Darn neighbor chickens led my girls astray

[Elmochook]

My neighbors have had chickens for years and years. They have always come into my yard to look for bugs and its never been a problem. I got my flock in april and just started letting them out in the last couple hours of the day before sunset in the last couple months so they arent too savvy. I lost my rooster on halloween and he just never came home. I assumed coyotes but actually just found him yesterday under my fire pit in the overgrown part of my yard but he was just bones in oerfect condition... Weird.

Well tonight the 2 big hens didnt come home so i only have 1 little bantam alone in there. :'( poor Chicaletta.

I searched the trees and i think maybe i see the buff with the neighbors roosters that live in my lavender trees but i really hope my welsummer is up there too.

Farming in the country is rough.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'm in the country, my chickens know where they belong. Generally chickens won't leave a territory without a good reason. I would suspect something took them.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Chickens who freerange have a way of freeranging where they prefer to do it. Also hens will be drawn to a flock with a rooster as apposed to a hen only flock. Otherwise why would a rooster spend all that and energy crowing his fool head off if doing so had no benefit, like more hens to mate with, and thus more chances for the rooster to pass on his DNA.

 

[Folly's place]

I'm blessed in that no near neighbors have chickens, and it's great! The nearest birds are about a quarter mile downwind, and nobody travels that far.
Unless you want a combined flock, fencing sounds like your best plan. Cock fights can get ugly, and I'm sure you want your birds, and they want theirs.
Mary

 

[chickens really]

Chickens are flock animals...Being yours is a small flock and next door has more Chickens they went off to that flock..Possibly the Bantam came back because she knows where home is to roost..
You might need to fence them in....

 

[Elmochook]

Well i guess the Blrw's will get a pen upgrade if thats the case. The stock on the farm is fluid lol. I was only mad something else got to eat my rooster because he looked pretty tasty.

 

[Elmochook]

The update on my 2 missing ones my welsummer is gone but the buff orpington did roost in the tree last night. Shes on lock down for naughty behavior.

 

[Elmochook]

Chickens are flock animals...Being yours is a small flock and next door has more Chickens they went off to that flock..Possibly the Bantam came back because she knows where home is to roost..
You might need to fence them in....

Im planning on building a chunnel system in the spring that can keep everyone safe.