chasing the chickens!

[annie3001]

okay for the past few weeks my chickens have been free ranging, while i am outside watching them only.
so today like any other day, there outside, i turn my back for a minute to attend my child and turn back around and begin the count of chickens, i only have 5 but still i count to be sure they are around and safe.
i only count 3 ugh!

, so i search and search the other 2 are in the woods, back far!

, now before i am about to embark on a birthday party for one of my kids( i am dressed up and people will soon be arriving at our house, i start running into the woods, the 2 chickens get scared and are now running away from me!!!!

,,,, i managed to get them back toward the house (i dont know how) it took forever i mean forever!!!

.
i go put them all back in their run, now i am all cut it and sweaty!!! nice.
but my heart was thumping i was so scared, i thought i wouldnt be able to get them back over to my house!!!
lately they have been exploring way too much as i let them outside their run to free range, why do they need to go further out into the woods? ive spoken to them and told them they need to stay near the house, hope our talk works next time.
it was exhausting.
just wanted to share my lil story

!! i dont know how others do it!

!!

 

[gritsar]

Awww sorry about that.

When my chickens were young I used to have to go thru that. Now they're out all day no matter what.
It helps if you can train them to come up for a treat.
Even if mine have gone into the woods and I don't feel like going out there I just holler for them, "come on girls!" and they come.

 

[purr]

i used to throw scraps out all the time now I go out the door and they all come running as soon as they hear the door.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Mine do too. Or "knock" at the kitchen door for treats, but when they go in the woods they can't hear that far.

 

[Judy]

Yup, come up with a particular call and offer a few treats; they will quickly learn to come to the call. Mine go into some woods during the heat of the day but will still come running if I call.

 

[RedStarDaddy]

Quote:
I use, "chooOOOOK CHOOOK CHOOOK" and my birds come running. I got them to do that with scratch.

RSD

 

[annie3001]

okay looks like i am gonna have to get a certain call for them!
i know when its time for them to go back to their coop ,, they listen and follow directions well, just have to get them to stay put and not to go wondering! thanks, ill have to think of something!

 

[shelleyd2008]

If you let them out later (like an hour or so before dark) they won't roam as far away from their coop.

 

[cposz]

We keep the scratch in a coffee can. When we go outside and shake the can, they all come running!

 

[Marlinchaser]

Quote:
I have the same thing but on a Larger scale my scratch is in a metal trashcan (to keep it dry and rodent free), but the lid works like a Dinner Bell rattle that lid and they can come from wherever they are.