Bantams won't go in shed

[cherylwillard1]

I've made a mistake and wonder if what I read in one of the posts will help. I got three bantam hens on Sunday and put them in the shed that night. Not thinking, I let everyone out the next morning. They haven't gone back in since. It's my custom to leave new chickens in for a few days, but I forgot about the new additions until I opened the door. Someone suggested putting a light in the coop to encourage them to go in at night. Has anyone tried that and does it work?

Thanks!

 

[aart]

Yes, it can work....but if you tossed some new birds in with the old birds,
the old birds might not let them into the coop.

 

[cherylwillard1]

Yes, it can work....but if you tossed some new birds in with the old birds,
the old birds might not let them into the coop.

Considering my other chickens are normal sized, it may be some of the problem. But they didn't bother them the first night. They're a motley bunch gathered from other flocks... I guess I'll go put a light out there for a few hours. But these bantams are 20+ feet up, it'll be hard for them to see the light from up there and behind the coop. So mad at myself for not managing this better.

 

[Alaskan]

Considering my other chickens are normal sized, it may be some of the problem. But they didn't bother them the first night. They're a motley bunch gathered from other flocks... I guess I'll go put a light out there for a few hours. But these bantams are 20+ feet up, it'll be hard for them to see the light from up there and behind the coop. So mad at myself for not managing this better.

Ew.... 20 feet up... probably impossible for you to find a ladder or net and catch them all?

Might have to hope nothing eats them, and round them up in the morning.

Since they are new additions... you probably don't want to coop them up with the older birds since that might cause bullying.

Can you try to treat train them? Call, toss out a few treats, and get them to come?

Then you could call them in in the evening time, shortly before they roost...

 

[aart]

Since they are new additions... you probably don't want to coop them up with the older birds since that might cause bullying.

Yes.
Hopefully @cherylwillard1 can section off part of the coop for the new birds to reside safely for awhile before releasing.

 

[Nigel27]

Do you have a crate big enough for them? Or a way to fence off a section of the coop for them? That way you could keep them in there for a few days so they can integrate and get comfortable w the coop, so they’ll return at roost time

 

[cherylwillard1]

Ew.... 20 feet up... probably impossible for you to find a ladder or net and catch them all?

Might have to hope nothing eats them, and round them up in the morning.

Since they are new additions... you probably don't want to coop them up with the older birds since that might cause bullying.

Can you try to treat train them? Call, toss out a few treats, and get them to come?

Then you could call them in in the evening time, shortly before they roost...

 

[cherylwillard1]

Thanks for the help everyone. I have an 8x8 foot shed they stay in at night with plenty of roosting at different levels. I managed to scare two of them out of the trees, after dark, while having a couple lanterns in the shed and the doors open. They ran in after coming out of the trees. The third remained stubborn, but is still alive this morning. I clipped the wings on the two bantams so they can't get quite so high up anymore. The third will have to learn at some point that I'm not here to harm her. Perhaps during this next snow storm when I'm the only source of food for several days...

 

[bill3607]

I've made a mistake and wonder if what I read in one of the posts will help. I got three bantam hens on Sunday and put them in the shed that night. Not thinking, I let everyone out the next morning. They haven't gone back in since. It's my custom to leave new chickens in for a few days, but I forgot about the new additions until I opened the door. Someone suggested putting a light in the coop to encourage them to go in at night. Has anyone tried that and does it work?

Thanks!

Mine will not go inside the coop unless the light is on. And, especially if there is any light on outside of the coop.

 

[cherylwillard1]

Update all, I managed to get all the bantams in the shed. Imminent snow storms helped encourage the last hold out to go in.