Newbie owners. Hens ran away! How do we get them to come back?

[howiedoit]

I just wanted to give an update. After our 4 hens got away, we got 3 pullets. I built another coop for them. 2 of the hens that had escaped would come to our yard during the day (maybe because they saw and heard the young hens), but would hop the fence as soon as they saw us.

On one rainy day about 1 week after the hens had escaped, we saw that those 2 hens were in the original coop that I had built for them. They were hiding from the rain, I'm assuming. So I ran out and closed the door on them. So now, we have 2/4 of the hens back in the coop! They've been in there since and have been doing well. But they still haven't warmed up to us. They will come out to the run, but they go back in the coop when they see us.

As far as the other 2 that got away...we still haven't had any luck getting them back. I climbed up a ladder to try to grab them one evening, but they flew away even higher.

Our new young ones have been doing well. They are really friendly now that they've gotten used to us. I'm attaching a photo of the 3 of them hanging out on my leg.

 

[lazy gardener]

You might try building a T pole to try to capture the renegades. It will need to be long enough that you can reach up into the tree where they are roosting. Wait till it's pitch black, and reach up with the pole, pressing the perch part of it in front of them to force them to step onto the pole. It will be helpful if you have a person to help you with a flash light. You could also wear a head lamp with a red light. If it's dark enough they won't be able to see well enough to fly higher up into the tree. If you have street lamps, that will be a complication!!

 

[cscigu]

Excellent. I'd say keep everyone locked up about a week. Then, if you want, let them out some during the day. Take away their feed by noon, then feed them in the pen at dusk. They should want in anyway, as that's where they want to roost.

The others may have got a "roost imprint" (my theory only) on these trees where they are. Still, they may gradually want to join the others. My experience is that a hen's roost, and laying area are very imprinted on them, and they always go back.

That looks like a well done setup you have there.

 

[Jessicajames56]

Did they end up coming down?

 

[tlcmurphy]

Did they end up coming down?

This post is over 7 years old, and the OP hasn’t been on this site since 2016.