Dusk Gazing

[sunflower]

Hi Oola and others who keep hens.
I have noticed that just before dusk our hens look up into the sky gazing. At first, I thought they were waiting for me to give them something! Then I realised they were looking at the sky not me. I guess because they are ex bats and have not experienced natural light, the dusk is a new experience for them. Just before dusk, they started their gazing and keep popping in and out of their house. When dusk finally comes they naturally put themselves to bed. I have never had to encourage them to go into their house. It's really lovely to watch them being so fascinated.
Has anyone else had this experience with their hens?

[Oola]

Hi sunflower

I think what it is, is the instinct to be 'up high' when they go to perch at bedtime. I think it's a very deep ingrained instinct, so they're obviously tapping into it. Are they outside now and able to go 'up' to bed? Ours used to walk in circles around their henhouse looking up at it, sometimes jumping on top of the henhouse run or the henhouse itself, before going up the ladder to bed and settling in the for the night.

[sunflower]

Hi Oola, yes you are probably right. They are still inside at present because Lucy has no feathers and has a wheeze. Also, the BHWT advised us not to allow them to jump up on to anything for a couple of weeks due to legs being so weak. I'm concerned that she wo'nt survive out in the cold. We have seriously been doing a rethink tonight regarding the run. When cleaning them out they sometimes will jump onto the henhouse so are getting stronger. So, instead of using the extended run which we bought, we might build a larger structure and 6 foot high so that their natural instincts to jump and fly can be fulfilled. Also, a large walk in run will make cleaning so much easier. So that's our thinking at the moment.

[Oola]

Sounds like a good idea with the run!

Also, you know you can knit special little jumpers for ex-batts! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7228859.stm