Hi, I'm new here, and would love to hear from everyone on how they do things. I started out with 24 chickens 6 ducks 10 g hens 4 turkey and 4 roosters. I now have only 10 hens, 2 duck, 4 turkey, 3 g hens and 4 roosters. I lock them in there pen, and now its to the point that I only let my girls out for 1 hour a day before bed time when I'm out... I hate it. I feel so bad. They were all free range up until this past month and they were dropping like flys. Something was eating them in the fields right at dusk before they got back to the coop. Then something got in my coop, then something got under the pen and into the coop. It now is under lock and key, but I loved all my babies. They were all fine up until now. Now I have to PUT them in there coop by hand. They will not go in the coop by them selves. I think they are scared and think its gonna happen to them again. Anyone know what to do? They are all going to start laying soon and I don't want them laying in the field if they are out there.
Thanks so much!!,
Dawn
Thanks so much!!,
from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. It is going to take some time for them to feel safe in the coop. Just make sure no predators can get in the coop or outside pen and they will go in once again. You might try giving treats inside the coop so that they will associate good things happen inside the coop. 
