So oppinions and advice on a young hen who WANTS to be a house chicken

[kristen2678]

I guess you should figure out what the goal here is. Do you want her to ultimately be a house pet or would you like her to return to the coop (predator proof of course) ? Maybe you can pair her up with a friend for a while. Do the house chicken thing with both of them. Lock them up in the house early if you're not going to be home before dark. After a while when they've bonded and feel safe with eachother return them both to the coop. I guess I don't know enough about your set up. Maybe lock everyone in the run an hour or so before dark. If they don't go up on their own, put them on the roost. They should get it soon enough. Otherwise, if you go the house chicken route you'll HAVE to put her in the house before you go out if you wont be home before dark.

 

[bkreugar]

Well she doesn't get free range of the house. I right away put her in the small tote lined with paper towels and cover her up and she goes to sleep. She is ready to sleep as soon as I bring her in. She is no problem AND she goes out with me when I walk out to feed and let the other guys. She then buddies up to her d'uccle friend. SO she is no trouble and she has no free range of my house. She just wants to roost either on porch or preferably inside. She DOES like to snuggle in my coat.

Yea I have no desire to do the diaper thing or anything like that.

My coop is secure NOW, I covered the top with constuction mesh and put a hot wire around the perimeter. My only other issue the back door that allows me to check for eggs and clean it out. It is closed with just a bolt latch and there is enough play in the bottom for something to get in, SO I put the brick against the door and problem solved. I have not had an issue in roughly 2 weeks.

I really like the idea of bringing the d'uccle in with her and then start putting BOTH in the coop on a roost pole. I think that is the most likely to work with the least turmoil to HC (house chicken)