My hen keeps disappearing up a tree at night :S

[BreezyBre]

I caught her last night heading up to the tree while I was doing horse chores so I got a ladder got up there and got her back down into the the coop . I explained to her it was the best choice of places to hang out and I prefer she stay in the coop where she is safer . Obviously our little chat sank in because tonight like a good girl she went right into the coop

 

[chickengeorgeto]

My Maran hen is nesting at night in the pepper tree over their coop . She is ready to lay anytime now so I assume it has to do with that perhaps ? My ladies have a comfy coop ,nesting boxes ,roosting poles etc How can I discourage this behavior as I worry about her safety at night...

Chickens don't think much of humans' efforts to make comfy coops for chickens. Fortunately chickens are not deep thinkers.

If you confine your birds 24/7 to their coop for several weeks you may overcome your chickens innate instinct to roost in a tall tree where they are safe from foxes, coyotes, etc but are still a target for owls, coons, and bobcats.

 

[BreezyBre]

I literally have 2400 sqft of free range area for them they go on the coop to sleep ,eat and get shade I've done what I thought was a comfy coop for chickens but yes it's seems she's unimpressed lol

 

[chickengeorgeto]

It appears that your coop is only loosely wrapped in 2 inch hex chicken wire. Everything being equal your hens may only be safe from great horned owls in such a coop/pen/run or walk.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I literally have 2400 sqft of free range area for them they go on the coop to sleep ,eat and get shade I've done what I thought was a comfy coop for chickens but yes it's seems she's unimpressed lol

It is good to see that you have a sense of humor.

 

[BreezyBre]

Oh I don't have too much to worry about predator wise in my area .My dogs are on the property 24/7 nothing goes near the ladies on ...not anything on the ground anyway . As for large birds once in a while I see a hawk but I have a murder of crows living on my property they keep everything in the air at bay . That said I'm usually working outside in the yard during the day so should something fly around I'm near by . Just about everyone where I live has free ranging chickens without issues from Hawks /owls . I can't say the about coyotes n such because not all of them have dogs to guard but as a general rule none of us have had any raptor predator issues . But everyone gets locked in at night regardless ,dogs are on watch nothing comes in my yard ever

 

[BreezyBre]

It appears that your coop is only loosely wrapped in 2 inch hex chicken wire. Everything being equal your hens may only be safe from great horned owls in such a coop/pen/run or walk.

Its also wired under ground and I used a pneumatic stapler to attach the double layered wire to the frame it's as secure as it's gonna get . Not much around is interested in meeting my gsd & my Staffordshire terrier that guard my chickens lol

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Its also wired under ground and I used a pneumatic stapler to attach the double layered wire to the frame it's as secure as it's gonna get . Not much around is interested in meeting my gsd & my Staffordshire terrier that guard my chickens lol

Those K9s would keep my cotton-picking-hands off of you chickens.

 

[WhiteWyan]

Looking at your coop I wonder if they just want to roost somewhere higher up. From what I've seen in chickens they really want to seek the highest place to roost.
Maybe put some roosting bars up higher in your coop area? Right now they don't appear to be higher than 3 or 4 feet. I hope that's helpful.

 

[aart]

Wondered about roosts too.....are the saw horses the only place to roost or am I blind?