Hen won't come out of coop

[lisebarb]

Hello,
We just got our hens this morning and have been fascinated watching them throughout the day.

The fellow we got them from had them free-ranging all over his property. They go to a coop at night but during the day they wander all over.

We can't do that here - too many feral cats - so we have them in an enclosed A-frame tractor.

When we got them home we put them in the upper coop part where the roost bar and nesting boxes are. After awhile we opened the ramp down to the run part below where we keep their food and water.

One hen came down almost right away and started to investigate her new surroundings. She seemed to be looking for a way out and was pacing back and forth clucking.

The other three hens came down the ramp and found the food and were scratching around in the run pretty calmly while the first hen kept on pacing and clucking.

We noticed that when she came near the other hens, they would chase her away and she'd go scampering off to another part of the run.

Eventually she went back up the ramp and inside the coop and stayed there all day. While I did see her eat I didn't see her drink anything and I'm a bit worried.

Should I be or should I just give her another day to settle in?
Thanks, Barbara.

 

[ozark hen]

sounds to me like she was the lowest in the pecking order. While free-rangeing she had enough space to get away from the flock. Now she has no where to go. We had some feral cats try to get our chickens, but the chickens went after the cats and the cats became afraid of them. My only concern would be chicks. You make up your own mind though. I think I would want a roo with them if they were to be allowed to free-range though. They would be very good alarm systems to the hens and great defenders.

 

[lisebarb]

Quote:
Thanks for the response!
If now she can't get away from the flock, will this be a problem? Do you think this will resolve itself? I'd rather give her back than see her distressed.

 

[ozark hen]

I would watch her. If she doesn't come out within the next couple weeks then I wouldn't ever expect her to come out. sorry but she would be miserable.

 

[lisebarb]

Well, she's finally coming out and mingling with the other girls. I think that she is the lowest in the pecking order though as I noticed the others shooing her away if they are eating.

Overall, I'd say the girls are settling in nicely. I hope that after a few more days they might give me an egg or two.

 

[ozark hen]

on your eggs, they will lay soon.

 

[ozark hen]

on your eggs, they will lay soon.