...and my front porch is covered in poop!
About 2.5 months ago, one of our 2 hens started roosting on the front porch at night. Within 3-4 days, both hens and the rooster were on the porch. At first, we thought something may have scared them in their coop (maybe a snake), but our neighbor "chicken expert" said they wouldn't be afraid of a snake. We moved the coop to a different part of the yard, which was no easy feat, and they still would not go back in.
Two weeks ago, I totally cleaned the porch off and removed the chairs and table they were roosting on. I put a saw horse on the porch with cardboard underneath, hoping they would at least roost on the saw horse. It was way after dark and they still would not go on the porch nor in their coop. I felt so guilty that I put everything back. They jumped right up and went to sleep!
Our neighbor suggested we get them in the coop somehow and keep them in for a few weeks, then let them out during the day again. He said they just needed "re-programming." Over the past few days, we managed to capture the roo and 1 hen and put them in the coop. The other hen is elusive but I am bound and determined to catch her and put her in the coop.(They were/are not hand tamed.)
Any advise is welcomed, please. Should I keep them in the coop for a few weeks? If yes, before I let them out again, should I blockade my front porch? I am really at my wits end...
Thank you!
About 2.5 months ago, one of our 2 hens started roosting on the front porch at night. Within 3-4 days, both hens and the rooster were on the porch. At first, we thought something may have scared them in their coop (maybe a snake), but our neighbor "chicken expert" said they wouldn't be afraid of a snake. We moved the coop to a different part of the yard, which was no easy feat, and they still would not go back in.
Two weeks ago, I totally cleaned the porch off and removed the chairs and table they were roosting on. I put a saw horse on the porch with cardboard underneath, hoping they would at least roost on the saw horse. It was way after dark and they still would not go on the porch nor in their coop. I felt so guilty that I put everything back. They jumped right up and went to sleep!
Our neighbor suggested we get them in the coop somehow and keep them in for a few weeks, then let them out during the day again. He said they just needed "re-programming." Over the past few days, we managed to capture the roo and 1 hen and put them in the coop. The other hen is elusive but I am bound and determined to catch her and put her in the coop.(They were/are not hand tamed.)
Any advise is welcomed, please. Should I keep them in the coop for a few weeks? If yes, before I let them out again, should I blockade my front porch? I am really at my wits end...
Thank you!
