Chicken Tips - Take a Tip, Leave a Tip - Page 19

My father taught me a trick about getting chickens down from high rafters. 
Use a garden rake and gently come under and behind them with it when they are quiet and roosting and gently tap (lift up) on the undersides of them.  They will usually just step back onto the rake and you can slowly lower them down.  It has never not worked for me and I don't know how I would have gotten them down if I didn't know this trick.  Hope this helps.

Nic&Chickies :

It can be as simple as "Chick, chick, chick" in that High-pitched voice we--many of us-- seem to use when talking to our pets.
Just remember, if you must use the call, the chickens will expect treats!

My goat has learned to come to this call too!!!! Chiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiccccccccccccckkkkkkkkennnnnnnn!

I find a good farm dog very useful. I have two English Shepherds that keep my birds safe from predators when ranging, both from the ground and the air. Also, the dogs keep the chickens out of the front garden and off the porch. They can herd the hens back into their run if I need them put up in the middle of the day. The dogs keep unexpected  visitors safe from the rooster. If the rooster tries to attack anyone, the dogs run interference and we have a short tussle where the little guy looses a few feathers and his dignity. They've never injured him. While the dogs sleep in the house, they do patrol the yard and surrounding area last thing before bedtime. Then they listen out for strange noises during the night. If they hear unexpected sounds, I let them out to deal with it. They have killed two possums and numerous snakes, mice, moles & voles. They keep the deer out of the vegetable garden. I have been the only one in my neighborhood that hasn't lost any chickens in the last 3 years (as long as I've had chickens)!