Does anyone else herd their chickens?

[rosemarythyme]

The funniest thing was when we started to integrate a new batch of chicks, that had been in a separate yard beside the main run. We opened the gate into the house yard, but they showed no interest in venturing out. So we herded them toward the open gate. They piled up right at the boundary line, where the closed gate usually was, but wouldn't go past this invisible line.

I find that to be the case as well when new youngsters start getting the option to go out into the wide world. I don't actively make them to come out though, I simply leave the gate open as an option. After a few days or even weeks their curiosity starts pulling them out a little further and a little longer until they're coming out reliably with the adults.

 

[MysteryChicken]

One of my flocks is trained, so herding isn't needed much. Most of the time a goody tossed into the run, is enough to get the ones who aren't ready to go in yet, to go back inside the coop.

 

[Cinnaminute]

I started herding mine with treats and clicking my tongue. Eventually they started learning that and the sound of a shaking canister of oats. Over time they learned the sound of the back door opening, so they always come running to see if me or my family is bringing treats the minute they hear the door open, haha! Only issue with that is they don't go to the run next to the porch, they just invade the porch!

For the times I need them to return to the run early, I just call out "c'mooooon chick chick chick c'mooooon" and click my tongue. I can get my older 15 to come running to that, even without treats and they know to get right into the run. Otherwise, they usually return to the run about an hour before dark on their own since around that time I come out to top off feeders and waterers for a final dinner before bed.

In the future I'd like to train them to a bell so I don't gotta shout for them, just in case there's ever a time I can't be there to call for them. My family is really awkward with them and I think it'd be better for them if they could use a bell!

 

[TJAnonymous]

I've run out of options of having a rooster for my hens. These past few years the roosters have turned mean and attacked me and my husband. Some we have even raised from chicks and have given them lots of attention. Anywhere from a large rooster to bantam's. Do we not have enough hens to satisfy them or what? We keep around 8-10 hens at a time. Any suggestions would be welcome. The last rooster was from a neighbor with a large flock with many roosters. Almost right away I saw him walking the fence line following my husband. I knew what this meant. He's attacked my husband in the chicken yard and in the hen house. My husband can handle himself but was concerned about collecting the eggs with the nest close to the floor. I had one rooster attack that just missed my eye, left a large scratch just below it. That's scary. Stew pot time!

Been there, done that... I've come to learn that a rooster's temperament is a combination of factors - breed, individual personality, and predisposition of its parents (ask whether daddy rooster is aggressive, in particular). I've had several roosters end up in the stew pot for being aggressive including ones I've raised from a chick (bought from a feed store or McMurray Hatchery). I will not tolerate ANY animals on my farm that try to harm people. I currently have 10 roosters - 5 in one coop (w/50 hens), 1 in a 2nd coop (w/4 hens), and 4 in a bachelor pen. None of them are aggressive towards people or other animals. Even my barn cats are perfectly safe around them... Most of them came from selective breeders who also don't keep aggressive birds. Some I hatched from my own flock.

My advice to you is to keep looking. You will find the right combination sooner or later.

 

[RedwoodCoastChick]

I do sometimes. I use pool noodles to make my arms longer and more visible. The goal is to encourage them to walk calmly in the direction I want so if they start getting excited then I slow down, get further away, or angle the pool noodles away.

I've gotta say, I'd love to see a video of you doing this! Very creative!

 

[LoveOfFeathers]

I’ve herded my bachelor flock with a water spray bottle in the warmer months. I sprayed water beside them to get them to move where I wanted and if they were reluctant to move, I’d spray their feet. It didn’t take them long to learn that the spray bottle meant to head back to the coop. Guinea fowl even understand that a water bottle means business and that being an asshole to the chickens will get them sprayed. The Guinea fowl would straiten up and not chase chickens if I shook the spray bottle and said ack! I also have a few smarter birds that know the phrase “night night” means to get ready for bed, the barn lights are going to be turned off.

 

[kmart60]

I find that to be the case as well when new youngsters start getting the option to go out into the wide world. I don't actively make them to come out though, I simply leave the gate open as an option. After a few days or even weeks their curiosity starts pulling them out a little further and a little longer until they're coming out reliably with the adults.

I would have been the same about letting them take their time, but we needed to integrate them quickly before we went away for the holidays, and this seemed the best solution to have them meet on neutral ground. Our first hatch integrated with their mumma at about 12 weeks and it was seamless - mumma had been alpha chook before her "confinement", she just went back to her former position in the flock and taught the youngsters everything they needed to know. This mumma was very diligent, but was over her babies after 5 weeks so we allowed her to rejoin the main flock, thus the youngsters lacked a mentor to ease their integration.

 

[Stephine]

I trained mine to come when called, with treats of course. „poot poot poot! chickie chickie chickies! poot poot poot poot poot (like the rooster calling them for treats“ and they run as fast as their little legs will carry them. Throw a couple handfuls of treats in their run and close up behind them. I let them go into the coop from their run on their own time - they take turns drinking and doddle a bit. I close the pop door once it’s dark and they have all gone in.

 

[RedwoodCoastChick]

LoveOfFeathers, great spray bottle technique!

I used a water gun (pool toy) this summer to deter bullies who were chasing & pecking/feather picking the younger pullets when my [juvenile, non-laying] flock was integrating -- worked a charm! The perp would be hell-bent on chasing her victim when she'd get a strong blast of water on her breast or side, and had no idea where it came from. (I stood outside their fence and shot the stream through it, so they didn't know I was the source.) The Delaware (Queen's enforcer) and Rhode Island Red (big surprise ) were the bullies, but not for long -- they HATED getting water-blasted and soon associated that with their "attacks". Fortunately everyone sorted out their hierarchy pretty fast and I didn't need to stand guard any more.

But I also used it on naughty girls who insisted on roosting on top of the run instead of going into the secure coop at night. One squirt, and going inside the coop seemed like an excellent idea all the sudden.

Definitely not a technique to use in the cold, wet winter, of course, but things really mellowed out when they all started laying in September.

 

[RT2000]

I let my chickens and ducks out 3 - 4x per week to free range. They are usually let out late morning until just before dusk. Their ranging territory is about 2 - 3 acres around my house, pond, barn, and part of the pasture area. When it's time to go back in their chicken yard, they aren't always ready to call it a day... I used to walk around clapping my hands as the "signal" that it's time to go back to the coop area. About 2 years ago, I started herding them with my 4 wheeler instead... Now when it's dusk and they hear the 4 wheeler start up, they automatically start heading for the chicken yard... I inevitability get that one maverick on occasion who decides to go rogue and I need to go chase them down to remind them who's boss.

Curious to know who else herds their flock and how you do it?

My chicks usually stay in a field near their coop. I just shake a bag of dried meal worms. They even fly back to the coop.