Solway hen loft in a 3x2m WIR, so they have a lot of space and perches etc to keep them occupied. We started to let them free range when we are here about five weeks ago - most days that is after 5pmish but it's earlier now kids are on school holidays. At the weekend they free range for most of the day. When they are in the run I throw in weeds and veg each morning. A friend who has chickens did warn me that they are like teenagers - the more freedom you give them the more they want - and this really seems to be the case at the moment. One of them has been getting REALLY noisy in the run, squawking to be let out, and I'm worried she might be doing this for most of the day. She even started at 5:15am the other morning (the coop has an automatic door) which she has never done before (although I had let them out at that time the day before as I'd checked on them early as the other one had been under the weather, so that was probably a schoolboy error). I've spoken to the neighbours, who say they don't hear much, and when they do they don't mind it, but it's worrying me a bit. I suppose it could just be that she hears us come home and then kicks off, but I wondered if other people had experience of having their chickens free range for different time periods or whether that just doesn't work. And if she's had more freedom, will she adapt to more time in the run when we're not here, or will she just keep loudly complaining? We're off on holiday for a fortnight in August, and I'm worried about how they'll be in the run the whole time, as the friend I have feeding them etc won't be able to free range them too. I've considered just letting them free range unsupervised all day, as they never make a noise then, but I'm sure I'd lose them to a fox pretty quickly. Sorry - long post. Maybe I should just stop worrying, but any advice or shared stories would be very welcome. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I think that if you have any foxes in the area, no matter whether there are lots of houses around, unless there are also lots of wild (read free to fox) rabbits about, then your chickens would be at risk so they would need to be shut up when you are not there to supervise them. You may think you would not mind losing one to Foxy Ferdinand, but it is amazing how quickly these little feathered beings worm their way into your heart. Also once Mr Fox has visited successfully he will keep on doing so. One thing to remember is that chickens are mighty good at training their humans and we humans are mighty quick to learn to take orders from our chickens Basically your chickens are getting you very well trained. You'll take star prize at chicken training school Like dogs and most other animals, chickens love routine, especially routines that suit them. So just as dogs try to bring forward the time of their suppers so chickens like to bring forward and extend their time out on the town (garden). Try either to stick to times you can always manage, or change times so that they can't get into a routine. All the same, don't worry too much about any noise. As well as demanding to be let out, fed, given treats, talked to, protected from free ranging crows, garden strimmers or other chicken frightening things, some chickens can make a racket to announce an egg. This will most certainly be happening while you are away but your neighbour has said she does not mind their calls so I wouldn't pre-empt too much. Just be generous with the eggs and your neighbour will also love your chickens (or at least will feel they can't complain). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Mine can only free range when I am out in the garden with them, so it's limited to summer evenings - not all of them - and weekends. Yes, they will kick up a noise when they see or hear you. Try just leaving them to it and I guarantee that within five minutes or so they will give up and go back to pottering, eating, snoozing, eating etc. if I have digging to do I don't let them out because they get in the way but they soon settle down and stop begging to be released even though I am out in the garden. They're like any animal - they'll try it on and if you give in, they'll go on doing it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjiande Posted July 10, 2013 Author Share Posted July 10, 2013 Thanks for your replies. That all makes sense, and I think I realised they were training me, not the other way round . It's always tempting to give in to what sounds like a racket to me, especially if it's early, but I'll try to get back to the routine . We've been giving our neighbour eggs and will keep up with that too. Unsupervised free-ranging really isn't something I would go for, as I couldn't bear to lose either to a fox. They may be bossy, but they are also gorgeous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcfee2 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Basically your chickens are getting you very well trained. You'll take star prize at chicken training school I caught myself crouching down to sneak under the kitchen window this morning when I went downstairs early so they wouldn't see me and start shouting... they really do rule the roost! I think they know the sound of my engine when I pull onto the drive after work, as well as the back door opening, but I'm as stubborn with them as my kids. I was in the garden at 8.30 Sunday morning when Fuchsia decided to do the loudest egg announcement I've heard so far. I ended up with my head in the run telling her next door would come round and wring her neck if she didn't shut up... worryingly I think I was louder than her as I got a VERY funny look from next door late on Sunday afternoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Chickens are brighter than you'd think, but sometimes a little squirt of water from one of those spray bottles works wonders (and in this weather will do no harm at all). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JS1 Posted July 13, 2013 Share Posted July 13, 2013 Agree with Shabby Chic that chickens are brighter than you think - mine recognise that my husband is a soft touch who gives them too many treats, and know that I'm much harder hearted, and they react accordingly when either of us appears. Personally I'd ride the noise out - the nights are getting longer (sorry, but they are!) so they'll soon be going to bed earlier and getting up later and, in my (limited!) experience, they tend to quieten down a bit as they get older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted July 13, 2013 Share Posted July 13, 2013 mcfee2, that really made me smile and can totally relate, once they see me at the kitchen window that's it they start the racket until I let them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flowerpot Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 Hi everyone! I am new to all of this and I find it so helpful to read this. I am so well trained already its not true! I will stop giving in and leaving them to FR whilst I go out for an hour and leave them in. They pace up and down waiting to be let out....well they don't pace they stomp and I give in! I find myself sitting in their run at night hoping that they will come in so I can go to bed! I do have difficulty in getting them to go back into the run and I have no idea what to do. they love corn until I give them some and then they ignore it and go back out again! Am i giving them too many treats? Any ideas please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 They will very quickly associate you and treats especially if you have a treat pot and will follow you I call chook chook and shake mine herding them in closing the WIR door behind me if yours are in an eglu run or cube run throw some of whatever treat you have towards the far end they will soon shoot in and voila shut the door. Your neighbours however will be on the other side of the fence killing themselves laughing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjiande Posted July 15, 2013 Author Share Posted July 15, 2013 Thanks again for all your replies. The last few days have actually been much better. I've been much stricter about letting them out on schedule in the afternoon even if we are around a bit more. Having been around at home a bit more too, I've also realised that they are actually pretty quiet pretty much all of the time - only the odd bit of 'remember I'm here' calling every now and then. I agree with everyone who has said that chickens are cleverer than people say... The only exception was this weekend, when my parents were staying, and my dad (who is an early riser) decided to wander into the garden at 6:15am and then wander off again, which led to some very noisy calls for him to come back and let them out. I don't suppose the neighbours were impressed with that, and nor was I but he won't be making that mistake again ! Still, after five minutes they'd calmed down and were back to normal. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 Sometimes I walk straight past their run, just to remind them that not everything I do in the garden is about them. (Mostly it is, but not everything ) I also have a green plastic dog bowl for treats, once the dish comes out they often all come running up the garden to watch me fill it. Tapping on the bowl usually gets the stragglers out of hiding, then they follow me back down (trying to trip me up) to the wir. Throw handfuls inside, shut the door, count up. Any that won't come in get caught (eventually) and posted through the egg port, or main door if the others are still busy with their treat and won't try to get out again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted July 17, 2013 Share Posted July 17, 2013 I find myself sitting in their run at night hoping that they will come in so I can go to bed! Made me laugh but I so know what you mean. With these hot days my chickens want to make the best of the cooler evenings and just take forever to go to bed OH and I have taken to sitting on the patio waiting for them. It's good for our relationship as we actually chat , but the dogs are not impressed as they like to go through to the sitting room in the evenings for cuddles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted July 18, 2013 Share Posted July 18, 2013 Mine will come to the run when I shake their dried corn container. They also crouch when I bend down towards them. Have read this before, this is what they do for cockerels. However my silkie isn't quite so clever. She can't work out how to get in the gate, as it opens outwards, and runs away from me and never crouches. Have found that a very large fishing net comes in handy. Again not sure what my neighbors must think when I'm shouting fifi come here or I'm going to get the big net! feel like the child catcher from chitty chitty bang bang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
