We are having some major problems with our chickens going back to their coop at night. In particular our little polish tophats keep getting lost. I just came in from searching for over an hour for my little lost hen. Has anyone else had trouble with this or have any suggestions? We recently lost a silkie to a predator because she was sitting next to the run and didn't make it all the way back into the coop. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I just want to get my chickens back safe and sound into their coop!
Are they having a hard time seeing? Some people trim the top hat a little just by the eyes so they can see because they have a tendency to loose their flock while free ranging or not be able to find their way back into the coop.
Did you ever wonder why condemned prisoners are offered a hood or blind fold...? You'll have your answer if you watch a silkie or Polish chicken trying to escape danger. Often their head gear makes the outcome of a daylight predator attack a foregone conclusion. What bird in nature has its eye sight so compromised by its own feathers?
We mainly keep SS Hamburgs right now and they are exactly what the description says they are. Flighty and like to roost in trees! Lol! We used to have to round up at least half of them every night, chasing them out of trees and doing a head count to make sure everyone was safe for the night. We recently decided to lure them into the run a little before sunset with treats and it has made our job of keeping them safe so much easier. Instead of hunting them down one by one, we now just have to make sure they all go in the coop door from the enclosed run at night. I'm so glad I started giving them treats when they were very young, when they see me now, they all come running and will follow me anywhere as long as I have sunflower seeds or some other treat in hand. Granted, there are still one or two stragglers who have already caught on to our plan, but they don't like to be alone and are happy to go in the run after a few minutes of being alone outside. I hope you find something that works for you, I've had some very unhappy moments trying to find pullets in the trees after dark. I wouldn't be able to sleep knowing that they were out there for any night prowler to find.
Thanks for all of your responses! I will try a trim of the top hat and see what happens. These little polish top hats are such silly little birds!
