I have a BIG yard. 15 acers. This darn RIR hen was not happy & got out the fence. I saw her & just knew I could not catch her so I just let every thing go a while. I was out there in about 2 hours & she came to me & squatted. I picked her up & put her back with the flock & home again. she went got water right away . so I have a good RIR hen she surrendered !!
We've had that happen many times. The first time I freaked out, because I thought they'd never come back. They always did - eventually. Often thru the same hole that they escaped from. Now we let them free-range, so it's not an issue.
My girls roam 3 acres. Too bad only 1 acre is mine.. It's better not to chase them if they get loose. That stresses them. They seem to always come back at night, if not before.
Between the run and the big 'pen' as we call it, our chickens have about 2 acres of our 5acres to roam. Are they happy with theat? noooo. they feel the need to fly over and roam about another half acre, but stay close to the coop and big pen. If i want them back in, I throw some shelled corn or scratch grains in the directionI want them to go in. They will follow me and the path of food until I get them in. Michelle DMK Ranch