safety
5 stories filed under safety on Alektorophobia. The newest of them: “My chicken's giving me the cold shoulder: and the cold weather's got me worried”, “This Rooster's a Bully to Just One Hen: What's a Cluck-Tastic Chicken Mom to Do”, and “My ducks won't leave the coop: is this normal or just fowl play”. Oh, the classic chicken cold shoulder, and I mean that literally and emotionally. Oh, Aurora. Chickens. Everything there is to know about chickens and the fear of them. The list below is every safety story on Alektorophobia, newest first.
My chicken's giving me the cold shoulder: and the cold weather's got me worried
Oh, the classic chicken cold shoulder, and I mean that literally and emotionally. One of your new feathered friends has decided the run is her preferred nighttime hangout, and with temperatures dropping to 0°C, that's more than a little fowl play. You've just moved in, these girls were established long before you arrived, and now this rebel is breaking all the rules. It's enough to make anyone feel like the awkward new roommate who doesn't know the house quirks yet. Before you panic, know that chickens sometimes pull these stunts for surprisingly simple reasons, bullying, a drafty coop, or just being a dramatic diva.
This Rooster's a Bully to Just One Hen: What's a Cluck-Tastic Chicken Mom to Do
Oh, Aurora. The sweet hen who's getting the short end of the pecking order, literally. This rooster isn't being a gentleman; he's a bully with a very specific grudge, and it's breaking our hearts. We've seen some fowl play in our time (check out our story on that secret imposter in the flock, "Which of my feathered friends is secretly a fowl imposter," for another tale of chicken drama), but targeting just one hen? That's personal. You've already tried separation and comb protection, but he's too clever for his own good. The loneliness he feels when isolated is real, but so is Aurora's suffering. This isn't about mating; it's about a bossy rooster who forgot his manners.
My ducks won't leave the coop: is this normal or just fowl play
Oh, the classic coop conundrum, your ducks are staging a sit-in, and Ginger the head chicken is giving you the side-eye like you've suggested a free-range horror movie. I feel your pain. Two months in, and they're still acting like you're the terrifying monster under the bed? That's some serious fowl play. First, Khaki Campbells are notorious introverts. They're not being rude; they're just… ducking out of social obligations. Some ducks take longer to trust than chickens, especially if they're still processing the whole "outside" thing. And Ginger? She's the cautious queen, perfectly normal for a head hen to scope out danger before giving the all-clear.
Possum Gatecrasher Has My Free-Range Flock Refusing Bedtime Duty
Oh, a possum gatecrasher at the bedtime buffet, now your girls are staging a fowl protest. I feel this chaos in my bones. One chicken slept through the whole possum party while the others are now traumatized? That's peak flock energy. They can absolutely smell the intruder, and that scent lingers like a bad houseguest. Confining them for three to five days should reset their tiny, suspicious brains. Clean the coop thoroughly first, maybe even sprinkle some aromatic herbs to mask the stench. They'll grumble about being locked up, but it beats a possum encore. And if you need more poultry drama to distract you, check out our "Bantam or Bust: Our Egg-citing Size Mystery Unfolds" for another feathered fiasco.
This feathered fence-crasher needs help, not just a chicken dinner
Well, a mystery guest has taken up residence on your fence, and honestly, that's a cluck-tastic plot twist for your Tuesday. This guy sounds like he's got a bit of a rough story, what with the one eye and those little wing wounds. It's totally fair to be a bit wary, no one wants their kids to get sick from a surprise visitor. The good news is, if he's friendly and just hanging out, he's likely more scared than scary. You're not wrong to be cautious, but a rooster in this condition isn't exactly a predator. He's probably just looking for a safe spot to rest. If you're worried about germs, practicing basic hand-washing after any close encounters is a solid start.