Chickens in control

[The Happster]

A bantam funny mental image now.
What size net would you need for that?

 

[NatJ]

When I herd chickens, I use a stick about 3-6 feet long--a dowel works well if there's no handy tree to pick it from.

If a chicken hides in a bush, the stick shoos them out again.

I don't think I've tried herding with more than 20 chickens or areas larger than halfway across an acre, but it's always worked for me.

The chickens are not afraid of me. They usually move enough that I won't step on them, and that is enough to make herding work. If they won't move, I push gently with my foot or the side of the stick--not kicking or hitting, just a gentle push to say "go that way."

I can use the stick to reach out to one side or another to steer the chickens--they move away from it (or get gently pushed if they do not.)

I begin with the farthest away chickens, and start them moving in the correct direction. Then I work my way slowly toward where the chickens need to be, shooing each chicken that way as needed. Eventually, I've got a clump of them in front of me going the right way. The goal is for the chickens to walk, not run.

I had one group of chickens (about a dozen) that would come to me when I whistled (treats!), and move away from me when I made a clicking sound (like to make a horse go.) They would also move away if I reached a stick toward them.

If the chickens don't really want to go somewhere, I prefer to herd them rather than trick them in with bribes, or try to actually grab them.

 

[Mrs. K]

me too. And it will work in large areas. When mine are out of the coop/run, they are in a cattle pasture that is a section of land, and surrounded by barb wire.

But to each there own way of doing things.

 

[Marie2020]

When I herd chickens, I use a stick about 3-6 feet long--a dowel works well if there's no handy tree to pick it from.

If a chicken hides in a bush, the stick shoos them out again.

I don't think I've tried herding with more than 20 chickens or areas larger than halfway across an acre, but it's always worked for me.

The chickens are not afraid of me. They usually move enough that I won't step on them, and that is enough to make herding work. If they won't move, I push gently with my foot or the side of the stick--not kicking or hitting, just a gentle push to say "go that way."

I can use the stick to reach out to one side or another to steer the chickens--they move away from it (or get gently pushed if they do not.)

I begin with the farthest away chickens, and start them moving in the correct direction. Then I work my way slowly toward where the chickens need to be, shooing each chicken that way as needed. Eventually, I've got a clump of them in front of me going the right way. The goal is for the chickens to walk, not run.

I had one group of chickens (about a dozen) that would come to me when I whistled (treats!), and move away from me when I made a clicking sound (like to make a horse go.) They would also move away if I reached a stick toward them.

If the chickens don't really want to go somewhere, I prefer to herd them rather than trick them in with bribes, or try to actually grab them.

My tent window worked a treat it's sort of shaped like a wing. I got to be mother hen for a while, now they crawl all over me , so cute.