[old chook]

Hello

recently introduced two new girls to our existing flock.  No major disputes, the odd pecking order squabble, but on the whole fairly peaceful.  However, one of the newbies refuses to go into the hen house at night.  She prefers fluttering up into a bush despite the others going to bed.  So far we have been removing her from the bush and popping her in the back of the hen house onto a perch.  Any advice on how I can encourage her to follow the others?  Should I start shoving her in through the pop hole or leave her to get on with it?!

Thanks!!

[Sassy]

You seem to be doing the right thing. There have been several forum members who have odd chooks who go up into the trees and won't go into a house. The only good thing being foxes can't climb trees!

[8doubles]

Their can be some vicious head pecking  by those ruling the roost especially if the new hen ends up next to a particularly nasty hen (often not the top hen) and the tree is less hassle.
If someone whacked you on the head a dozen times while you were in bed would you be in a hurry to go back?
She will soon find a quiet spot in the coop if the weather turns nasty.

[NormandyMary]

I used to allow 4 days for new chooks to get the hang of things. That's why I only get new girls in the summer, chasing the little blighters round the garden in the cold is no joke! Usually though, after 4 days, most got the hang of things. I must admit, there is nothing better than doing roll call at night, and finding them ALL present and correct.

[joyfull]

I had several tree roosters but in winter only one stayed out (she did move herself from the bare apple tree into the laurels when the snow came), she did use to go into the coup to lay her eggs and also to be a broody hen but once the young had grown up enough she then went back to the trees.

[old chook]

Last night she roosted in a hedge (well off the ground) and I couldn't reacher her to bring her in and pop her on a perch in the hen house.   She seemed fine this morning.

Should I try putting her to bed  before the others, after the others or not at all?

[Mulberry1990]

Our chickens prefer not to go into their coop at night, so we lure them in with their favourite treat (mealworms). After doing this for a couple of weeks they're all more than happy to run straight in at night time