Delusional to think I can get the chickens in the run on my terms?

[chris10sen]

I have 5 five week old chickies who are still in the ever getting too small brooder in the garage. I do try to get them outside daily in a chicken playpen when the weather permits. The problem I am having is getting the chickies rounded up to put them back in the brooder. I have tried meal worms in my hand, etc, but they seem scared to death when I go for them. I even had to net one yesterday. Now I am a complete novice at this chicken thing. My ultimate goal was to have the chickens hang out in their run (which should be completed this week), but have some free time during the day in the yard. But will it be possible to ever let them free range and put them away when I decide( i.e. not night)? I have dogs and I don't see the day that they share the yard at the same time.

 

[Tigerjane]

Mine are two weeks old and I'm going through the same thing! I dread their outside time because it means struggling to get them olin their transport box without any of them flying out, and then trying to get them from the pen back to the transport box? OY. Seems like there's always one that manages to fly out while I'm wrangling another. They're terrified of me, and start chicken screaming and running/flying around when I put my hand near them