Gerry gets digging
The chickens have formed an escape committee. I’m convinced. They’ve been digging – quite discretely – at the back of the coop, as far away from the house as they can manage, probably in the mistaken belief that we won’t notice.
Well we did.
And they know that we did, which is why they’re changing tack. Going out to feed, water and open their pop hole this morning, I saw how much digging they’d done yesterday. They’ve moved their efforts to the front side of the run, right below their feeders, and in just one day they’ve dug a three-inch deep, foot-long trench that’s already starting to creep below the skirt that keeps out the foxes.
They clearly don’t understand that it’s there for their safety.
They are industrial little ladies: of that there’s no doubt. The only trouble is, it makes their feet very dirty, which in turn makes their eggs dirty, and you can’t sell dirty eggs.
Not that we’re selling them yet, but we have plans for a bigger flock, and when we’ve got it we probably will be selling eggs to the neighbours. Only trouble is, when eggs are laid they have a thin, dry protective coating that stops infection getting in through the shell. Dirt can damage this, which is why you can’t sell them when they’re dirty. Neither can you wash it off as the water will wash away that protective coating.
Fortunately we also have plans for a bigger run, which should keep them better entertained and stop them digging. Perhaps then every egg laid will be clean.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Naughty Chickens!
Glad we don’t have the mud problem, although over time they have lowered the ground level inside their compound quite a bit. I just don’t know where they are hiding it all though.
Nice site, I am sure I will be back again soon.
We keep our chickens in a very large area of the garden but it doesnt matter how big it is they still seem to plan an escape.they started off in a smallish run then we decided to give them the very large area.Every time i turn my back 2 have got out and i cant work out where they get out.I think they are cleverer than we give them credit for.
Well what a relief it’s not just my mother’s mad chickens in Cheltenham involved in the collective grand escape! Boadicea, the brains of the operation can flap and jump her way right to the top of the 25′ fig tree (yes, she does have one wing clipped but is choosing to ignore it). Then she triumphantly glides down into the “forbidden area” where she often spends a delightful half hour before being spotted by my weary mother. The other day she dug up some of the wire fencing (in a clearly carefully planned operation) then as we watched in admiration, she led 9 others through it. Then after skilfully negotiating more security wiring and a fence, the escapees were recaptured just as they were about to join the neighbours for Sunday lunch…