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We haven't had this problem before -- not leastwise, it's true, because we have generally started with older birds. That said, the Blues arrived a month ago at precisely the same age and expressed no dissatisfaction with their habitat. Until, that is, they were seduced by Welly and Amy -- the now 7-week old gift birds I received from friends as appreciation for my several months of off-farm work that are coming to an end. I value the gift, but it is keeping me up at night.
There are, after all, predators out there. Chickens, as more than one expert has pointed out, are the snack food of the food chain. Everybody likes to eat chicken. I certainly know that my electrified circumference is little enough deterrence for a determined raccoon or fox or coyote or, let's face it, anything else with an active appetite and a willing set of teeth. But they don't have to make it easy.
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Eventually, I know, they will outgrow the opportunity. In a matter of weeks their maturing girth will no longer permit such unsanctioned excursions. In the meantime I am trying to make "home" a more appealing option by sprinkling scratch -- chicken candy, as it were -- more liberally around the coop. It has the double advantage of enticing them to stick around and accelerating their weight gain. In addition I'm going to encourage their older roommates to start exerting a more positive influence. After all, it's their feathers in the game too. It's time they started acting their age.
Who am I kidding? If I haven't yet started doing that -- a reasonably intelligent, well-educated and occasionally prudent adult -- why do I think it will happen with youthful chickens?
So, keep them in your prayers. I'd like to see them live long enough to lay an egg or two.
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