The girls big day out

[grandmaeileen]

Our 4 girls are on our allotment and have quite a large, secure walk in run, we have a fruit cage that is adjacent to the run, and yesterday I opened the door of the run and the fruit cage and 3 of the girls hopped out and into the cage.

One was a little reluctant, but I left her for a few minutes, she was cooing and chuntering to her sisters and eventually, she braved the big world and went to join them.

They had a ball, new ground to scratch, new bugs to eat, it was lovely watching them.

When it was time for us to pack up and go, OH gently ushered them back into their run, but I've got a feeling we've started something now and have visions of them tunneling out of their bit and into the fruit cage!

[Linda S]

Sounds like they had a smashing time, you will have to be on your toes now to scupper their version of the great escape Lindaxx

[pepi]

the trouble with letting them out to new places is that they will get used to it very quickly and demand to go there every time you come near (that stomping up and down at the gate to the Walk-in-Run) - and if that doesnt work, they will quickly perfect the 'poor us, locked into this miserable hell-hole' look that will have you feeling twice as guilty!!

[grandmaeileen]

Oh they're very good at making me feel guilty! OH has put his foot down on the fruit cage party as they decided to peck off the new shoots on his gooseberry plant. So it's time for plan B and give them a bit more ground at the back of their run where they can do no harm (we hope).

At this rate, there will less room for veg and more room for 4 cheeky hens!

[Benny&Co]

they are funny aren't they

Here's our little ladies with the option of going out, but preferring to stay in the run having a gossip

[KathJ]

I know what you mean about the veggie patch grandmaeileen, ours was shortned so the girls could take up residence and now I've trying to persuade hubby to extend the run which will take off a bit more They're worth the sacrifice though

[grandmaeileen]

Well yesterday, they were waiting impatiently for us so out came spare chicken wire and canes and a temp "run" was fashioned. As soon as their door was opened out they ran! They had a good few hours scratching around and never once tried to pop over the fence, TBH, OH is worse than me for letting them out and loves to see them pottering around. It was lovely watching them explore, but I'm like a mother hen constantly checking and making sure I can see them so the digging tends to be start stop!