New hens won't lay in nests or go into coop at night

[jemimarose]

I really did search the posts before adding this thread,but I couldn't find my exact problem. I was given 2 free range hens to add to an existing free range flock consisting of a guinea hen (the queen) and 4 laying hens (the subjects). The 2 hens integrated well into the flock socially, but they won't lay in the coop's nesting boxes or enter the coop at night voluntarily. The Australorp is a sweetie, and I can carry her to the coop at night. The other (not sure what breed) is 1/2 wild and skittish, and she hides near dusk so I can't find her to put her away. If I try to catch her before she hides, she freaks out and won't let me touch her. I'm worried a predator will get her; we've lost a few already. Some of the posts say to lock them in the coop for a week, but the rest of the flock comes and goes all day and they lay their eggs in there, so I can't close up the coop during the day. The 2 new hens have not left any eggs that I can find, so I don't know if they're laying outside. They have a whole acre of forest and grass, as well as a several-acre horse pasture next door, so no way to tell. they were both active layers before they came here--produced eggs all thru their quarantine (in rabbit hutches). So, what can I do?

 

[Den in Penn]

One thing to do is tail them to the scene of the crime and keep taking the eggs in the hope they soon try the nest. just know that they may try several locations if you disturb the nests they make. Put fake eggs in the nests and hope they see them and decide that is a good place.

 

[jemimarose]

I've looked everywhere I can think of for eggs. If I knew approx. what time of day they laid, I'd have a better chance. The property is so big, and with the barbed wire blocking me from the horse pasture, I don't have much hope of finding the eggs except by accident. So far, it's a miss. How do I get them to voluntarily go in the coop at night? I thought they would just follow the others, but no. So far, the wild one (Rosie) has made it thru the night perched in the huge walnut tree, but I feel it's just a matter of time before something gets her.
Something that seems strange to me has happened with integrating these two. maybe someone can tell me if it's normal. Jemima, the Australorp, is a big fat, friendly, comfortable lady that nevertheless brooks no nonsense. When the hens challenged her (from the lowest to the highest--do they always do it that way?) she met their aggression with the exact same force as they used, and when they stopped, so did she--she didn't try to assert dominance, just establish that she would not be bullied. When the guinea charged her, Jemima actually pretended the guinea was invisible! She didn't move or ruffle or acknowledge her charges in any way. The guinea didn't know what to make of that. After several charges went unanswered, she pecked Jemima. Jemima jumped and squawked, but she didn't run, and she didn't return aggression. She just went back to her business. Rosie, who is a lily-livered chicken, pun intended, stuck close to Jemima, and was pretty much left alone by the rest of the flock. Now, Jemima and Rosie are sort of a sub-flock of their own. They sort of hang out with the flock, but they spend a lot of time on their own, which is why I think they don't want to go into the henhouse. Since Jemima won't acknowledge the guinea's dominance, but also will not usurp her, and Rosie is under Jemima's protection, they just don't feel part of the family. Does that sound logical, or am I just creating an interesting drama in my imagination?

 

[Mrs. K]

no, I have found that you often have subsets within a flock, tolerating one another is not the same as a friend.

To get them to lay where you want, you may have to lock everyone up for a couple of days, when I get a sudden drop in egg production, I usually have someone laying somewhere else. Chickens are funny, they will lay in the same place for a while, and then just want a change. I lock them up for a while, or even just longer in the morning.... and everyone starts laying where I want them too again. But even in my coop, they will lay in one nest almost exclusively, and later on, change the nest.

Use a fishing net, one of those big ones to scoop fish out of a lake, when you have caught it. That really extends your reach, and makes it easier to catch a wayward bird. Just drop it over the top of them, and they calm down almost immediately when they can't get away. This will work even on a mean rooster.

Mrs K

 

[jemimarose]

Mrs. K, thanks for the advice. I guess I could lock them all up for a couple days. I didn't think of that. I wonder if they would drive each other batty in that confined space, since they are used to running around outside all day. I wouldn't want them to fight. There are 7 fowl in a space that's about 6x8 feet, with perches and nest boxes enough for everyone. Do you think that is big enough to keep them all in for 2 whole days without them going stir crazy?