So, I bought four olive eggers all of laying age from someone. Kept them in the coop for a few days when I first got them, then set them to free range with my others. That night, only one of the four returned to the coop for bed and I couldn't get them to go inside. I called the lady I bought them from to see if she had a special call or something. She informed me that those hens did not go to a coop at night. "Sorry,"she said. My problem is I have an overgrown area across the way from the coop and at night these hens just fly up to a tree branch for the night. They know where the coop is because they go in to lay eggs. What about when winter comes? I also worry about predators-though they are roosting up pretty high in the tree. Can I re-train them somehow? I ran them out of the tree the first night, but they would not go in the coop for anything.
Anyway to Re-train Chickens?
- Thread starter DesireeB
- Start date
WIchickMama
Free Ranging
I would keep them in their coop for a week or two so that they get used to knowing that it is a safe place. Some chickens just might not come back to the coop, depending on what their previous life was like.
How old are they?
Do you have a coffee can or bucket you can put scratch/treats in and use it to 'call' them home every night for a few weeks. You might have to walk out to where they are, throw some down, call and shake the can while walking back to the coop. keeping tossing a little bit down (not enough to make them stop and eat like a buffet) until you get to the coop, toss some in and close them up. Eventually, you should be able to stand by the coop door and just shake the can.
How old are they?
Do you have a coffee can or bucket you can put scratch/treats in and use it to 'call' them home every night for a few weeks. You might have to walk out to where they are, throw some down, call and shake the can while walking back to the coop. keeping tossing a little bit down (not enough to make them stop and eat like a buffet) until you get to the coop, toss some in and close them up. Eventually, you should be able to stand by the coop door and just shake the can.
Here's a useful article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/getting-chickens-out-of-trees-and-into-their-coops.75511/
Shutting them into their coop for a week, if possible, will help. But don't do this if your coop doesn't have adequate space or ventilation.
Can you close them into a run for a couple weeks? At least they'll be easier to catch and put into the coop that way.
Shutting them into their coop for a week, if possible, will help. But don't do this if your coop doesn't have adequate space or ventilation.
Can you close them into a run for a couple weeks? At least they'll be easier to catch and put into the coop that way.
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