Bell Training Birds

[Luke 13V34]

I decided to get a bell and bell train my birds. They are still too young to be in the coop so I figured now would be a good time to plan it out. I am thinking it will be like Pavlovs experiment with the dog and bell. I'll ring it when I feed them, and so whenever they hear the bell, they will know there is food. This should help with rounding them up should I decide to free range them, correct? Has anyone tried using a bell? I've voice trained them in the past, but I feel like that's slightly more embarrassing and annoying.

 

[Mrs. K]

A shaking can is quite effective also. When rounding up chickens in the middle of the day, I will use a long stick and tap the ground whiile herding them to the coop/run. But generally they all come to see me when I go out.

Mrs K

 

[donrae]

I don't see why a bell wouldn't work. But, you have to be sure to have the bell available. I'm with Mrs K, I just use a feed can. That way, if you need to call them urgently for some reason, you can just put some gravel or similar in a can and call them if you can't get to any feed right away.

Same works for horses....can you tell I've had horses get out before? Shake some gravel in a coffee can and they're in your pocket

 

[yyz0yyz0]

I had the exact same thought when mine were young, so I picked up a cowbell to use whenever I gave them special food or treats. I also thought that it would make things easier when trying to get them into the run after free ranging.

Turned out much easier to just shake the scratch container and yell "scratch". Now I can do that anytime and within seconds I'm surrounded by the flock. It's so funny to see them come running from different directions when the hear me call them.

I would already have the scratch anyway so this way I can just skip the bell thing.

You can train them with many voice commands. When ever I let my birds out of the run, as I"m walking up to let them out I yell "play time" then I open their run. Now when I say 'play time' they all gather at the gate like a bunch of kids waiting to get on the school bus.

 

[TalkALittle]

My birds are bell trained and I didn't have to do anything special. I have sleigh bells hanging from my back door. When the door opens they jingle. If my girls are loose in the back yard and they hear those bells, they come running to see what I'm bringing them.

 

[Luke 13V34]

All very interesting and good points. I am glad to hear these things. I am not so much concerned about the chickens, they are very easy to train to come to any noise, but my guineas? I don't know. My two pheasants (I won't let them free range most likely)?

I got a bell today, and it took like 5 minutes for them (all between 2 and 4 weeks) to realize bell meant treats, and they were ready when they heard the bell! One already learned that when I whistled I would feed her treats, but she is way smarter and braver already.