Anybody have chickens live free range with no coop? where do they make eggs?

[alessadry]

I have a coop (spent over $1,000 to make it nice) but ever since we installed an automatic door the rooster decided that it is dangerous being in there and the whole flock freaks out when it opens and closes and now their fear has generalized to us because they are extremely stressed. Ever since we installed it our hens haven't laid eggs for 4 days (they are 4 months old).

The rooster has been herding them out of the coop. Some the other days even decided to sleep out, roosting on the tree. We caught them and put them back in the coop.

Anyhow, since today they freaked out again when we went to change the door setting and act crazy when the door opens and closes. I am thinking either I get rid of all the chickens (we are extremely upset with all the care and love we have given them) or let them be and keep them free range without forcing them to use the coop.

So my next question is: can they live free range in my land if they decide to not use the coop anymore? They are in a 1-acre chain link 5 feet fenced area. There are trees where they can roost. When the three hens decided to roost in the tree, they were roosting in the middle of a pile of thorns. I understand we may still have predators. Where would they make eggs, would they need a box somewhere?

I am just thinking the worst case scenario should tonight they decide to give up using the coop for good. The way they have been acting lately, I wouldn't be surprised. I am still going to keep their food and water in the coop so they are forced to go there to eat/drink possibly nest once they are more relaxed, but I worry though if they are too scared to go eat and drink.

Forget about me giving mealworms and attracting them. When they see us now they have decided that we are their worst enemy and won't eat. We never hit them or yelled at them, they think we are their worst enemy because we do normal things like opening the fence, bending down to fill water or toss them food. When they are spooked they are spooked for good and get scared of even me tossing meal worms. I had chickens before and never saw something like this. I was able to do everything and even mow the lawn with them sticking nearby. They were following me everywhere.

There are a few chickens that sort of trust us more but the now skittish rooster herds them away and tells them in chicken language we are a threat. And yes, when they were small we hand fed them, kept them on our laps, we got them used to us walking around them, picking them up and cuddling.

Just a month ago, they were still in our laps getting pet and loved on. It's like a switch turned on when the rooster got hormones and he decided that from friends we became enemies. He sees us and now makes noises warning danger. A while back he was running towards us happily.

 

[Chickassan]

If the door has only been installed for four days the way they are acting is normal. Were you manually doing the door before? Anything different is dangerous to a chicken, they haven't forgotten your kindness those chicken instincts are just kicking in. As irritating as it is the rooster is actually doing what he's supposed to. Give it time and they will get used to the door it might take a week or a month.

 

[alessadry]

I hope so, but if they start sleeping out I have heard they might not even try to sleep in the coop anymore. And this is my fear.

Yes, we were opening the door manually, and even then, they were scared of the noises of fidgeting with the locks, so now we were hoping that this way they did not associate the door opening and closing anymore with us and they could free range as early as 5. But because they are highly stressed, I guess it has a cumulative effect on them and now they started to fear us even more.

I saw a few go nearby the coop in the fenced area where the coop is to drink minutes ago, so that gives me hope that the coop is not as scary. But their biggest fear seems us near the coop doing things we need to such as feeding them, changing water, and bending down to place food, opening fence etc.

I understand that chickens can be skittish and take flight when they are afraid, but the fear in these chickens seems to me highly maladaptive to me. OK scared of the door, but afraid of us feeding them and giving water and all that, shouldn't fall under the threat category IMO. Also, it takes them too long to recover from fear.

I had chickens before and it would take them 10 minutes, maximum half hour but their fear was from more serious things like using a chain saw or dropping a pan.

 

[centrarchid]

I almost always have some hens totally free-range for use as broodies. I put out 5-gallon buckets laid in side with grass stuff inside. The buckets are usually elevated and in shade of tree or building. It is better to arrange so you can check all in easy walking pass without a lot of course changes and bending over. My back is out so the bending over is very much on my mind.

 

[Mrs. K]

I am just going to throw this idea out there, but there may be something else than the door and it is a coincidence that happened at the same time as the door, and that is what you see as the problem. Could there be something in the coop such as a snake?

Just a thought

 

[aart]

4 months old and they are laying??
...or they have been laying for 4 months?

I agree give them time, keep putting them in the coop at night.
Bribe with treats near roost time.
Be calm, cool, collected. They can feel your anxiety.

 

[alessadry]

Nope no snakes we have a snake proof fence covering the coop.

 

[alessadry]

Four months old laying, I know they sound young, they were born March 5th but we're in Arizona and with all the sun light it affects their hormones, had cats go in heat at 5 months too.

 

[User395221]

My big girls have a coop and run, but I also let them out into my back yard. I've found stashes of eggs in under bushes all over the place. If you let them free, you will be lucky if you can find any eggs, they'll lay where they want to.

 

[alessadry]

I almost always have some hens totally free-range for use as broodies. I put out 5-gallon buckets laid in side with grass stuff inside. The buckets are usually elevated and in shade of tree or building. It is better to arrange so you can check all in easy walking pass without a lot of course changes and bending over. My back is out so the bending over is very much on my mind.

By totally free range do you mean they sleep outside at night without a coop? Well tonight, my cockerel managed to get some chickens out of the coop to roost on a tree. Actually, saw them practicing a rehearsal earlier when he saw has use a broom to remove water from the leaking roof and put back a misplaced tarp. They were already on the tree earlier.

Some smarter chickens decided to ignore his over reactivity and went inside the coop to sleep. They cared less about all the changes going on.

I am NOT going out to get this time. Last time I ended up getting scratched, almost killed myself tripping on a log. It is pitch dark and I am not in the mood to hunt them down with a flashlight when there are scorpions walking and black widows. I will let them be and will likely get rid of this rooster who is only causing stress to my pullets who just want to go to sleep in the coop.