chicken troubles

[ldw29]

Hi,
My name is Laura. I have 3 chickens which I got from my parents when they moved. I do not know what kind they are and my parents do not remember. I got the chickens in Feb. It was very easy to let the chickens out in the morning, close the coup up at night make sure they have food and water and get the eggs. The chickens would run around all day. And it was great. Then I decided I would get a few more since everyone was liking the eggs so much. So I got 4 chicks. When they got big enough I put them out with the big chickens and that went great for a few weeks. Then one night only 1 chicken was in the coup 2 chickens where on my front porch, 1 of the chicks was on the top of the chicken coup and the other 3 chicks were in the asparagus bed. The chickens still laid eggs in the coup. I cleaned out the coup hoping that would help. It did not it just made the chickens lay eggs some where else for a few days. Now the chickens are laying eggs in the coup. But the 3 chickens still sleep on the porch. One of the chicks sleep on the porch but he sleeps on the ceiling fan away from the chickens. And the 3 chicks that were sleeping in the asparagus bed have gone MIA. Although their are woods lining the asparagus bed and sometimes when I am up that way I swear I hear them so they may be in the woods behind the asparagus bed but I have not seen them in a while. So how do I get them to go back in their coup? I worry about just putting them in their and shutting them up since I am not sure how they get a long with the chick. I am sorry I don't know that much about this can you please advise.
Thanks
Laura

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
Hi and welcome to BYC! I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I thought I'd take a stab at this since nobody else has yet. My instinct is to say that if it were MY chickens, I would close them in their run for about a week and prevent them from free ranging until they get the idea that they're supposed to roost and lay eggs IN the coop. Do you have a run attached to your coop? If not, this might be a good time to construct one. Nothing fancy just something to give them enough room to play during the day and boundaries to send a message. I've read that some people put a nightlight in their coop to entice the chickens to go INTO the coop at night.
I'm also wondering where your feed is. Is it in the coop? I would keep the food in the coop if you're not already, that way they have to return to home base to eat.

I hope others chime in here in case I'm way off base, but it's a start anyway! Good luck with your new feathered friends!

 

[Choco Maran]

AdozenGirlz is right on. I would build some kind of run to keep them in so they learn where home is. As for the three MIA. If they are indeed in the asparasgus patch they may need help getting home. As there is lots to eat out there and are in no hurry to come home. All my chickens have free range with in there enclosed run. I can't let them out as we have to much wildlife around.

 

[prancie]

you could try just picking them up in the evening and putting them in the coop. After a few days they will get the idea. If that doesn't work I would lock them in the coop for a couple of days. If any of the chickens are in the woods you will have to go find the, if you want them back. In the future bring treats out every day and call them the same way every day and eventually they will come running from anywhere, anytime.

Also, do they have a perch in the coop? If they don't I would put one it, it would make them feel more safe at night and more likely to want to sleep there.

 

[ldw29]

Thank you so much for your help! I will try to get a run set up. The coup is 2 layers. The top layer is all wood so they can go up their and not be seen I guess. The bottom part is only closed up with chicken wire and a door. That is where their food and water is. I tried just putting them all in their until I get the run built. Originally I am told, it was built that way so that they would sleep on the top and during the day could be down on the bottom part. And just stay in the coup but my Dad felt bad so he started letting them out. However when I put them in there 2 of the chickens started chasing the chick and pecking her. I am told that they can be very mean and do serious harm. Is that true or well they just give her a bit of grief then leave her a lone? I put the 3 in the coup and the chick I put in a separate area. Until I find out more info. Thank you so much for all of your help!
Laura