Sweet_Melissa
In the Brooder
- Oct 9, 2018
- 7
- 24
- 19
Hello!
In June I adopted 3 four week old chickens. I set them up in a small coop and they enjoyed hanging out in my fenced in yard then returning to the coop to roost. Soon, they figured out how to get out of my fenced in yard but still returned to the coop at night to roost. I would lock them in every night to keep them safe. They got much bigger than I anticipated though and they eventually stopped returning to the coop at night and started roosting in a small tree right next to my house. They even stopped returning to the coop for food and water.
They've now been doing this for about a month.
Over the weekend I got a new, larger coop. I set it up inside the fence close to the tree they like to roost in. I loaded it with yummy veggies, their regular food, and water. I have yet to see them come back inside the fence to even check out the food around the coop let alone go in the coop. They are still roosting in the tree at night.
I'm considering cutting the branch where they roost down or putting something there to deter them from going in but I'm afraid they'll go some where else and I won't be able to find them. I'm also considering scooping them out of the tree at night but the rooster isn't terribly friendly and I don't really want my eyes pecked out. Does anyone else have any experience with this or are able to provide me with some tips. I live in PA and want to get them situated in the coop before the leaves fall from that tree and it starts to get cold and snowy out.
Thank you!
In June I adopted 3 four week old chickens. I set them up in a small coop and they enjoyed hanging out in my fenced in yard then returning to the coop to roost. Soon, they figured out how to get out of my fenced in yard but still returned to the coop at night to roost. I would lock them in every night to keep them safe. They got much bigger than I anticipated though and they eventually stopped returning to the coop at night and started roosting in a small tree right next to my house. They even stopped returning to the coop for food and water.
They've now been doing this for about a month.
Over the weekend I got a new, larger coop. I set it up inside the fence close to the tree they like to roost in. I loaded it with yummy veggies, their regular food, and water. I have yet to see them come back inside the fence to even check out the food around the coop let alone go in the coop. They are still roosting in the tree at night.
I'm considering cutting the branch where they roost down or putting something there to deter them from going in but I'm afraid they'll go some where else and I won't be able to find them. I'm also considering scooping them out of the tree at night but the rooster isn't terribly friendly and I don't really want my eyes pecked out. Does anyone else have any experience with this or are able to provide me with some tips. I live in PA and want to get them situated in the coop before the leaves fall from that tree and it starts to get cold and snowy out.
Thank you!