calling any one from missouri

[can you hear me now?]

Wow 1000 is a lot of birds. Wish I had that many. If so I could be a little more self sufficient.

 

[misschickenlittle]

davony's chicks :

Quote:
I agree with you. Wish I could let them out more often.
Unfortunately it sounds like you and I both are in the same boat with inconsiderate neighbors.

I am in a rural area. I have several large lots that I could let them free range in and they would not bother anyone bot those ..... neighbors. I would always have to put them in at night anyway due to the other night preditors but it would be great if they could free range without having to be supervised.

There are people near us, and I mean across the vast feild and the other road, that let thier birds free range. But I don't know if they are home all day or what. However... One of the RIR's has not been cooperative and has been out of the "cage" for 2 nights and she's still alive!

I tried like the dickens to catch her this morning but couldn't get her. She has to be thirsty... silly bird! I thought about letting everyone out again but I don't get home until it's already almost dark. I don't want all my birds spending the night out. And that Roo! Let me tell you, we spent a good part of 10 minutes chasing him around Sunday night to get him back in the coop and finally he just waltzed in like "HA! I made you run!"

has anyone had to train thier birds to go back inside when it gets dark? Any suggestions??​

 

[davony's chicks]

Chickens are good at making you look like a fool sometimes. Mine have done it to me.

I think the reason is because it isn't something that is done everyday. I have a friend and he lets his out every morning and every evening like little soldiers they all go inside and he closes the door.

So I think maybe it becomes routine....

 

[can you hear me now?]

I don't free range my girls but they still go inside on their own.

 

[misschickenlittle]

I guess I just need to either make it routine or forget it...

 

[can you hear me now?]

Give them treats for a little while in the chicken coop when they get in. It speeds up the routine. I spent all summer trying to get mine in a routine with poor results until they got treats.

 

[davony's chicks]

that sounds like a good idea

 

[misschickenlittle]

can you hear me now? :

Give them treats for a little while in the chicken coop when they get in. It speeds up the routine. I spent all summer trying to get mine in a routine with poor results until they got treats.

They go in the coop just fine. We have a covered run that they go out into but I kind of want to be able to let them free range outside of that. But I supppose a little outside room is better than none. I really just have the problem with the one RIR and the Rooster. I use treats to bribe them back into the run then they go in the coop by themselves.​

 

[emarble]

I started out my little group with one RIR and the Roo and we started a routine that I put them up and let them out about the same time everyday! Whenever I would start I would tell the Roo BOSS its time to put the girls up and put a little scratch in the outside run !

Now all I have to do when they freerange is tell the Roo Boss put the girls to bed and He starts clucking and puts down the one wing and starts the round up and It has become MY responsibility to round up the newbies or strays (I have 15 girls now) and still have a couple that have only been with us a couple months

BTW If I dont fork over the scratch or treats immediately He will then crow consecutively and scold me till I come forward with the groceries (Chickens and especially Roos are very demanding and Sometimes Too smart for their own good) But I wouldn't take the world for him or any of My Girls!

They dont get as much free range in the winter and I am much more watchful as is boss (He is constantly rounding them up and keeping them close to where Im sitting watching them, He never lets them wander as he does in warm weather) Like he knows instinctually that there is lots of danger around

Ernie

 

[davony's chicks]

that is funny Ernie