Any tips on wrangling chicks for field trips?

[thecatumbrella]

Sorry, this is probably my dozenth post in the baby chick forums. Lots of new "experiences" on our second go round. Anyway...

For those that brood indoors and take your chicks for field trips to the great outdoors: How the heck do you wrangle them back up to go inside??? Our pen is 9x18 and we have 7 chicks that are the size of small rats. Right now, we're doing the "calmly herd one into a corner and snatch them up like a hawk" -- GENTLY, of course! But it's very stressful for everyone involved with lots of screaming on their end (and internal screaming on mine).

They DO NOT want to go back home, and I don't blame them. But the nights are still too cold and they're not fully feathered (and my coop's not ready yet, but ). We're also not giving treats at this time (except hot mash), so I have very little to bargain with.

Advice? Tips?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Try using a fishing net.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Maybe try reducing the space while they are small.

I used a 4x6 space and would slowly make it smaller using a piece of plywood to "push" them until it was small enough I could just scoop them up. No chasing involved.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Try using a fishing net.

Mmm, this might not be a bad thing to have on hand. I could at least use it to corral them. Then I'M not the bad guy; it was the net!

I used a 4x6 space and would slowly make it smaller using a piece of plywood to "push" them until it was small enough I could just scoop them up. No chasing involved.

You actually gave me an idea. We just finished adding our integration/security area, and they're already rushing the door whenever I open it. It's MUCH smaller than the main pen. I can open that up at the end of the day as a special treat (with their travel bin inside), then close them in for easy retrieval.