Advice needed on simple training

[sphinxface]

I would really like some advice for training my chickens (we have 5) to come and stay close. That doesn't seem too difficult? Especially when I read about how chickens are trained to hit colored spots ! I will continue to read articles for information, but discussing my particular situation is always easier for me (part of the reason I joined the forums )

Anyway, we let them out of their run anywhere between 1-3 times a day for various lengths of time. Sometimes I can keep their interest in me long enough to lead them to the safe corners of the property and have them entertained there long enough. But we live in an interesting location; right off the busy street, surrounded by some natural areas that are home to Eagles and Hawks. We had a scare a while ago, my fiancé went inside the house for a couple minutes and as he came back out he saw a bald eagle on the ground where he had dived down trying to get to them but luckily missed. They were terrified ;( I deel like as long as they are near us they are safe enough.

So I have a clicker I can use. One question I have is; should I train them individually? The leghorn gets skittish sometimes, especially at night but I hope if I work on it more she will come despite her instinct to flee. The buff Orpington likes to wander off into the ditch a lot, she comes if the other chickens come to me for food but she's usually standoffish and does her own thing..

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[sphinxface]

I've trained them recently to eat dandelion seed heads

 

[sphinxface]

No advice? Is it too simple to really worry about for most people?

 

[yellowchicks]

I have four white 10-months old Leghorns that would run to me on commend, do laps with me back and forth in the yard, or land on my extended arm for treats. They listen for the sound of the shaker, which is a small treat jar filled with black sunflower seeds and dry meal worms.

Every time they run to me, I would let them eat out of that same treat jar. Then I would move to a different location a little farther, shake the jar again, let them run to me again, feed them with more treats for a few seconds. This exercise is repeated often, with a longer distance between us each time. Sometimes there will be a straggler who lag behind, I would wait a few seconds for her to catch up, then share the treat jar. The other girls would give the late comer a stink eye, like "hurry up already", or the late comer would be like "what did I miss?"

I always award them by letting them eat out of that treat jar if they'd drop what they were doing and make the effort to come to me. It is important to stay consistent in rewarding them and the sound you want them to take notice.

Now if we need to gather the girls back into the run, or get them out of somewhere they shouldn't be at, or just "exercise" with them, we would just rattle the jar. These chickens would pick their tails and come running or flying across the lawn to whoever shakes the jar.

 

[sphinxface]

My fiance is so silly, he really spoils them, I need to break him of that habit! He will throw them cheese just because, now they think they deserve cheese just for coming to the door

Some of the girls will come almost every time I want them to, one of them seems deaf so even though she wants ALL the treats ALL the time, she wont come even when we shake the bag of treats and the rest come running. Sometimes one will follow part way but then wonder off(the distance she wanders grows larger the later at night it gets)... I'm wondering if I should take the stragglers out and just spend time with them for a while to get them following me better?

I also feel bad if I want them to just graze and instead they just stare at me expectantly XD

 

[Pdxile]

I only give good treats in the coop, that way they will run in at any time of day they see me go in (i'ts a large hoop-coop). When I throw scratch in the yard I call "chicken treats" and when I go into the coop I call "chicken bedtime" and they come in to be hand-fed some raisins. Now I can lock the chickens in the coop any time of day, useful for lawn mowing or when I have to have the fence open. The downside to this is when I open the back door of the house for just a minute they get in the house. I'm trying to teach them the command "get out of the house" but they just look at me and laugh.

 

[sphinxface]

Thinking of just letting Big Mama out today while I water the garden. I'm a little worried maybe the other chickens might get jealous though ;(