Hens

[poiuytrewq]

We have 5 hens.
3 bantams which live in our car port with a coop they get put in overnight.
A silky who has a run and coop, she arrived alone and usually when all are free range they have just eventually joined the gang in their own time but this hasn’t happened so she lives alone but even before lock down wasn’t at all interested in hanging out with the others.
Then one remaining old brown ex battery hen.
She escapes from absolutely everything and has moved into a stable where she seems very happy scratching round all day and sleeps in the corner of the banks (complete with pony at night)
She seems happy enough, pony doesn’t care I assume this is ok!
The bantams though, they are odd. It’s like their batteries run out as it gets dark and they just stop where they are, don’t hens usually return to their house at night! I’d like to let them free range one day but worry I’d never find them and they don’t even put them selves somewhere safe or warm, literally freeze where they stand! Is that normal ?
I go out and pick them up and shut them inside every evening.

 

[Hepsibah]

It's fairly unusual for hens not to put themselves away at dusk but not unheard of. Red mites in the house might explain it?

 

[Birker2020]

We have 5 hens.
3 bantams which live in our car port with a coop they get put in overnight.
A silky who has a run and coop, she arrived alone and usually when all are free range they have just eventually joined the gang in their own time but this hasn’t happened so she lives alone but even before lock down wasn’t at all interested in hanging out with the others.
Then one remaining old brown ex battery hen.
She escapes from absolutely everything and has moved into a stable where she seems very happy scratching round all day and sleeps in the corner of the banks (complete with pony at night)
She seems happy enough, pony doesn’t care I assume this is ok!
The bantams though, they are odd. It’s like their batteries run out as it gets dark and they just stop where they are, don’t hens usually return to their house at night! I’d like to let them free range one day but worry I’d never find them and they don’t even put them selves somewhere safe or warm, literally freeze where they stand! Is that normal ?
I go out and pick them up and shut them inside every evening.

I can only speak from my experience of ex batts. When I used to volunteer for the BHWT we used to advise the adopters that the hens might need help at night as they have no muscles and are quite weak (from being in battery cages all their lives) and therefore might struggle to climb a ramp to the coop at night. However none of ours had a problem and would always take themselves off at night, they just knew that as soon as it got towards dusk it was bed time.

I'm afraid I don't know about bantams, how strange.

 

[irishdraft]

All the hens I have ever had, which was a flock of 50 at one time, always go into the house at night . I haven't ever had bantams but does sound rather odd.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Pretty sure there are no mites. They have never put themselves away though, I had them as chicks and at first thought they were just babies and they had quite a steep ramp.
They come down it fine in the morning but make to attempt to get anywhere near it in the evening.

 

[Birker2020]

I've just thought of a reason why they might not take themselves to bed. If there is an infestation of red mite in the coop.
Have you checked for this and do you reguarly dust them? Its very common at this time of year

 

[Birker2020]

I've just thought of a reason why they might not take themselves to bed. If there is an infestation of red mite in the coop.
Have you checked for this and do you reguarly dust them? Its very common at this time of year

EDITED : Sorry didn't know this had already been mentioned by Hespibah

 

[Birker2020]

Pretty sure there are no mites. They have never put themselves away though, I had them as chicks and at first thought they were just babies and they had quite a steep ramp.
They come down it fine in the morning but make to attempt to get anywhere near it in the evening.

I know this might sound barmy but do you think the steel might be too cold for their precious little feet? It might be especially cold this time of year. Normally they are wooden ramps.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Steep, it’s plastic. Not mega steep, plenty manageable but that was the excuse I used at first.
They are very happy to be picked up and put in.

 

[Birker2020]

Steep, it’s plastic. Not mega steep, plenty manageable but that was the excuse I used at first.
They are very happy to be picked up and put in.

Sorry I've re read what you put and have no idea why I thought it was a steel ramp.

I think I need to go back to bed