Neighbor gave me chickens and they keep running away

[Lott3944]

My neighbor gave me 17 hens ranging from 1yr to 2yrs. They just moved in Their coop wasn't setup well enough for the chickens to stay safe and warm in the winter. About 6 of the chicken keep going back to their old home. I will leave them in the coop for a few days in hopes that they will learn the coop is their new home. As soon as I let them out to free range, they back to the neighbors and I have to pick them up again at night. The neighbor doesn't feed or water them anymore. Does anyone know a way to get the chickens to stay? Thanks!

 

[Darklingstorm]

The only thing I can think of is to keep them locked up in the run, even if you have to build a temporary one and keep them in it for several weeks. Hopefully that will make them forget their old home and stay at yours.

 

[satay]

I would keep them locked up for a week or maybe two so they can figure out that is their new home.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Just keep them locked up with food and water for a few days so that they will know where home is.

 

[Lott3944]

I had them locked in the coop + run for a week and they still ran away after that. I felt so bad because all the other chickens were locked in too. Now I built a smaller area where I can keep the one that run away locked in the coop while the others can still get out. I suppose I should try 2 weeks this time.

 

[groundpecker]

Keep them in their run for a couple weeks. Take away free choice food and manually feed them 2x a day inside the run. Feed once in the morning and late evening. When freeranged, continue to feed late evening. This should keep them coming back to their new home.

 

[chicmom]

You'll have to keep them locked up in their coop and run for about two good weeks, until they feel like your home is their home.

That's really all you can do.

 

[Countrypunk92]

When recieving new birds, I quarintine for 10 days, then move into coop at night. Keep them in there for atleast a week so they know where to sleep, then let them out.

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

No real advice, just

 

[Lott3944]

Thank you for all the suggestions. I hope I can get them to stay in their new home.