How do you get your hens in coop after them roaming the yard all day? mine run in coop when I shake

collingwood said:

I just catch them for a couple of nights and then they go automatically!

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krista74 said:

My rooster George rounds all the girls up at dusk and takes them back to the coop for me.

However, if we want to get them inside the coop we just do the following few simple steps:-

1.  I go outside, armed with a smorgasboard of treats such as crispy lettuce leaves, a slice of ham, a bowl of corn kernels or a nice seeded bread roll.

2.  I wander (innocently, so as not to arouse suspicion) towards the coop, whilst singing to the chickens in the vain hope that they will follow me into the run like the pied piper.

3.  Hubby will stealthily sneak along behind me and the birds, at a safe distance so as not to give the game away.  He leaps from behind one tree to the next with the aim of remaining unseen.

4.  I walk into the run and begin vainly throwing bits of corn and bread in the air, to entice the birds into the run. 

5.  All of the birds except one will follow me into the run, and start eating the treats. I leave the run and chase the remaining bird until she is in the run too and I am exhausted and sweating.

6.  I get back in the run and hubby leaps out from behind the trees, locking us both in there with the birds.

Part One of the Plan is complete!

7.  Hubby and I position ourselves so that we are at the far end of the run and all the birds are in front of us.

8.  We walk towards the coop, rounding the birds up as we go.

9.  At this point the birds are onto us and the jig is up!  There is much clucking and chatter which I interpret to be "I'm not going in the coop at 4pm.   Hell, no!"

10.  We get to the door of the coop and the birds realise there is no choice but to go in.  Or run.  So they run.....

11.  We repeat from Step 7, this time ensuring our arms are outstretched so as to form a barrier through which the birds cannot penetrate.

12.  All the birds go into the coop. Except for George, the rooster.  Who knows darn well it is NOT his bedtime.

13.  George flaps and squawks and runs in circles, tying his knickers in knots, until he realises there is no escape, but into the coop.

14.  George goes in, the door is slammed shut behind him a-la-jail style, and the job is done.

See?  Easy.

Oh, I forgot Step 15.

Hubby and I, exhausted, sweating, and covered in tree branches, go inside for a Panadol and a lie down.  We are too tired to go out now and decide to go to bed early instead....

Krista

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krista74 said:

My rooster George rounds all the girls up at dusk and takes them back to the coop for me.

However, if we want to get them inside the coop we just do the following few simple steps:-

1. I go outside, armed with a smorgasboard of treats such as crispy lettuce leaves, a slice of ham, a bowl of corn kernels or a nice seeded bread roll.

2. I wander (innocently, so as not to arouse suspicion) towards the coop, whilst singing to the chickens in the vain hope that they will follow me into the run like the pied piper.

3. Hubby will stealthily sneak along behind me and the birds, at a safe distance so as not to give the game away. He leaps from behind one tree to the next with the aim of remaining unseen.

4. I walk into the run and begin vainly throwing bits of corn and bread in the air, to entice the birds into the run.

5. All of the birds except one will follow me into the run, and start eating the treats. I leave the run and chase the remaining bird until she is in the run too and I am exhausted and sweating.

6. I get back in the run and hubby leaps out from behind the trees, locking us both in there with the birds.

Part One of the Plan is complete!

7. Hubby and I position ourselves so that we are at the far end of the run and all the birds are in front of us.

8. We walk towards the coop, rounding the birds up as we go.

9. At this point the birds are onto us and the jig is up! There is much clucking and chatter which I interpret to be "I'm not going in the coop at 4pm. Hell, no!"

10. We get to the door of the coop and the birds realise there is no choice but to go in. Or run. So they run.....

11. We repeat from Step 7, this time ensuring our arms are outstretched so as to form a barrier through which the birds cannot penetrate.

12. All the birds go into the coop. Except for George, the rooster. Who knows darn well it is NOT his bedtime.

13. George flaps and squawks and runs in circles, tying his knickers in knots, until he realises there is no escape, but into the coop.

14. George goes in, the door is slammed shut behind him a-la-jail style, and the job is done.

See? Easy.

Oh, I forgot Step 15.

Hubby and I, exhausted, sweating, and covered in tree branches, go inside for a Panadol and a lie down. We are too tired to go out now and decide to go to bed early instead....

Krista

Click to expand...