Not coming home

[Knittinchickn]

We have had three hens for about a month. Originally we also had a fourth, but it turned out to be a rooster and we had to re-home him. Almost immediately after the rooster left, we went away for a week and had a neighbor let the hens out and close them back in at night. They free range in our yard (about 1/2 acre) and sometimes our neighbor's yard but they have always come home along the same route every evening. While we were away they stopped coming home. When we got home we found them in our neighbor's yard but they won't come back to our coop. Is this because the rooster is gone? Is it because we were away and their routine was disrupted? A combination of both? How can I fix it?

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. While you were gone something may have scared them so that they no longer feel secure in their coop. Make sure that the coop is secure from predation, and lock them back inside until they regain confidence in their 'home'.

 

[Knittinchickn]

Thank you, we'll try that. Since their food and water are in the coop we should be able to shut them in when they come back during the day.

 

[Wyandottes7]

Welcome to BYC! X2 on Sourland's advice.