Dulcie Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 I have invested in 2 chickens for the first time. When I went to tuck them up for the night they were up a tree! Help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henchanted Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 (sorry not much help) Do you have them in a run or are they free ranging and what type of housing? Sounds like a very natural behaviour, thats how they would sleep in the wild , away from ground predators. If you do have a run, and if they are out free-ranging in the evening, entice them back in with some lovely mealworms and lock the run so they are more likely to settle in their house at dusk. Hope that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 One of my new birds decided to roost in a tree on her first night (I did get her down and put her in the coop). To be fair she didn't really know where 'home' was well enough to put herself to bed properly and so found the safest place. It would be wise to encourage them into the coop for the first week before roosting time. That way they know where to go before it gets dark and they panic roost. Also it sounds like you need to clip their wings (do 1 side only). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 On the plus side ... the fox won't get them! It is perfectly normal behaviour. In the wild they would roost in trees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 It can take new chickens a while to understand where home is. One of my current flock insisted on sleeping on the roof of the house every night until she came into lay, as soon as she went into the house to lay an egg its like she understood that that was where she as meant to sleep too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennym Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 My chook-supplier recommended keeping them in the coop & run for the first two weeks (we negotiated that down to 'at least a week' ) before letting them out to free range. They now definitely know where home is and it's pretty easy to herd/entice them back there whenever necessary. It also gave me a chance to sit with them and hand-feed them for a few days so they trust me and know that I'm the treat-lady, and good things happen when they come to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dulcie Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share Posted June 8, 2011 Thanks so much for all the wise advice. We are clipping one wing of each chicken tomorrow. I think I will start getting them ready for bed a bit earlier so I don't have too many late nights! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
