can you teach boundaries?

[BUG126]

Is it possible to teach chickens where their boundaries are on the property? We dont have a fence between our yard and our neighbor's. It didnt used to be a problem, but as the girls get braver they keep going into his yard (he is weird about poop). We chase them back to the coop area whenever we see them over "visiting". I really like to let them free range when I get home, but hubby refuses to put up a fence, says he "doesnt like fences".

 

[wegotchickens]

We 'herded' our chickens when they crossed property lines the first 3 months they free-ranged (we only do supervised free-range). They seemed to know the boundries after that. They still cross them from time to time, and we herd them back in. But it's rare. They like to stay within sight of the coop in case I bring treats.

To bring them home every evening a brought out a bucket of scraps and sang, "Chick chick chickers!" Now I get mobbed when they see me with ANYTHING in my hands. And if I sing 'the song' they peek out of wherever they're hiding.

On weekends we let them out almost all day and are rarely nearby that whole time. And they still do pretty good about staying in our yard only.

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

I had ducks that did the same thing. They learned their boundaries after the neighbors dog whacked 2 of them. Not the way to learn, but they did.

Now the neighbors informed me they are getting a jack russell, I dont know if any of you remember my run in with a jack russell, the one that killed 3 of my sebastopol goslings, but the neighbors children made sure to inform me they are getting the jack russell so it can kill my ducks.
Nice huh?

 

[Akane]

Unless you want to watch them all the time for awhile and still possibly have the occasional wanderer it would be easier to just string an electric wire at chicken height. It would also cut down on stray dogs and other predators coming into your yard.

 

[wegotchickens]

Wow, Linckhill, that's really sad.
Maybe time to buy a paint gun to you can send the doggie home? Teach it young where IT'S boundaries are...

 

[BUG126]

Quote:
oh, thats a good idea! Its a straight line that I could easily run a hot wire across. So they will get the hint after a while to stay away from there?