- Mar 2, 2015
- 20
- 9
- 84
I currently have 5 chickens - 2 Black Orpingtons, I Rhode Island Red (the boss), and added last year 2 Buff Orpingtons (the Golden Girls). From the start the Golden Girls have ranged further than the rest of the flock and so drawn the others into a wider ranging habit than before but the other 3 almost always come home when called - and a mealworm bribe is all it will take at the worst of times. One of the Golden Girls is now tending to hang out with the others.
My problem is that one of the Golden Girls is just so independent she is first out of the gate in the morning, not even stopping to share in breakfast treats, and I just can't get her to come home at the end of the day. Unfortunately, we live on a pretty steep hillside with a plateau where the property is located, including the chicken house. Chasing her over the hillside, especially at this time of year which is wet and muddy in North Idaho, is just not an easy option. I am loathe to leave her out all night since there are predators of many kinds on this hill so I've struggled to get her in or kept them all in the run all day but I'd like to find a way to a better solution. Has anyone solved this problem with one loner in their flock?
My problem is that one of the Golden Girls is just so independent she is first out of the gate in the morning, not even stopping to share in breakfast treats, and I just can't get her to come home at the end of the day. Unfortunately, we live on a pretty steep hillside with a plateau where the property is located, including the chicken house. Chasing her over the hillside, especially at this time of year which is wet and muddy in North Idaho, is just not an easy option. I am loathe to leave her out all night since there are predators of many kinds on this hill so I've struggled to get her in or kept them all in the run all day but I'd like to find a way to a better solution. Has anyone solved this problem with one loner in their flock?