Chickens out on the allotment

[Sue]

Hi
My chickens are kept in a big pen on my allotment and I was initially worried about them getting out the door when I'm fighting my way in ( I know there's only three of them!) But gradually I've found that they potter about, don't go far and keep close by. In case of emergencies I also keep some grain to rattle to bring them running but so far so good. Yesterday I was starting to reclaim this allotment (wild except for hen pen) and was planting potatoes in bags to sit on my cardboard mulch. They were out for over an hour and never once strayed away. It was quite lovely to sit and do my gardening with the three girls warbling away, pecking around where I was working. They were having a fine time scattering the mulch everywhere, but hey, can't have everything.

Am I just being lucky or is this normal. I thought at first they would make a run for it but it seems not. I watched as another allotment holder's chicken got out and he had a fine time trying to catch it. Am therefore assuming that the difference is that mine are "pets" and his are not?
Sue

[heebiejeebie]

Mine follow me around the garden when I let them free-range. They are cute and "helpful" (ahem) but have murdered the rhubarb.

[kirsty b]

Over winter I have let mine out on the plot and wherever there is a spade and worms, there will be chooks. Now though, they will destroy the plants I can't net so until they are established enough to withstand a bit of pecking, I have to keep them in! Which is a shame cos we all like it when they come out.
What is it about rhubarb? Mine had a go at that too, can't be as toxic to chooks as it is to peeps methinks.

[4chickens]

My chickens are free range but stay (mainly) within my garden. The second week was a bit dicey though. I kept them in their run for the first week, letting them out for an hour at dusk. Then I got brave and let them out - while I was around - turned my back and they had disappeared totally. Took me 2 hours to find them and another to get them back. They'd got lost basically while exploring. They went for a wander the second day but came back and I have had no further problems for the past three months. Be brave but not reckless, especially if there are dogs about. Would also recommend keeping a few tins of Tesco's own brand sweetcorn (15p a tin) around. They'd scale mountains for it and will follow you for it - which beats rugby tackling them and ending up in your neighbour's fish pond.

[TPeers]

Another treat that mine will do dirt for is the 'robin mix' from CJ Birdfoods - sunflowerhearts, dried mealworms, sultanas and assorted rolled grains.

[heebiejeebie]

oooh mine would mug you for mealworms!