Chickens who won’t come when called...

[MooresonaMission]

A friend gave us 8 hens. Our coop is currently too smal, so I’ve been trying to give them time to run around in our yard. My kids are very afraid of a hawk or fox getting them and insist on watching them. When we have to leave I call them in to be put up so they are safe. 7 chickens have learned to come when called. 1 refuses to come. How do I teach her to come? My kids all cry if I leave her out and am not watching, but staying home is unrealistic.
Suggestions?

 

[Birdsong 82]

WELCOME!!! I trained my girls for a while before letting them out with a noise. Every time I fed them I’d tap the red plastic scoop and they associated the noise and now come running when they hear it. Or mine LOVE fresh straw so I used that when I had that problem with one of mine. But now she comes to the tapping. Just took her a little longer

 

[Bantambird]

A friend gave us 8 hens. Our coop is currently too smal, so I’ve been trying to give them time to run around in our yard. My kids are very afraid of a hawk or fox getting them and insist on watching them. When we have to leave I call them in to be put up so they are safe. 7 chickens have learned to come when called. 1 refuses to come. How do I teach her to come? My kids all cry if I leave her out and am not watching, but staying home is unrealistic.
Suggestions?

Chickens respond very well to food as positive reinforcement. Try offering a special treat every time they come when called. Make sure the silly one knows you have treats, like mealworms, BOSS, or other treat. eventually, she will come with them.

 

[50-45-1]

Mine have learned to come to my call, "here-chick-chick-chick."
I call it when i am filling the feeder and when i am treeting.
Try letting them range close to evening when they will naturally want to head back to the coop before dark anyway.
Good luck, and by the way.
Welcome to the backyard!

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Mine have learned to come to my call, "here-chick-chick-chick."
I call it when i am filling the feeder and when i am treeting.
Try letting them range close to evening when they will naturally want to head back to the coop before dark anyway.
Good luck, and by the way.
Welcome to the backyard!

Welcome to byc!! Glad you could join the Flock! Let me know if you need anything! X2!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Chickens respond very well to food as positive reinforcement. Try offering a special treat every time they come when called. Make sure the silly one knows you have treats, like mealworms, BOSS, or other treat. eventually, she will come with them.

Absolutely, you need to find what really really really motivates them… that 1 treat that they will do anything for. In my case it's the live meal worms that I grow for my flock.
From there it is simply a matter of teaching them to associate a particular sound with the arrival of these treats. Many use verbal calls, which can work but are not always going to be as effective depending on who is using them. I like to use a sound cue that is not verbal....a bell, rattling the dish/bag, tapping the container, an empty water bottle with a handful of grit in it, eyc. These items sound the same regardless of who is using them so the chickens will respond to everyone.
Initially start by standing very near them making the sound and dropping the treats. Then step a few steps away from them let them get distracted by other things and then create the sound and as soon as they look towards it drop the treats again. Keep expanding the distance and the time between repetitions and eventually you will be able to issue the sound while they're not even within sight of you and they will come running from every direction because they know that treats are about to arrive

 

[MooresonaMission]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the tips and I will give them a go. And thanks for the warm welcome!!!

 

[WindingRoad]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the tips and I will give them a go. And thanks for the warm welcome!!!

I herd mine back into the coop. I look like a crazy woman running back and forth trying to get them headed in the right direction. My SLW don't like to be picked up so I get as close as I can to them and say "I'm gonna pick you upppppp.. They fly into the coop. I also say let's get into that COOOOOOOOOOPppp in a very high pitched voice and I think they don't like that and want me to stop. They know as soon as they fly up and perch on the drop down door I will shut up. They actually understand quite a bit almost on the level of a puppy.

Oh and on another note( sorry I couldn't help that). I always praise them in a nice voice, You are the best birds. What good girls you are. etc.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

A friend gave us 8 hens. Our coop is currently too smal, so I’ve been trying to give them time to run around in our yard. My kids are very afraid of a hawk or fox getting them and insist on watching them. When we have to leave I call them in to be put up so they are safe. 7 chickens have learned to come when called. 1 refuses to come. How do I teach her to come? My kids all cry if I leave her out and am not watching, but staying home is unrealistic.
Suggestions?

Chickens love treats! Or if you don’t want to give them treats, just don’t let them out until an hour or two before it gets dark and they should just head back to the Coop themselves.

 

[50-45-1]

gonna pick you upppppp.. They fly into the coop. I also say let's get into that COOOOOOOOOOPppp in a very high pitched voice and I think they don't like that and want me t

Oh, thank you for that!
I had the best belly laugh this morning with my coffee!