Do chickens have a homing instinct?

[bohemiabones]

i recently got some POL pullets with the intention of letting them roam free around our village and surrounding countryside - as is the norm here in Bohemia - but have kept them in a pen until they now untill they all started laying in the nestbox as i feared that 1. that they might get lost until familiar with their "home" 2. that they may lay away and i wouldnt find the eggs.

all are laying and i just liberated them - only they just hang around the pen! do chickens have a homing instinct, will they ever become explorers ;) and if so, will they find their way home to lay eggs and roost?

any advice much appreciated.

[bohemiabones]

[Robert_Brenchley]

If they haven't been free before, they'll lack confidence. Give them time.

[teresa]

They should stay near the food,water and housing and will explore further during the day and hopefull return home before dusk.
If they go wondering someone else may feed them and the hens lay for them insteed of you.
If their instints kick in they will lay under hedges which makes finding eggs hard. Also roost in trees.

[bohemiabones]

thanks Robert and tereza