Free ranged to caged- THey dont like it

[williedonk]

My 8 hens used to be free ranged, but now they have started roaming too far and we decided to keep them in their coop all of the time. the run is about 70 square feet. But now it looks like they are just trying to get out all day long. they peck at the wire and pace around the coop. Any thoughts or ideas?

 

[Mrs. K]

What does your run look like? A big open area? Try adding a pallet up on cement blocks, a couple of roosts out in the run, a big box in the middle. Things to provide shade, different altitudes, ways to get away from each other, places to hide.

Thing is, there brain is pretty small, and after a few days, they will forget that they were free rangers, and if you keep them confined for a while, as in several weeks, when you let them out, they will be nervous and stick close to the run.... for a while.

 

[bobbi-j]

My extra cockerels were free-ranged until a couple of weeks ago. They started chasing the pullets around, so I put them in a bachelor pen where they will live out their lives (until butchering day). They have adjusted just fine. I figured out that there were two more that I had missed the first time around, to I caught them the other day and put them in, too. They spent the first day trying to get out, but have quit that now.

 

[williedonk]

Okay. The run is a little small I think so I might make it a little wider. it is probably a little too narrow for them right now. its about 4x 17 ft

 

[mstricer]

Hip that would be the problem. They need 10 sq ft per a bird you are short by 10 sq ft.