Chickens not staying off porch or out of house

[PoPo76]

It seems like every spring I seem to have this problem. My chickens free range in a HUGE yard. However, they always seem to want to hang out on my porch and a lot of times the back door is open so they get into the house and on the couch and etc etc. Not a problem itself but I am extremely tired of cleaning up their poop. They used to be fenced in but they would hop the fence and go into the neighbors yard. Even after clipping their wings I watched them hop the fence.

I don't feed them from the porch I feed them in their coop area.
I've tried putting curry, cheyenne pepper etc around the porch.
I've tried squirting them with a water bottle.
Lastly I put a decoy owl out and they ripped it's darn head off. Literally.

I don't know what else to do .

 

[DobieLover]

It seems like every spring I seem to have this problem. My chickens free range in a HUGE yard. However, they always seem to want to hang out on my porch and a lot of times the back door is open so they get into the house and on the couch and etc etc. Not a problem itself but I am extremely tired of cleaning up their poop. They used to be fenced in but they would hop the fence and go into the neighbors yard. Even after clipping their wings I watched them hop the fence.

I don't feed them from the porch I feed them in their coop area.
I've tried putting curry, cheyenne pepper etc around the porch.
I've tried squirting them with a water bottle.
Lastly I put a decoy owl out and they ripped it's darn head off. Literally.

I don't know what else to do .

How high is your fence?
What is the fence made of?
How did you clip their wings?

 

[PoPo76]

Fence is about 4-4 1/2 feet tall chain link.
I clipped the wings by clipping the "flight" feathers as per most of the instructable on-line resources.

They actually just jumped up on the top of the fence. Seemed like they didn't use their wings.

 

[Perris]

install one of those mesh outer doors that seem to be standard in TV/film versions of American houses...?

 

[DobieLover]

Fence is about 4-4 1/2 feet tall chain link.
I clipped the wings by clipping the "flight" feathers as per most of the instructable on-line resources.

They actually just jumped up on the top of the fence. Seemed like they didn't use their wings.

Exactly. They get most of their height from the jump.
I'd go ahead and clip the primary and secondary flight feathers on both wings. That's what I had to do to keep mine in.
Now that they've become accustomed to the pen, they don't try to fly out any longer. I'll likely not have to clip them again after they molt their feathers back in.

 

[rosemarythyme]

RIP plastic owl...

A screen door would at least keep them out of the house. Chickens do seem to like porches though.

 

[aart]

a lot of times the back door is open.......I don't know what else to do .

Close the damndoor!!

 

[DiYMama540]

No tips here as I have the same problem with the porch...just wanted to show my appreciation for "ripped the darn head off"
Loved that...gang mentality with these chickens, I'm pretty sure mine are running illegal gambling operations.

 

[PoPo76]

*update*.
So I decided to try fencing them in again. So far they haven't jumped the fence but my one more mischievous girl is having temper tantrums. It literally sounds like she's screaming at me.
Should I give it time and hopefully she'll cool down?
The area I have them fence into is not small. It is probably about 50'x30' for 5 chicks. However, they just are not content unless they're able to get to the couch.

 

[aart]

Should I give it time and hopefully she'll cool down?

Eh, she'll get over it ...or not.
Sounds like you have plenty of space for 5 birds, but what does that space look like?
Take a look at this thread for some 'diversion' and 'enrichment ' ideas:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/