pantomimecat Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Hi everyone, I have had my girlis, Bibble and Bobble for just over two weeks. Bibble is a lovely chilled Gingernut Ranger and Bobble is a rather anxious Pepperpot. My concerns are that Bobble seems to spend all her time in the run pacing up and down constantly. I let them out to free range at the weekend and two days in the week when I am not working. She seems fine when she is out, but having now had a taste of freedom clearly does not like being in the run on the days when I am not at home. Any advice would be very welcome. My second concern is about Bibbles beak. She has a short 'normal looking' top beak and a really long bottom beak. Is this normal????? Since this is the first time I have used the forum to post I haven't got the hang of the symbols ... next time!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Welcome aboard pantomimecat. Great name. Maybe you could put something to amuse them in the run. A cabbage or some broccoli it peck at for instance. Re the beak...one of mine has a beak like you describe. I think it must just be a normalish variant. It doesn't cause her any probs. If your hen can eat and drink OK I shouldn't worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Hi! Firstly welcome to the forum All chickens do the pacing up and down thing to make you feel guilty, if you watched from somewhere where they can't see you they are perfectly fine and doing normal chicken-y things. The beak thing is ok too, it appears that Omlet chooks do have their top beak trimmed so it is shorter. Whether this is a safety thing in large flocks- who knows. I've had my Omlet girls since August and their beaks have almost grown back to 'normal'. I hope your chooks bring you much pleasure and I'm sure you'll be as addicted to the forum as the rest of us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Welcome to the forum Pantomine Cat! Good to have you on board! I find that mine only 'pace' the run when they see me. If i sneak up on them, they are more than happy digging about it the run, dust bathing etc. For more details on the forum and pictures in your signature click here Any questions, please just ask C x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Can't really comment on the beak thing without seeing it. However, I wouldn't worry too much about the behaviour in the run. They all take a while to settle down and know what to expect and tend to behave quite differently once they start laying too. Also, once they see you approaching, most chickens start doing daft things. Mine jump up and down, pace backwards and forwards and jump on one another's heads. However, if you can creep up without them seeing, they are pecking away quite happily. They're great con artists! Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Agree with all the others, pantomimecat - chickens put on a huge performance when they see you, but if you can observe them without them seeing you, they will quickly revert to pecking around and generally doing their chickeny thing. You can put things in the run to entertain them, but I've given up as they just eat them as fast as they can and then go back to whatever they were doing. As far as the beak is concerned, one of mine is like that - doesn't seem to cause any problems. Look on the bright side - if they are flinging themselves at the wire and pacing up and down, there's probably not much wrong with them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Welcome to the forum Pantocat (hope you don't mind the abbreviation!) Sounds like yours get much the same as mine - 2 days plus w/e freeranging. All of mine do the pacing, caged beast thing too. When I am home I'm don't really like letting them out unsupervised although they are out just now but I'm obsessively peering out of the window every 30 seconds! I'm sure they like their eglu run just fine - it's just a ploy to make us build a large walk in run! OH is handless so they'll have a long wait (I don't mean he has no hands, he just doesn't know one end of a hammer from the other!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blonde Chicken Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 Welcome to the mad chicken world. Our betty has a beak just like that and she is absolutely fine, in fact she is the boss! Karen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted November 8, 2007 Share Posted November 8, 2007 I find that mine only 'pace' the run when they see me. If i sneak up on them, they are more than happy digging about it the run, dust bathing etc. Christian, you are so right! I watch mine out of the window and they are fine til they hear the back door. One of mine was voluntarily in the run today, waiting for her buddy to emerge from laying her egg. I opened the back door and she flew (albeit only 6inches off the ground) to come and see what goodies I had! They are so mercenary!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pantomimecat Posted November 10, 2007 Author Share Posted November 10, 2007 Thanks for all your help with the beak and stressed chicken queries!! Bibble laid her first egg today. Vey small, weighing 42gms. I am so eggcited... Millie (4yrs old) is going to eat for her breakfast. xxxxxxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickaboo Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 I agree on both - they only pace when they think you're watching, and Phoebe (also a gingernut has an odd top beak, doesn't cause her any probs though). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 Bibble laid her first egg today. Vey small, weighing 42gms. That's exactly what our first one weighed - tiny but tasty . Hope Millie enjoys it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 Congratulations on your first egg, hope Millie enjoyed it. Good to meet you the other day, hope all's going well. Lucy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
