gaynorharris Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 Hi We have a total of 9 chickens- 4 Miss Pepperpots, 3 ginger girls and 2 cream legbars. We have had our cream legbar girls for over a month now and they are approximately 20 weeks old, they have their own eglu and run but for the past 2 nights have chosen not to go in and when we have gone out to close them all up for the night cannot find them anywhere in the garden. Our other girls go to bed fine. The first night that this happened we thought that the fox had got to them or they had escaped - and was very surprised to find them the next morning (and relieved). I would welcome any advice as I am concerned at them being out all night. Please help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 Hi Gaynor, Why not try shutting them in the run before they do a runner at dusk. I always shut my girls in from free ranging about 3pm - they then have their corn and then toddle off to bed around 4.30pm and then we shut the cube door when it's dark. Getting them in a routine and encouraging them in the run with the corn should help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 Must be something about Cream Legbars, I'm sure others have posted the same and found them in trees. I think they just oiked them out of the branches and put them in then did as Chelsea says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaynorharris Posted November 22, 2009 Author Share Posted November 22, 2009 Hi - thanks for the replies - they have been going in on their own accord upto now so really surprised with this new situation. We had to put them in early the other day as we were going out and it took us ages to get them in My kids have been running round the garden with torches - they are very worried - they must've found a nice hiding place. Hopefully they will have a safe night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 The little tinkers Can you be out there when they go to roost then you can leave them a while and get them down and into their coop and safety for the night. If you know where they are hiding you are half way there. After that do as the others say and get them in the run early so they can't escape. They really are naughty little chickens. Worrying you like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaynorharris Posted November 23, 2009 Author Share Posted November 23, 2009 Unfortunately we have some sad news - Stripy was not there this morning and my son has found a pile of feathers - it was his chicken and he is very upset I wish we had found them last night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 I'm sorry to hear this news, RIP Stripy Don't beat yourself up about it, you did your best & nature will often win no matter what precautions we take {{hugs}} to you and your DS Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 Oh What awful news. How very sad for you and your little boy. RIP Stripy. Sha is right these things happen in the wild. I hope you can get the other one sorted out tonight. {{{{Hugs}}} for you and your son.xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 I'm so sorry to hear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 That's a shame, maybe they'd had a scare and that was what made them want to roost high up? Hopefully you'll be able to keep the other one in, once the fox knows they're there he'll be back so fingers crossed the other one has more sense. I've only limited experience with cream legbars - not sure mine has actually got a brain and she's very flighty, maybe it's a characteristic of the breed? Anyway, hope your son is OK, sorry to hear about your poor hen BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaynorharris Posted November 23, 2009 Author Share Posted November 23, 2009 Hi - thanks for all your replies - it has been a strange day today - felt very sad Thankfully Fluffy went in her house by herself - so don't need to worry tonight. Don't know whether to try and put her in with the other girls as feel for her on her own. I am also looking at getting another cream legbar/araucana hen to keep her company. My sons keep asking questions about it - and one of them said to my husband that if he sees a fox whilst driving to run it over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 OH dear not easy things to explain to young children, every thing is black and white to them. So pleased that Fluffy went in the house she must have been following the other hen into the trees.......Good idea to get another hen/s to keep her company. {{Hugs}} hope you feel a bit better today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
