Strange Behavior

[JVC]

I have 6 chickens that are laying age and in the last few days they will not stay in the pen. They are fed well and given treats on top of the normal stuff.
I don't know if this is pre laying behavior or just what. Any suggestions?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Cover the run? How high is it?

 

[JVC]

Around 4 feet tall. I have clipped their wings but they hop up from one thing to the next to get above the fence line. It is a pain rounding them up all the time but, I was more concerned that they were maybe missing something in their diet and going foraging.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Nope. Even if I was well fed I would rather be out exploring lol.

 

[Lamaremybabies]

Sounds to me like their old enough to know there's really yummy stuff beyond the wire. Haha I have a 5' fence that I had to cover because they were flying out.

 

[Lamaremybabies]

Are you able to let them out at all? Even if it's for 30 minutes before they typically go to bed and you sit outside to watch them?

 

[JVC]

We have never tried letting them truly free range. They have a large fenced area they roam around in.

 

[JVC]

Sounds like I will have to cover the run.
Thanks for the help!

 

[RodNTN]

I have nine 14 week old chicks that stay in their run all day, and before they go to bed I let them range for about half an hour or an hour, with me watching them.

They can't go very far, and its entertaining.