"They're less flighty! Stay where they're supposed to better." they said. Ahahahaha. We missed putting our (free-ranging) little flock back into their coop last night as it's getting dark so early now, so they were out and about this morning. Somehow, two of the Buff Orpingtons managed to get themselves to the top of the shed roof, which is right below our kitchen window (kitchen is on second story), some 8-9 feet from the ground, and were watching my husband make breakfast. They were all, "hi, we heard the word 'toast'; are you coming down to feed us too, or what?!" I am trying to figure out how these big girls got all the way up there... there is a sturdy gate adjacent that could be used as a half-way point, but wow. Still a big flap for them!
Clipping wings on "big bodied" hens does work a little better than on the "smaller lighter bodied birds". (In theory) But remember where there is a will there is a way!
I myself like big birds, but aint your flock supposed to go back to the coop on their own, even if the dark comes in earlier.
Wild turkeys easily fly 20 feet to roost in trees. Granted, not the huge broad breasted birds, but bigger than a chicken.
I have some pretty big hens who can fly quite high for their weight, so it's possible they used the fence as a half-way point. Chickens are very persistent, especially if food is around.
Most of mine will, but there are a few that prefer roosting in our hedgerow. Out of 8 chickens, 5 will reliably roost in the coop, the other 3 might be anywhere. We lure them back to the coop with an evening snack to ensure that everyone is where they should be. A few times we've tried rounding everyone up after dark (finding their roosting places and grabbing them), but it's so difficult for us and stressful for the birds that we decided not to.
