Lost Chickens - Flew the Coop

[CrazyFaceFarms]

Guys...

I feel like the most horrible chicken mama.

I started in March with three sweet little chicks that I grew into almost full grown hens. 3 weeks ago we lost two birds to my neighbors dog (my chickens got into their yard). Norbert, the remaining chicken has been a trooper.

Sunday (two days ago), we received three chickens as a gift. My husband dropped them into the coop with the door open. Two of the chickens stayed in the coop, and the third wondered out. They all seemed fine. That evening I shut everyone in, and went to retrieve the third chick that was wondering around. I had her in my hands. In my hands, guys. My dog spooked her and she wormed her way out of my hands and took off. I really think she left the yard and went into some thick woods behind our house. I found a small hen sized hole in the gate back there (which has since been plugged). - That was day one.

Last night, one of the new chickens (I've been calling heyhey) got out of reach, and I wasn't able to put her back into the coop at night. She got settled deep into some brambles in our backyard. This morning I found her perched on top of the coop. I have not seen her since. I've walked out several times today and can't find her. The unnamed first chicken as not been seen since 11am. I'm worried for them.

Did I really just lose three chickens in two days?

I feel like most of the problem is that they are not bonded as a flock. I realize now that I probably should have left the new chickens in the coop for a few days. My first chicks acted like a unit and stuck together, so they were easy to find. They also knew were to go.

Help me. What did I do wrong? What can I do now? Please tell me I'm not the only chicken mama who has had this happen.

 

[Kwimmer78]

It really hard raising chickens and having a dog at the same time. I have lost 2 chickens on separate occasions where they have simply just disappeared. Once they are out overnight it is best to move on because there are many predators. In order to bond to chickens the best way is to raise them as chicks and then once they group up they are buddies and will join the flock together. It is hard to unite 3 grown chickens, but after a while, they will develop a connection and stay together. They will establish a pecking order and become a unit because chickens are flock animals.

I would try to keep your chickens as far away from dogs as possible because that seems to be the only reoccurring issue. Every long-time chicken owner has lost a chicken or two to predators, it's not your fault. The best thing to do is to get at least 2 new chicks and raise them into full chickens. Or even get 5 or 6 new chickens to really build up your flock.

I hope this helped, I have always had a hard time moving on after I lose a chicken. I just get new chicks and try to learn from my mistakes

 

[Latestarter]

Any time you get new birds, they need to be confined to the coop for at least a week and then to the run for an additional week so they learn where "home" is. After that you should be able to let them learn to free range and explore and they should return to the run/coop at night. You can train them to do this by providing a light scratch/treat snack every night at bed time to "lure them" back into the run/coop (train them that it will happen while confined). They are animals of habit and once the habit is established it will become an expected routine.

Not to be harsh, but you've made mistakes... learn from them and move forward. Get you a 1/2 dozen new chicks or young pullets and try again. If the "lost birds" return, great, but don't "expect it" to happen.

 

[CrazyFaceFarms]

UPDATE: heyhey has been loosely located. I saw her drop over the fence into our neighbor's yard (it's a safe, fenced in yard). It happened pretty close to dark. We went looking for her, but I think she found a place to settle down for the night. I will go back early tomorrow to search for her.

Buckbeak, the previously unnamed chicken is safely in the coop.

The one that got out of my hands I think is gone. Super sad because she was really beautiful.

 

[CrazyFaceFarms]

Any time you get new birds, they need to be confined to the coop for at least a week and then to the run for an additional week so they learn where "home" is. After that you should be able to let them learn to free range and explore and they should return to the run/coop at night. You can train them to do this by providing a light scratch/treat snack every night at bed time to "lure them" back into the run/coop (train them that it will happen while confined). They are animals of habit and once the habit is established it will become an expected routine.

Not to be harsh, but you've made mistakes... learn from them and move forward. Get you a 1/2 dozen new chicks or young pullets and try again. If the "lost birds" return, great, but don't "expect it" to happen.

Thanks. This helps a lot. I think the flock dynamics of adding the pullets has thrown me for a loop. I did a crazy amount of reading before I got chickens, so I thought I was prepared.

 

[BarredRockMom]

I hope that you find your missing girls! Last one home gets named Houdini...

 

[aart]

Oops!
Valuable, if hard lessons, you'll recover and improve.

I think the flock dynamics of adding the pullets has thrown me for a loop.

Adding new birds is a whole other learning curve.

Integration of new chickens into flock.
Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article
BYC 'quarantine' search


Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[Latestarter]

Really glad you recovered one and know the general whereabouts of another. Maybe the big guy upstairs has decided you've learned the lessons and don't need the lesson to be extra harsh. Ya never know... just maybe the last of the three will just show back up again as well. Here's hoping!

There is so much information and knowledge shared here and sometimes it can be a bit confusing or "conflicting/out of date". If you have questions, do NOT be afraid to post them up! There are really great folks here who go out of their way to help those who ask!