Free range DISASTER

[LilBizzy]

I had some that were afraid of the dark when younger. Inside the coop was darker than outside, so they would be afraid to go in I used the treat trick, but also had a light above their pop door . We toyed with them one night - turned light on, they ran in. Turned light off, they ran out. On, and in, off and out. ( Yes, we are mean LOL but I was actually experimenting to prove my theory about them being afraid of the dark.
After that, for new chicks,or when changing coops, I would shine a flashlight at the door from the inside for a few days until they were smart enough to go in before it got scary-dark in the coop

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Sometimes they DO have trouble recognizing the door in runs and tractors. Coops are easier, it's a solid wall with a big hole in it. With the wire fencing of runs, they can have a little more trouble at first. All the crisscrossing lines, seeing through to more than one wall at a time can be visually more confusing for them at first. Ever parked your car in a huge crowded lot when you first started driving and then come out and not been sure where that was? They may have come out of that door, but they can have a little trouble finding it when they come back the first day or two. Usually, they get the hang of it after a couple of times.

I would continue to work on training them to come to you when you call and show them the designated treat container. You can do the old "follow the bread crumbs" trick at and through the door. Just sprinkle the food in front of and into the run. All of this will work much better if they aren't over stimulated by chasing them around to try to catch them. Until you get them trained, I would plan for them to only be let out for an hour or two at the end of the day. Then they will naturally head back to the coop. Really, it just takes a few days for them to get this figured out and it becomes habit pretty quickly.

If I have to put my chickens in the run during the middle of the day, I pull out something they absolutely can't resist. Sometimes, you have to up the anty with bribes.

Good luck!

 

[schellie69]

My babies had a problem going in the coop at first but now for the most part they "pen up" at dusk if we do have to put them in for any reason we use the term "pen up" and they seem to get the idea to go into the pen, then I throw some treats in and they run to them. since I have a fenced back yard and live in town I don't have to really chase them but you could put up a temporary wire that lets them free range close to the pen then let them out just about 2 hours before dusk and then they should pen up by them selves. most chickens will want to be in the coop before dark good luck and just keep working with them they will get it soon.

 

[mistyfeather]

i walk slowly behind mine while making a soft clicking sound and saying "lets go girls" , they will walk in a line infront of me and go right in

i learned the hard way its easier and faster to take your time and go slow outher wise you get them to scatter

and chickens are fast !

 

[SunnyDayz]

Well, I think I will try again tomorrow... I have decided, however, to put up a temporary 'transitional' fence (hardware mesh and posts) around the coop~so they can't go too far just yet. Have I mentioned how much I DON'T want to be chasing them through the woods after dark?! lol... I just don't have confidence yet that they will all happily march back in at dusk

I'll keep you all posted!

 

[crittersitter]

Quote:
Ditto! It took my girls a few days to figure it out but they get the hang of it eventually. i remember my first night and it took me over an hour to get them in. I was so dissappointed but realized patience was the key.

 

[HathawayHens]

I have been feeding mine steel cut oats every evening by hand as a little treat. Today I let them free range for a while. When it was time to go in I showed them my hand full of oats and then put the oats in a feeding bowl...they went to town and I just picked them up one at a time and put them to bed. Four weeks old...

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
What are they??? ...chicken???

 

[mistyfeather]

the 1st day mine were out they put them selves to bed 2 hours before dark , i let them out around 7am , they were so hapy to be out scratching in the yard i think they tuckered them selves out

i went to check on them and give treats, every one of them was fast asleep in the coop

i had started to freak because i couldnt find them anywhere in the yard and i thought they had some how gotten out of the fence

then when i checked the coop........ there they were sleeping like babies