Homing hen

We've hatched quite a few  chicks this year. they stay with their mother for the first few weeks whilst they grow, learn to scratch and forage and when the chicks start  to be independent   the mother is returned to  the flock  and the chicks are moved to  a field where they can eat, grow and lay eggs. 

But this one  hasn't quite grasped  what's happening. She was moved  back to the flock  she came from , but is clearly missing the chicks. 

She is putting strenuous (unsuccessful) efforts into getting under or through the gate , trying to squeeze through the fencing we have put up with aim of stopping the hens wandering and exploring  and getting stuck. 

  

and despite our best efforts she has managed to get out either through round or over the gate , across the lawn and back to where she was with the chicks. 

All a bit sad readlly because her babies, the chicks aren't there any more.  they are out exploring the big wide world

Settling in

So we've seen them  venturing out 

and on the newly-dug pond. 

So the question is when to take the fencing down and let them roam .

Homesick Ducks ?

We still want to rehouse the 2 ducks that we bred in June . The last attempt failed due to the homing instinct. 

So we had another go. This time we have created a pen around the pond and some suitable grazing which we think we made escape-proof  around the pond and again put them in it. The didn't escape in the course of the evening ( much to our surprise) , but by mid-morning we hadn't seen them  so ithought I'd better investigate. Perhaps they got out but in the wrong direction and are wandering round Kirkwall on their way back to their original home  and their companion hen and chicks. 

After all a duck has walked 8 miles to get home before . 

So on investigation they are sitting in the duckhouse and are very reluctant to come out. 

So are they homesick and pining for their friends ? 

But with steely resolve , we havent given in yet. They have food, water and suitable space so we will wait. 

Homing Ducks

Back in June , we hatched a couple of ducks as well as the usual chicks. And we have soem pictures of when they were a few days old , and growing bigger. They were kept in a fenced area  with their motherhen and the chicks from the same brood .











 And they had their own house ( custom hand-built duck house!) , initially used by the hen, chicks and ducks  but destined to be a duckhouse

So the time has come that they be moved to their new home. They have the run of an extensive marshy area and a large pond that has been dug as well as some grass  in which they can doubtless find things to eat.

So they were caught, carried down the hill, introduced to their house  in its new location, shown where the pond was  and then left to enjoy the new freedom and new surroundings.


At which point they walked straight back  up the hill , returning to the 'home' they had grown up in .

The home they have come from is just in front of the house. 

and they  marched up the hill, more or less in a straight line 

Not sure what to do about this.  Perhaps we can move them , fence them in and wait for them to learn their new home ?