Help securing free range chickens..

[TMChickens]

That is the same way we got our mean rooster. I assume it took a lot of training to get them to go in and out of the coop/run on demand? Ours are all over the place, my husband had to physically pick each one up and hand them to me to get them in the coop. They like the barn and want to do what they want, when they want. The barn is not secure and they won’t hang out in the rafters like the guineas. So they have to go into the coop, but we would spend hours chasing them around if we decided in the daytime to put them up. Any suggestions?

 

[azygous]

Oh my! No need to run around in a frantic chase and grab scene! It's so quick and easy to train chickens to come in on a signal.

Most folks simply shake a scratch grain container each time they dole it out and the chickens come running toward the sound. I use a training clicker you pick up for a buck at Petsmart. I just click it and the chickens instantly materialize in the run where I am when I click it.

It was a very fast and convenient way to get the little rascals out of my garden enclosure after they went in through a wind blown gate to dig up my freshly planted lettuce.

To train, just click it each time you dole out a treat. They learn practically immediately. Reward compliance and you have trained chickens.

 

[Howard E]

First, sorry to hear you are losing birds. If there is a Murphy's Law on chickens, it may be when a predator attacks, they get your favorite first.

Second, on free ranging........I have concluded a true free ranging flock is not that much different than sending a hormone laden teenager off to an unsupervised, all night bikini beach party at an STD clinic. What could possibly go wrong? An extension of both is that unless you, the one responsible for their well being, are willing to accept the consequences, you need to put your foot down and say no.

So a reasonable solution to the lost bird problem is to establish a safe zone of protection for them. An enclosed run is one option. A larger yard is another. But as the size goes up, so does the cost of building it. The most cost effective way to provide a large are area of protection is to use an electric fence designed to keep poultry in and predators out. You can make this as large as you are willing to maintain, but make it easy on yourself. An acre can easily support as many as 50 birds, so that might be a good place to start. The key to keeping the birds within this zone of protection, is to provide them with a variety of food and cover options so they will accept what they get and not try to push it as far as expanding their range.

And properly built and maintained electric fences do work well to keep predators at bay. That is by day........the coop protects them at night.

BTW, as you describe it, a fox is high on the list of suspects. They can snatch and grab a bird without a trace. They take it home to feed the kids today and come back for another tomorrow. They keep coming back until all are gone and keep coming back long after that just in case you were kind enough to restock the cupboard.

On your LGD notion, if you have regular visitors to your property, you may have issues with some LGD's. I've never had one, but I've been around properties and livestock they were protecting and they were not friendly. But that is their nature and job. Seems a dog like that may cause trouble for you?

 

[cmom]

Thank you cmom! When you say free range do you mean you let them out of their pens to roam around unsecured? But they had rather be in their pens? Of course a 200 x 60 ft pen is awesome!

We have about 80 acres, 70 forest and 10 cleared with 4 pastures but they stay mostly around the barn and in the pastures. It just seem such a shame to have to limit their roaming. They love going in with the Llama’s and Donkey’s and playing with them..it’s actually comical.

But, I am understanding that may have to be the route we take to secure them. We are very attached to them and it’s been an emotional roller coaster.

Actually the birds would rather stay in their pens but there is very little shade in the pasture and they would rather stay near their coop and in their pens where they have plenty of shade. I do plant greens for them and when I clean out the gardens they get the plants I pull up. Where I live, I'm getting ready to pull everything out now as the growing season is over till fall.

 

[azygous]

Lots of terrific points in @Howard E 's post!

 

[cmom]

Oh my! No need to run around in a frantic chase and grab scene! It's so quick and easy to train chickens to come in on a signal.

Most folks simply shake a scratch grain container each time they dole it out and the chickens come running toward the sound. I use a training clicker you pick up for a buck at Petsmart. I just click it and the chickens instantly materialize in the run where I am when I click it.

It was a very fast and convenient way to get the little rascals out of my garden enclosure after they went in through a wind blown gate to dig up my freshly planted lettuce.

To train, just click it each time you dole out a treat. They learn practically immediately. Reward compliance and you have trained chickens.

I do the same thing. Not a click sound but most any will do to associate it with treats. The birds will go right into their pens for treats. I have a special bucket and when the birds see it they come running. I usually whistle.

 

[TMChickens]

Wow! Thanks everyone for the insight and great tips! What I am hearing is to create an environment that they enjoy day and night so they want to come in. Our coop is walls on 3 sides but open (Chan link & Chicken wire) to the outside in a 16’ side. They don’t mind at night but during the day I can see that would not be as appealing as say a 60 x 200 foot run! jealous..
We wouldn’t be able to use electric we have an ave of 40 people in our cabins every night and they love the chickens. But, a big run with a much nicer coop could persuade them to like to stay confined a bit more.
I hear you loud and clear, we are the boss and should be responsible. We have not been good trainers but that is in the past. We have lost our last chicken!
Now, how about those guineas? They perch in three trees and go missing at night. They are impossible to get out of the trees. They are safe in the barn but do not want to stay in the barn. We bought some spike wraps to wrap around the trees but they could move trees (we know one of the predators were coons). Think we could reinforce with red glowing eyes and a motion sensor light?
Any other suggestions for guineas? We have 18 in the coop now but we won’t let them out cause they are just learning to roost. Do people treat them the same as Chickens coming in at night? They are not easy to train for us.

 

[azygous]

I don't have guineas, but I've heard they do not accept confinement gracefully.

 

[TMChickens]

I second that! They eat 4000 ticks a day and we are overrun with ticks. Mosquitos not so much. I just hope we can find a way to keep them safe.

 

[Jacquie Button]

So right now I have 10 chickens (8 hens, 2 Roos). They are all still young. I couldn't stand having them caged up so I decided to let them free range. I have 8 dogs and surprisingly enough they all are co-existing quite well. Of course my little d'uccle and I mean little cockerel is the one the dogs decide to give a chase, I think he instigates it! I have left the coop open at night and so far all is good. I did see a cat yesterday along the fence, but I scared it away, hopefully the dogs would run one off. I have red squirrels that sneak a bite of food every now and then and of course the jays! Funny thing is since I've let the chickens loose the pesky crows have flown the coop! I just love watching them, so relaxing and peaceful.