Hen won't come back!

[3CutiesMama]

New backyard chicken family here. It's our first night with our chickens. There are 8 hens and 2 roosters, ages 1-3. They are free range and we have a large coop with perches, food, water, a ramp, etc. All but one (a hen) came back to the coop at sundown. That was 2 hours ago and she's still not in there. What should we do?

 

[3CutiesMama]

I guess I don't know whether to close up the coop or leave it open for her. We live in a very rural area with all kinds of predators. I don't want to risk losing the rest of the flock but I don't know what to do with this stubborn hen!

 

[Eggcessive]

She probably roosted in a tree, bush, or a fence nearby. I would probably look with a flashlight for her, and get out at dawn to look for her if she doesn't turn up tonight. I would recommend that you lock them all in the coop and run for a week, so they know where they sleep. Then they should come in at dusk. I hope she is found safely and unhurt.

 

[Eggcessive]

If it is dark, she is roosting somewhere. I would close it up, and get out there at first light in the am.

 

[3CutiesMama]

Husband is going to go back out. I hope he finds her! Thank you!

 

[peeweesfarm]

I have 10 hens an a rooster, the rooster is new to the flock, we have a lg. outside pen an after a week of the hens getting used to the rooster we let them out to free range, was thinking all day bout getting them back in the coop at night ( we live in Alaska 20 hours of daylight) to my surprise that first evening @ 7 pm sun still shining but no chickens in the driveway I went out to check they were in the coop an roosted all 10 of the an the roo too the next day it was 630 when I checked an they were all there, we had a fox in the yard an roo was between the hens an the fox when I got there with the riffle , however no shot the house next door was the back stop. sorry for being long winded but having a good rooster around is a big help . if he puts them to bed as mine does.

 

[kmollyhughes]

They have to learn where "home" is. A week or so locked up will teach them. If you have to place them on their roosts for a week, they'll catch on.

 

[farmtotable]

Do you have a light in your coop? When I took the bulb out of the heat lamp in my coop (the weather warmed up, finally), I noticed that the younger chicks wouldn't come in at dusk anymore. As soon as I replaced the heat bulb with a normal light bulb (that I turn off after dark), they come back in no problem..... That might help!

 

[3CutiesMama]

Well, husband looked for her for 3 hours after that and never found her. We went out at sun up, thinking she'd come to the roosters calls but haven't seen or heard her yet. The lady we got her from said they'd all come to me calling but I guess this hen thinks otherwise. We aren't going to let them out of the coop for a few days. Oh and yes, there is a light in there. We kept it on for 3 hours after sundown but she never came. I'm hoping like hell she turns up today!

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you have a run where the chickens will be visible to her if she shows up? Since she is so new, it may help for her to see them behind the fence to come out looking for food. I hope she still shows up.