Do your chickens hide from you?

[jobyducks]

My chickens have always been good about going up into the coop when it gets dark outside so that I can go out and shut them in for the night. The last two nights, they have needed to be carried back into their coop (they free range during the day).

Well, tonight after putting both ducks back and the chicks, I was saying goodnight to everyone when I noticed there were only 5! I searched all over for my 6th hen, and I couldn't believe that she had flown over my 6' privacy fence. The hen in question was an isa brown. Looked all over my yard, went into the park that neighbors my back fence and looked all over there, peeked over into my neighbor's back yards, everything. Probably spent 20 minutes. Couldn't believe that if she was near she wasn't making a sound, either. So I got to looking in some hiding places and I found her nestled under a large bush in my side yard. I was so relived, I was borderline crying while looking for her lol.

Does anyone else have chickens that hide from them at bedtime?! How do I get them to start heading back to the coop again?! I definitely don't want them staying outside all night!

Joelle

 

[ChickNanny13]

Thinking she maybe going broody? Free ranging = hidden nests at times

A friend's 7month old pullet went missing, couldn't find any feathers & no sign something got her, looked high & low, under every bush, behind & under all the stuff in the yard. Told her wait about 21 days, sure enough pullet returned with a chick. She did find the nest following the pair around the yard. Found 6 other eggs (rotten) & another chick that was dead.

 

[jobyducks]

Wow! I guess it's possible, but my babes aren't even 4 months yet! I will look tomorrow though

 

[New2Chicks97]

No, mine have always come back at night. I think mine have heard the coyotes at night & instinctively know they would be chicken nuggets if they didn’t return.

 

[drumstick diva]

Maybe she is being pecked or bullied at night on the roost, so prefers to hide outside.

 

[jobyducks]

Maybe she is being pecked or bullied at night on the roost, so prefers to hide outside.

It's possible, but I doubt it. She went up tonight with the others. Must have just been a weird night?