Help!! How do I catch my chickens without going nuts!?!?

[Sock Puppet]

I use a water bottle. I just walk behind them and herd them with it. Works really well.

This is if I need to shut them in during the day. When it gets bedtime they go in by themselves, thank goodness.

 

[bluey]

They make a metal rod with a hook on the end to catch chickens by the legs. It's probably about 4-5 feet long. I've seen them before but never tried them. My chickens also gladly walk up to me.

 

[mmtillman]

Worms....chickens will do anything for worms...

 

[lil_chick_chick]

oh that metal rod thing, hubby made one himself and was also using it last night, it did help. These chickens aint used to us yet, we only had them 3 nights now. The ones that were killed the other night were used to me and would jump up on me if i was out sitting in the yard, they would climb up on me and sleep, but these ones im talking about now,13 out of 19 of them are new chickens, so they havent been around us much so they act kind of un-sure still, so guess thats why we have such a hard time with them.

 

[kimbachick]

Quote:
I use the treat method, too! Works every time. And they even run in now before they get the treat, so I'm sure it would work without one now, too. I also turn on a little heat lamp and they all run over to it to get settled in for the night after their treat...even the big guys, which I think is funny because I really do it for the little chicks.

Good luck with getting them in for the night!!

 

[columbiacritter]

SNACK! I rarely have to herd my hens even in the middle of the day. They get almost 100% of their yummy snacks in their run so even if they are all the way down at the barn they come runnig when I yell SNACKS! Once they are safely in theri run they go into their coop at dark and I go close thier pop door.

 

[DawnSuiter]

Quote:
I'm no expert, but if they don't know YOU yet, then they definitely don't know where home is yet. When I move or change my chickens around, like now hens with new roosters in a new pen, they have to stay inside for a week or so, they do NOT get to go out and free range.. because when it's bed time they all go back to their "old" places and can't get in. It isn't until they know where the new HOME is that I can let them out and they put themselves up reliably before dusk.

cept my black rooster.. he likes to wait until every chicken in the whole place is up on their perches.. even though he's not allowed in there and they have their own roosters.. he still likes to be the last one to bed.

so.. if I were you.. I would keep them cooped day and night for at least a few days before letting them out again. then.. they will know where home is and go there on their own.

 

[consdrs]

Wow that is a lot of work... I have NEVER had a bit of problem getting my 9 hens to follow me ANYWHER. all I have to do is have the treat container in my hand and I couldn't shoo them away if I had to... If I so much as reach for the treat cabinet I have 9 pigs with wings right under foot. when ever I want them in the enclosed run I throw a hand full into the run and presto, 9 happy hens...

Connie

 

[trilyn]

Quote:
I use a broom too-it's easier than taking 6 trips to the brooder every night. My girls are 6.5 weeks and the coop isn't started (will be tomorrow) they're living in a huge pen in the garage and are let out when I get home. I put them away after dinner and my husband takes one look at me and he laughs his butt off everytime!

 

[Cackling Hen]

Sometime I will use a long handled fishing net. The only thing about using that is there feet get stuck in the net but it works good to catch them on the run.....