Roosting in the cedar tree! (and lots of questions)

[peony07]

Our girls went missing in the evening.

We couldn't find them anywhere. First it was one, then it was all but the pair of BOs. Then it was everybody. Days, heck, even weeks. We knew they were somewhere because they came back every morning, happy as little chickens. But where, where did they go? Then one day at dusk I went out with a flashlight. Searched, really searched, under every bush, the deck, everywhere. Then I heard something coming from the cedar tree. I peeked up and saw 5 pair of eyes looking down, from 10 feet up!!

Now they won't roost in the coop at all! They hardly go in there, they don't eat their feed, they don't drink the water, (they prefer to drink out of the dog's dish) it's a barren lonely little place, and my hubbie worked so hard on it.

Should I force the issue? Though I don't know how I'd get them in, they free range all day and don't have an enclosed run as of now.

Should I be worried about their diet as they aren't eating mash or feed? We give them treats, berries, leftover rice, etc. (Usually to lure them back into the yard from under the neighbors cherry tree.)

Also, they wander, really wander throughout the day. Cross streets, pooping on neighbors' lawns. Is that normal? Shouldn't the stick closer to home? Are they looking for something they aren't getting at home? Is it another human?

And another thing, they look really happy, clean, roundish and all have very red combs. I worry they are going to lay elsewhere even though their nesting boxes are open. (not that they would know). One, the BR, is super loud in the late afternoon, a long BRRRRAAAWWWK sound. How do you know when they are getting ready to lay?

We are planning on enclosing them by the end of the summer.
Any thoughts on the above would be greatly appreciated. Really we are just going on instinct and things seem to be good so far...
Thanks!

 

[Imp]

Hi from Renton,

It's up to you to force the issue. I think I would, after last winter. You would need to catch them and force them into the coop for a couple weeks, at least, to teach them that the coop is home.

I wouldn't worry about their diet. Free ranging provides a lot of choice.

They go where they want, they are not looking for another human, just good food/bugs.

If they are old enough, they are laying somewhere. Might be time for an easter egg hunt.

Good luck,
Imp

 

[peony07]

Hi back,
What if they are laying in someone elses yard? How would I know?

 

[Imp]

No easy answer. Just gotta search. Look for places that are secluded in plants. For a while mine were laying in the bamboo. Of course I've found some in the middle of the yard too.

Imp

 

[Uppity Peon]

I would be afraid to raccoons getting them while they are roosting in the tree.

My neighbor has a little white bantam that occasionally appears in my front yard. They do wander. But he has 30 chickens or so and most of them never come out of his yard.

Last year I found a clutch of eggs in the tall grass behind my shed - from my neighbor's chickens.

I am starting my first flock and they are supposed to stay in the back yard. But the fence is only 4 feet high. They could easily fly over that. But so far the only time they came into the front was when I left the gate open.

 

[CMV]

You really need to force the issue, soon. They will all be lost to predators if you don't. They need to be re-educated as to where "home" is. Lock them up in their coop for a few days after you round them all up. Free-ranging is great, but not without risks. They need to be locked in at night- safe and sound. If they are old enough to be laying, they probably are leaving eggs all over the place, which will also bring in more pests/predators. It's just better for everyone if you get those birds back home.

Good luck.

 

[scooter147]

Quote:
Plus 1000. It won't be long and a predator will find them.

 

[Gardeninggranny]

If you want your hens to be tame and friendly and you want to find your eggs pen them up. They are going feral on you. They may also be uncomfortable inside the coop - does it have plenty of ventilation on warm nights? Is it big enough? 2 square foot per hen minimum?

Leave a little night light on in the coop and make sure they have some high roosts to be comfortable on. After two weeks you can let them have some free range time each day, after noon so the chances are good they laid inside the coop. Feed them something they really like, bread?, in the evening in the coop to get them inside then lock them in for the night. Get them used to the treat every night about the same time before you turn them loose again.

If your yard is fenced or your neighbors aren't close its all right to let chickens roam, but its not fair to the neighbors to have your chickens in their yard all the time. Sooner or later something is going to get these birds- like a car- or a mad neighbor. Loose chickens can do a lot of damage to gardens and lawns. And they will range farther and farther if they aren't attached to their home.

If they are 20 weeks old they may have started to lay and you may never know where. You need to get them used to laying in their nest boxes before they are allowed free range.

 

[cmom]

I agree with the other posts. You somehow need to catch them and lock them in their coop for a couple of weeks. Take some of their favorite treats into them at certain times of the day. I did this with my birds. Every evening I would take some treats and give them to the birds in their coop, a ritual. I did it for a good month every evening at around the same time. They eventually got the message. Maybe once you catch them and get them under control you can clip their wings. Also I agree about putting a night light in their coop and high roosts. I don't know what your coop looks like, but I use 2x 4's with the 4" side up. Some may be laying somewhere already. Good luck.....

 

[scooter147]

Clipping their wings probably isn't going to keep them out of a cedar tree if it's like cedar trees around here. Branches starting at just a few inches off the ground and then numerous branches all the way up. Natures ladder for a chicken. Clipping wings on free range birds will slow them down if attacked. (although if your not their to come to the rescue upon hearing their screams they will eventually get caught).