Runaway chooks!!!

[Eglu]

My chickens have taken to running away out of our garden into other gardens, and then not coming back.

THey disappeared Tuesday morning and I didn't get them back until Wednesday night when a neighbour told me somebody had found them. Was starting to give up hope at this point.

Any suggestions as to getting them to stay in our garden without making it fort knox. THey are currently confined to the run, since I think the nieghbours are going to start getting annoyed soon.

goodness, I was going to start this very thread - mine do come back at dusk each day though

didn't realise mine were still escaping until yesterday when a neighbour asked if I'd have a look at her garden or what is left of it, argh

so anyway, now we have Fort Knox - all I need are a few sentry towers and searchlights to complete the look

Fort Knox I'm afraid - chickens will go their own way - they are willfull buggers

Well it looks like they will be confined to their eglu run until we can afford to build a WIR.

Thanks Ladies

Have you clipped their wings? I know it's probably a stupid question, but it makes a massive difference.

Clip wings. Fort Knox. It does them no harm to be confined to their run for a while. It re-inforces that tthat is 'home' in their heads!

I've also got a theory - if you let hens free range, they start squarking their heads off to be let out at 5.00 in the morning come summer time! Keep them in the run for 5 out of the 7 days of the week so they get used to the idea that FR is not a daily event!

Thanks Doodlez that is interestine. THeir wings are clipped and I checked them and are still fine.

I tohught if I let them out after confining them it might just make them run away quicker in case I lock them up again. Or am I overthinking it?

Fencing.

It is your responsibility to keep your livestock in.

A loose hen can cause a car accident on the road.

Thank you for your input meltedmarsbars, but I never mentioned them being anywhere near a road.

{smile]