Can you teach chickens NOT to do things?

[alinas2010]

Pepper, the head hen, likes to jump into my large flower pots and forage. The others have followed but usually hop right out when I come over. Pepper does not. I wouldn’t care, but our fence is not tall enough in this area yet and being on the flower pots allows her to be able to reach the top of the fence and jump over if she wanted. It hasn’t happened yet, but until we can get a taller fence, I’m wondering if she can be trained not to hop up? Today I caught her in the pot and picked her up and set her down on the ground. She literally looked at me and hopped right back up. I took her down again. We played this game 2 more times until she finally gave me the stink eye and walked away. I’m wondering if it’s possible to train her (them really) to not jump up there, or is it a lost cause and I just need to block the area off? I’ve heard they’re smart, but I think they can be jerks, too, and will do what they please

 

[TRALALARA1]

Pepper, the head hen, likes to jump into my large flower pots and forage. The others have followed but usually hop right out when I come over. Pepper does not. I wouldn’t care, but our fence is not tall enough in this area yet and being on the flower pots allows her to be able to reach the top of the fence and jump over if she wanted. It hasn’t happened yet, but until we can get a taller fence, I’m wondering if she can be trained not to hop up? Today I caught her in the pot and picked her up and set her down on the ground. She literally looked at me and hopped right back up. I took her down again. We played this game 2 more times until she finally gave me the stink eye and walked away. I’m wondering if it’s possible to train her (them really) to not jump up there, or is it a lost cause and I just need to block the area off? I’ve heard they’re smart, but I think they can be jerks, too, and will do what they please

From what I’ve observed about all you can do is make it uncomfortable for them. I put down some chain link fencing over some pepper and tomato plants to keep them from scratching them up. It worked for that but they still can eat the plants if they want.

 

[alinas2010]

From what I’ve observed about all you can do is make it uncomfortable for them. I put down some chain link fencing over some pepper and tomato plants to keep them from scratching them up. It worked for that but they still can eat the plants if they want.

I like that idea. I may have to try putting something up there to make it uncomfortable. That should help the situation. Stubborn little things. Hope your plants make it! Thank you.

 

[Henhouse Harlot]

My Dad would put mouse snap-traps beneath newspaper to teach his cat to stay off the table, it did work....AND it might work with chickens..?

 

[Chookchicken]

If your chickens are stubborn like mine all you can do is try to put stuff on the top that they don’t like standing on. Even then though a determined chicken won’t care. My best advice for you is to just close it off until you can make the fence higher. If you have mobile pots and don’t want to close it off you could also just move the pots away from the fence.

Some people have been able to train their chickens by using mealworms. Though I think this is mostly used for teaching them tricks.

 

[Callender Girl]

If you are able to train your chickens, please share how you managed. I could then duplicate results to keep my birds from pooping on my newly stained deck and out of the goat pen where the residents really, really don't like them.

 

[Henhouse Harlot]

I feel the need to point out that the traps didn't actually hurt the cat, they just made one hell of a racket and scared the fur off the poor thing!

 

[alinas2010]

Well today her sister jumped up, and she was going to, but looked at me and then didn’t as I was walking over. So maybe progress we’ll see how the rest of the day goes. I will probably just be closing the area off lol thanks everyone!

 

[Mrs. K]

They may not jump up there when you are there, but the moment you are gone they will be there. Unless you are living in the coop, I don't think it will work.

I think you can train them to do something to a cue - like mealworms, but that is not the same thing as training them not to do something when you are not there.

 

[alinas2010]

They may not jump up there when you are there, but the moment you are gone they will be there. Unless you are living in the coop, I don't think it will work.

I think you can train them to do something to a cue - like mealworms, but that is not the same thing as training them not to do something when you are not there.

Onary little boogers. They’re like toddlers