Concerned about chickens overnight

[joet22]

I have eight, nine week old chicks. This evening I let the girls out for a couple of hours before bedtime. When I started to want to lock them back up I only found three had come home. Now it is full dark and I have searched all over, still only three. Any opinions on the likelyhood of finding more in the morning, or advice on how to call them home?

 

[Mahonri]

If it was the first time you let them out, you should have stayed with them.... they will go exploring and sometimes that leads to trouble.

If you don't have a call you give to them when you feed them treats, then there isn't a way to call them.

Just keep looking.... look for good roosting spots.. they'll usually fly up into trees or bushes by the time they are that age.

Good luck and WELCOME TO BYC.

Come back and tell us if you find them.

 

[joet22]

They have been out nightly for about a week. I never fed them or called them they just stuck around or were there. Is it normal for them to split up?

 

[Pine Ridge Ranch]

I hope you find them safe. My wife would be terrified.

 

[annek]

I have 11 and they stick pretty close together, mine are around 13 weeks old now. They were kept in the coop/run for the last month and this week I started letting them out when I am there to supervise. I find they all stick together and follow the leaders around.

 

[chookchick]

I bet they are all roosting together in a tree--Hope that's the case and let us know when you find them!