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Why do my hens keep running away???

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by dobbsthedog, Oct 28, 2013.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Oct 28, 2013 #1
    dobbsthedog

    dobbsthedog New Egg

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    Aug 21, 2013
    South Shore, Nova Scotia
    This summer I got 3 pullets (Rhode Island reds) and had intended for them to be 100% free range. However, they kept wandering off and the neighbours were getting annoyed, so we built them a decent sized run and that seemed to be working pretty well. They would occasionally fly out, but for the most part they stayed in.
    However, over the past week or so they have been running away multiple times each day and not coming when I call them. Only two of the three lay and the two layers got out so early this morning that I don't know where they layed!
    Any suggestions as to why they are doing this? I feed them twice a day and give them scraps throughout the day, so there is plenty for them to eat.
     
  3. Oct 28, 2013 #2
    Kadra

    Kadra Out Of The Brooder

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    Oct 23, 2013
    West Linn, OR
    We have 2 RIRs. Yours are probably just "adventurous", looking for new things to eat and see. That's a tricky one. I like the idea of "free range", too, and ours are free range at the moment. They do get out of our fence but mostly stay in our yard. You may have to just build them a completely enclosed area to live in, or clip their wings. They say it doesn't hurt them, but I don't like that they lose their natural protection against predators. So, I don't know. Sorry!
     

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