Silkie doesn't go in coop

[melirobin]

I have 2 BR, 1 Orp, and 1 silkie. They are mostly in a coop/run, but I let them out about a half hour before sun down to run around the yard.

This had been working fine until recently when it gets very dark early. Now we keep finding 3 chickens in the coop and the silkie (always her) wandering around the yard seemingly unable to find her way in to the coop. By this time it is about 30 degrees or less outside and pitch dark. So I have been calling her, she immediately sits down, I pick her up and put her into the cup and shut everyone in for the night.

Has anyone elses silkie done this? She is the lowest on the pecking order and so usually last in anyway, but now it seems as though maybe she just can't see once it gets very dark.

Well it worries us because I used to always go out after dark, assume all girls were in and lock up. Now I have to make sure not to wait to lock them up because 1) it's too cold for the small silkie to be out there by herself and 2) I have to make sure I find her before it gets too dark.

Thanks for any feedback.

-Melissa

 

[jjthink]

Hi Melissa,
You might try a bedtime snack treat in the coop to see if that starts to inspire her to come home in anticipation. If you are able, let them out a little sooner so you can then offer the treat before it gets too dark and if you can, don't let anyone have any till they're all back in residence.

It's concerning that she's the lowest in the pecking order because she may be afraid to come back if she's been given a hard time by the others. With any luck at all, they'll learn that good things happen (treats) when little miss silkie joins them.

Your situation is the perfect illustration of why one can never assume everybody made it back to the coop and it's so great that you discovered the little one was unaccounted for.

Good luck!!!.

JJ

 

[purr]

this is why I have to go out early too.I have a trio of silkies that will just huddle under the coop instead of going in.I don't think they can manage the ramp to the little door cause if the wind shuts the big door they don't go in.