Chickens but no eggs!!

[ryanguevara1983]

I have four chickens, all who should be laying. The problem is that my neighbour also has chickens. As soon as I let them out in the morning, they hop the fence and spend the day playing with my neighbour's chickens!! All good fun, but the problem is that I'm not really getting any eggs!! I think they are laying in my neighbour's coop!! He is very nice and always drops a box of eggs round when I need them, but I would love for my chickens to lay in my coop and collect them each morning - the way it's meant to be!! Does anybody have any tips for keeping them in until they lay? Do they usually lay first thing in the morning?

Thanks guys.

[Scarlet]

Try clipping their wings or may be string something loose across the top of the fence. If they can't perch on the top of the fence they are unlikely to try to get over.

[Nicos]

They can lay at any time of the day. Sometimes I find a warm egg as I'm locking them up for the night.
Nope- unfortunately you'll not be able to keep them in until they lay.

Wing clipping is a good idea as Scarlet has mentioned.

Problem is that if they can get out, a fox/dog/cat may also be able to get into your garden and kill your chooks

Maybe you need to think about making a covered run for them?????

[Scarlet]

Covered run is probably the best option for safety. I just have an electric fence, the ones that make a habit of getting out either gets their wing clipped or I move her on.

[Glutton4...]

Sorry for laughing! They are little wotsits aren't they. I will echo the advice already given!

[baldrick]

eeerm higher fence????

[Scarlet]

I'm not sure a high fence stops them if they really want to get out. I have a 6ft fence in between two pens and often I have a maran jump up and take a dive for my back just in case they are missing a treat!

[ryanguevara1983]

Thanks for the tips everybody. I think I'll try wing clipping first. Raising the fence isn't appropriate as I share it with a neighbour and bit too busy to build a run at them moment - maybe a job for the holidays! Anyway - two eggs this morning!!!

[nellie-m]

Anyway - two eggs this morning!!!

congrats and well done! Nothing like your own hen's eggs, is there?
I guess you gave them an attractive spot to lay in your coop - a nice dark corner, preferably a box, with straw or other nesting material, and a golf ball or fake egg to show them that here's a safe place?

[Mikey]

Well mine are wing clipped and still leap over a 5ft fence, have you seen chicken run, its quite realistic.

[RichmondHens]

Some of my bantams are proper houdinis. They still get out despite all preventative measures. I have taken primary and secondary feathers off my young bantams and (because they are so light) it makes no difference at all. They zoom over the fence with no trouble. Then they hang around on the other side of the fence, laughing at the rest. Annoyingly though, when bedtime comes they act like complete dorks and instead of flying back in, pace up and down outside the enclosure till I let them in through the gate.