Freerangetn
Hatching
- Jun 23, 2025
- 2
- 1
- 4
Hi All, I'm new here and have searched the site for a similar situation but didn't happen to find anything.
I have a small flock 5 hens and a rooster. They free range but are locked in a coop every night. For the past month or so one of my hens will not leave the coop. I took her to the vet to see if they thought anything was wrong but they said she looked healthy. She does happen to be the roosters favorite so I did find a good cut on her that has since been cared for and healed. Other than normal mating I've seen no aggression from the rooster or other hens.
I also go her a chicken saddle thinking maybe it would help her but still stays in the coop. When I have gone to look sometimes she will be on the roosting bars. Other times I have seen her in the nesting boxes. I'm not sure if she's broody since she doesn't seem to be showing any other signs of it. No making noise. No protecting the nesting box. If you try and move her she immediately moves even if you just open the door she will move. She also doesn't feel bare on her bottom. I have also considered her maybe just being afraid of the rooster.
Yesterday I decided to bring her inside and keep her in a dog pen in the house for a bit because we have a heat advisory currently here and her being in the coop all day I don't think is healthy. I have seven pullets that will be introduced to the flock in a few weeks. I was thinking about maybe reintroducing her with them but I'm just not sure what to do or what's going on with her so just looking for some advice.
I don't really know what else to do and I feel bad about her being in there 24/7 the last resort would having to be rehoming her just so she can hopefully have a good life somewhere.
Sorry for the rant and thanks in advance for any help
I have a small flock 5 hens and a rooster. They free range but are locked in a coop every night. For the past month or so one of my hens will not leave the coop. I took her to the vet to see if they thought anything was wrong but they said she looked healthy. She does happen to be the roosters favorite so I did find a good cut on her that has since been cared for and healed. Other than normal mating I've seen no aggression from the rooster or other hens.
I also go her a chicken saddle thinking maybe it would help her but still stays in the coop. When I have gone to look sometimes she will be on the roosting bars. Other times I have seen her in the nesting boxes. I'm not sure if she's broody since she doesn't seem to be showing any other signs of it. No making noise. No protecting the nesting box. If you try and move her she immediately moves even if you just open the door she will move. She also doesn't feel bare on her bottom. I have also considered her maybe just being afraid of the rooster.
Yesterday I decided to bring her inside and keep her in a dog pen in the house for a bit because we have a heat advisory currently here and her being in the coop all day I don't think is healthy. I have seven pullets that will be introduced to the flock in a few weeks. I was thinking about maybe reintroducing her with them but I'm just not sure what to do or what's going on with her so just looking for some advice.
I don't really know what else to do and I feel bad about her being in there 24/7 the last resort would having to be rehoming her just so she can hopefully have a good life somewhere.
Sorry for the rant and thanks in advance for any help
