Chicken that goes missing at night

[dawnpel]

Hello all, I am new to BYC. March 30 I bought 6 red sexlinks. I just love them!! Never knew chickens could be so entertaining. I have my coop and run inside my big fenced in back yard. ( half acre fenced in) and they go to bed at night on their own. Recently I have one who has taken up night time some where else.. I have looked high and low for her but cant find her. Come morning she is back. I am not to worried about something getting her its pretty safe here, ( but you never know) Question is, how can I get her to come back to the coop at night? All the others do. I don't want her getting use to sleeping alone cause once winter comes she will freeze to death!!

 

[RWise]

Could she have a nest hid out? And be going broody? One of my girls luvs to hide her nest and if/when she has about 10 eggs she is setting! Follow her,,,,,

 

[dawnpel]

Actually my hens are only 13 weeks old. so they haven't started laying yet... I know she cant get out of our fenced in yard...I have looked under the deck, up in the trees..shes not to be found. But I KNOW she is somewhere....shes good at hide and seek...LOL

 

[Den in Penn]

All of which means you will have to become a better seeker. Tail her relentlessly when its time for them to roost. When you do catch her you may have to lock them in the coop for a few days to teach her where home is.

 

[RWise]

They can hide really well, 1 of mine hides her nest out, I was standing 3 feet from it and did not see it (and I was looking for her) my rat terrior showed me where she was! (setting there on 10 eggs)

 

[dawnpel]

Oh wow!! good thing you didn't step on the nest....LOL I have been bringing them early from free range and locking them in the run. So now they are all going in the coop at night. When do you think your eggs will hatch??

 

[RWise]

I gave her 6 good fertile eggs from my best hens (she is to young to set her own eggs) and she hatched and raised 6 chicks. We now play this game, every few days (or when she moves her nest) I bring her in for the night. Next day I watch and when she gets ready to lay, I turn her loose. She leads me to her nest every time!

 

[dawnpel]

LOL..Thats good thinking!! She isn't going to fool you! How old is she?

 

[RWise]

She is about 1 YO now, her clutch is 3 months, she has also been moved a cleaner area, almost no place to hide out!