Chicken catcher

[eaking]

We do what a lot of others do: shake the treat bag to coax them to where we want them to be. If one of them goes in the coop we find it's MUCH easier to get the other(s) to follow. It's the empty run wherein the rub lies...

 

[NatJ]

Trying to herd chickens is about as easy as herding cats.

I've never tried herding cats, but herding chickens is usually pretty easy for me. I carry a stick (to poke into bushes and flush out chickens, and to extend my reach.) They move away from me, and away from the stick. It's easiest to herd them into a pen, or a corner, or a funnel like piminuse suggested. Having the run door open outward, so a chicken turns in rather than walking past, does help a lot.

When herding chickens, you want to be walking, not running. Ideally, you just move one slow step at a time, and they move away from you a few slow steps at a time (they may even be munching grass between steps.) Not traumatic at all.

With an escaped bird, you may not be able to keep it that relaxed, but the only time I run is AWAY from the chicken, trying to circle around and get to a specific point before the chicken can get there. I do not run toward the chicken at all.

Personally, I MUCH prefer to herd chickens rather than trying to grab & carry them back to the pen.