CHICKEN NOT COMING HOME

[mpoland33]

Hello! I have 10 girls between 1 and 2 years old. I have one buff that two nights ago and tonight didnt come home from free ranging. Both nights she went up on my front porch in a corner...about an acre away from the coop. She's never not gone home so it's a little weird. Other than that, shes acting normally and drinking and eating. Anyone else have this happen?

 

[PollyGirl21]

No, I've personally never had this happen to my birds, but I'm sure it's happened to others. She might need a reminder of where her home is. Maybe lock her in her coop for a day or two. This is what I do to chickens when I move them into a new coop so they know where their new home is and they'll come back to it.
It's also a possibility that she's getting bullied off the roosts. Try observing her behavior--is she low in the pecking order?

 

[mpoland33]

Yeah I will try that. Never thought of being bullied off the roost. Both nights, my other buff (her seemingly best buddy) has been sleeping off the roosts. I wondered if it was because her friend wasnt there but wondering if that's the case.

 

[PollyGirl21]

Yeah I will try that. Never thought of being bullied off the roost. Both nights, my other buff (her seemingly best buddy) has been sleeping off the roosts. I wondered if it was because her friend wasnt there but wondering if that's the case.

Maybe.
Sometimes I sit and watch my chickens go up to roost--its quite a procedure! My normally easygoing flock can be a bit brutal to each other when they're competing for a favorite roosting spot.

 

[aart]

Sometimes I sit and watch my chickens go up to roost--its quite a procedure! My normally easygoing flock can be a bit brutal to each other when they're competing for a favorite roosting spot.

RoostTimeRumble!! It can be brutal!
Watching this process can be very enlightening...and amusing.

Never thought of being bullied off the roost. Both nights, my other buff (her seemingly best buddy) has been sleeping off the roosts. I wondered if it was because her friend wasnt there but wondering if that's the case.

How big is your coop, in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics would help immensely here.
How many birds total?
Are they all the same age and lived together since chickhood?