crazy sussex star??

[afrench108]

Hi veggies, i have just had the long awaited pleasure of getting my sussex star hybrid and gold star hybrid. I have an enclosed run 8ft x 6ft and 7ft high. A new hexagon coop around 3ft x 3ft x 4ft. The problem is that on arrival the sussex shot out the door, around the garden before recapture. I then went to lock the oop up (the run is locked anyway), but to my suprise i found the sussex on the GARDEN!!!

It seems the square trelis i put at the top of the run, below the corrigated roof, has given her a gap to escape..

Tonight found mess and scratching on the fence to show she tried escape again... Has anyone got any ideas or experience t share from what seems to be a crazy hen.....

Also got 2 eggs 1st morning and 1 tonight, strangley outside the nest box??? how can encourage them to lay in the nest box?? the 1 outside tonight was broken, as was 1 off the eggs this morning..could it be the sussex???

ANY HELP muchly appreciated

[Suechooks]

I'd put some sort of roof on the run - chicken wire or similar as foxes can scale 7 ft quite easily. that should stop the chook from flying out.
To encourage them to lay in the nest box try putting a pot egg (from Country Store or anywhere that stocks chicken feed etc) in the nest box to give them the idea. You could try a golf ball or something similar. They need time to settle and learn a routine as they are creatures of habit. Good luck!

[its hilly]

Looks like you'll have to replace the trellis with something smaller holed. Golf ball sounds good, it worked for my next door neighbour.
As for settling them down, stick to a strict routine for a week or so, and try to spend time at the run talking to them so they get to know you. Some of mine have settled straight away when they arrived, some take longer. And I've got one welsummer girlie who still bids for freedom on a regular basis despite having been in the same pen with the same bunch for at least 6 months. Funnily enough if she does get out, she will go back and sit on the top to be let in at bedtime...just a free spirit I guess.