From free range to run, 9 weeks now ignoring call to come

[SweetAdelaide]

The last two days, our chicks have been the ultimate rebellious teenagers. Up to now, I could get them to come in from supervised free ranging into their temporary shed coop or day pen with a bag of treats, clapping, and calling. Now they literally completely ignore me and it’s become a long, drawn out contest of wills and creativity to get them in. It’s honestly infuriating.

We are trying to get our coop and run built, but for now they have a coop in shed and a large tractor run that aren’t connected. As soon as I open the door they fly out and have until now come back with treats once the run is set up. Getting them back in is a bit easier since can walk in the tractor and bring out one by one.

Is this temporary, teenager behavior and does anyone have any advice?

 

[MrFluffyandGirls]

Is the problem getting them in the tractor run from the barn? If the tractor run is enclosed I would just put a dog crate in it and they'll probably go in it in the evening then shut the crate door and carry them to the barn if that where you keep them safe at night. If the tractor run is predator proof I would just keep them in there until the coop is finished. I'm probably not Imagining your set up correctly so my suggestion might not apply.

 

[SweetAdelaide]

So the issue is when they are free ranging and I need to get them into the shed or tractor. They now totally ignore me and won’t come.
From tractor to shed it’s manageable because I can bring them in 1:1 or as you suggest.
Tractor is not predator proof.

 

[MrFluffyandGirls]

Oh, The only way I get mine in is to toss the food into where I want them and there usually is a straggler that wants to be a rebel. so That's all the advise i have, sorry...

 

[21hens-incharge]

Can you connect the tractor to the current structure using a chicken tunnel?

 

[SweetAdelaide]

Yeah that’s always worked until now. If I can get them to the tractor door they’ll follow the food in, but getting them there now is the issue.

 

[MrFluffyandGirls]

Can you connect the tractor to the current structure using a chicken tunnel?

She's free ranging and trying to get them to come from every direction so maybe if she just kept them confined to where she wants them and feed them there for a few weeks. Chickens are creatures of habit so she might be creating a new habit of not coming when desired.

 

[21hens-incharge]

She's free ranging and trying to get them to come from every direction so maybe if she just kept them confined to where she wants them and feed them there for a few weeks. Chickens are creatures of habit so she might be creating a new habit of not coming when desired.

I saw that when I re-read her latest post.

Dang birds have a mind of their own.

When I trained mine to come when called......
I use a bright yellow feed scoop with a noisy, high value treat like BOSS and call them with a "here chick chick, here chick chick" every time.
I needed mine to come in a hurry as we have a heavy hawk population here. Now I only have to step out the door with that bright yellow scoop and they come running.

 

[SweetAdelaide]

Was wondering if that might be case, too.