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

[TXmom]

I agree with all of the above...I have a coop and run, and then I let them "free-range" in a fenced-in section of our property. They all go inside the coop by themselves every night, then I close the door as it's getting dark. If I want them in the coop or run during the day (if I'm leaving) then I show them that I have treats, then walk to the run and they all come running to me.

When I first put them outside, I didn't let them free-range at all...100% in the coop at first, mostly because of wet cold weather, then let them in the run when it got better. I eventually started letting them out of the run in the evening to see what they would do. They went back to the coop as soon as it started getting dark, no problem.

 

[Bailey1234]

My dog is soooo dumb. If I have to leave and it's not dark enough for them to have gone in on their own I put the dog on his leash and walk around the yard for a few minutes. A few days ago though I had two roos starting trouble and my dog tried to hide gbetween my legs and nearly knocked me over. This is also training for the dog because if he get's over the line with getting too close or going into "preditor dog" mode I signal him to leave it or if he is just walking along nicely I can give him the good pat on the head.
Knock on wood here....but so far so good...the dog gets the constant reminder not to touch and the birds and the birds rush to the coop at the sight of him just because.

 

[silkeysandra]

I must be lucky but my chickens just came into the coop when it got dark on their own. I did keep them in the coop a couple of days. I'd do that. Then let them out at just nearly dark and bribe them back in. Repeat the bribe and lengthen the time out, until they start gathering by the coop entrance when it gets dark.
Its going to be some work since these chickens have gotten into their habit.
We did put a lid on our pen--about 12 x 16. we used wire stretched tight and shade cloth over that. Keeps hawks out for sure. We still get squirrels in there but that's all. If critters dig under, dig a trench and lay in barbed wire--several strands=and cover. that should do it.
Let us know what works.

 

[Uppity Peon]

After I moved my flock to the outdoor pen I went out in the late afternoon to catch them and lock them up in the coop. They were afwully hard to catch! After 2 days it occurred to me I should wait till later. After dark they were huddling down and became very easy to catch. I found that they huddled down within an hour of the sun going down, while it was still fairly light out. But it wasn't long before they caught onto the routing of hopping up into the more secure coop, and now all I have to do is come out and close the door and secure it.

 

[greathorse]

Am I to understand that some folks catch their chickens every evening and carry them to the coop? I have never heard of such a thing. I would have chickens from here to kingdom come. I have always had a run. I suppose for a few weeks when they were first in the the big coop I would go out and push the young ones into the coop at about dusk. It really only took about twice for them to go in on their own. Now mine go to their roost every night on their own, I just close the door.

I am not sure there is an instinct stronger than a chickens instinct to go back to its roost. I really think that if you waited until near dusk and each had a broom or rake so as to make yourself much larger and just slowly pressed your chickens to the coop you would have no trouble.

It takes some practice to understand where to be in relation to the chickens so they will move in the right direction.

 

[katiekat]

LOL! We call this nightly ritual the "chicken rodeo!" We too just leave the coop open and they will go home at night.

 

[Debi214]

Yep mine go home at night by themselves.....always have unless it isn't dusk yet. I will snap my fingers and say "go home.........". I use that when I want them to go to their run before they are ready.

forgot to add that I have to kinda walk after them while I am snapping my fingers.............

 

[lil_chick_chick]

Guess what! We tried it, we left them to theirselves to put theirselves up for the night and it worked!

All we had to do was close the door once we seen they were all in there. The thing is, the past few nights, we were trying to put them up while still day light out, because we had places to go early evening and i guess thats why we were having such a hard time, because the sun was still up, but tonight, after dark, went out there, and all were in the chicken house, no problem at all!

 

[kimbachick]

Yep! It works great, huh? But, I just hate it when I'm in my pajammies in bed and then realize I haven't closed the coop door yet!! DOH!

 

[LittleMamaBigPapa]

I have no clue because I only have 3 and they are not living outside yet, but I sense your frustration and just wanted to say.......I hope it gets better!!!

Do the chicken dance!