Free Range

"I take time to smell the flowers!"

"Did you hear the one about the chicken that crossed the road?"

"I know there's a bug in here somewhere."

"I am sooo pretty, and I know it."

The chicks are approaching six weeks of age, and for the last week or so we've been letting them out of their pen for thirty minutes of supervised exploring. We stay with them to keep them safe from predators. Usually I sit in the grass and one or another will come to perch on me for a few minutes before setting off on a bug finding expedition. They are so fun to watch...much better than tv! They are both cautious and curious, goofy and gorgeous. They still do the chest bumping confrontation thing occasionally. When I hear the term "pecking order" I think of a sneek attack with claws or beak from behind, but with these kids it's a quick frontal bump like a jump shot, and one quickly backs off. They know how to fight fair and they don't hold a grudge. There are lessons to be learned here.

They are so happy to be out in the world doing chicken things like scratching in the dirt, tasting various plants, and taking dust baths. They crowd the pen door excitedly whenever one of walks by. When we open the door they run out and immediately become airborne, flying in short bursts like little whirling dervishes, before quickly settling in to an orderly exploration.

When it's time to get them back in the pen, we open the door and two or three will go in on their own. The remaining chicks are either herded in, or scooped up and put in. There is always one though, that plays hard to get. I'm not sure that this is the same girl each time (they do all look alike) or whether they take turns. Getting the last girl in is a two or three person ordeal while we rotate between trying to maneuver her home while one person stays by the door; holding it closed to keep the rest in, waiting to open it for the latecomer, or trying to corner and scoop her up. It's a 10-15 minute chase around the pen.

I think they're having fun with us.

Creatures of Habit

Success!! The kids all head into the coop at dark now to roost and mostly sleep until dawn. It took a week for them to catch on. After three days of lifting them into the coop from the run, four would automatically walk up the ramp as the sun set. For another couple of days though, two remained on the ground until one of us, many hours later, would place them with the rest. Bill would say, "they do have small brains." I would reply, "and they are blondes." But finally, as with many of us, habit has become behavior, and we can go to sleep knowing the chicks are snug and safe in their sleeping loft.

Bedtime Battles

Here is a shot of the girls coming down their ramp after pulling an all-nighter. (See previous post). The problem is not getting them down in the morning. They stand at the door, chattering and peeking out, beginning about a half hour before daybreak. At first light, they cautiously make their way into the morning. The problem is getting them to go into the coop at night. We assumed they would follow their chick instincts to head for high roosts and the warmth of the light. But noooo....they huddled in a corner of the run. The first two nights Bill went out well after dark and picked up sleepy chicks and put them into the coop. They stayed and came to life (See previous post). Monday night I was convinced I could train them to walk up into the coop at dusk by luring them with treats. I mixed some feed with plain yogurt and let them sample a bit, while slowly moving the dish up the ramp. (Picture a grown woman sitting in an small enclosed space, on chicken poo, chirping-"come on babies"). One or two would make it into the coop, but would come back down as I was coaxing the rest in. I gave up after a half hour and went inside. About nine o'clock I looked out window of my office and saw chicks sleeping around the bottom of the ramp. At 9:30 I saw movement in the coop, and thought they'd figured it out. A few minutes later though, two chicks came part way down the ramp and went back up. I realized they were looking for their sisters when I spotted three chicks on the ground in a corner of the run. I was hoping they would get with the program and head upstairs. But nooo...when I checked on them at 10 pm all 6 were on the ground. Thankfully they were sleeping in the corner by the people door so I could easily lift them one by one into the coop without crawling inside. (Kind of like dunking basketballs). Tonight I decided to let them sleep where they want, but when I went to check on them at 10:30 they were huddled in a corner and the rain was moving in, so I "dunked" them into the coop.

I suppose they are telling me they prefer dark rather than warmth and height for secure sleeping, but they had no problem sleeping under the brooder light. Soon the nights will get warmer and they will be more mature and we can leave the light off.

I can't believe I'm trying to think like a chicken.

Party Time!

We moved the chickens into their new digs late Friday. We have a lamp in the coop for warmth, as they are just a month old. The awning windows are closed but since the light is on we noticed a lot of movement going on inside through the spaces around the openings. I'm talking jitterbug, frantic motion until the wee hours. I've also wondered why they seem to be sleepy during the day, so curious, I snuck out Sunday morning with my camera to investigate. I spyed Rudy, the roo, checking out his girls as they...

Danced the night away. Shake your booty. Shake your fluffy booty.....

Then they fell into a line dance....

Okay, they are probably are chasing bugs attracted to the light, but I like the idea of an all night chicken party!