Herding chickens

[Bp10244]

ive been letting my chickens free range while I’m outside doing yard work or if I’m hanging around them, but when it’s time to pack, they refuse to go back into the coop. Is there an easier way to get them inside?

 

[azygous]

Yes. Chickens are easy to train. Using their favorite treat and a verbal cue or just shaking the scratch grain in a can as you stand inside the run, they will quickly learn to come running when they hear it.

I use a clicker you can buy for a $1 at Petsmart. I click it and all the chickens immediately come running when they hear it.

 

[Boots And Chicken Poop]

Hello! Your chickens sound like some real happy chickens! I have found a couple solutions to this, that most of the time work.

#1. Find out some of they're favorite treats, that they absolutely love! Get them use to a certain dish or bag that you will bring the treats in. When it is time for them to go up, get their attention holding the treats in what they are used to and walk towards the coop. They should come runnin'! And don't forget to give them their reward for putting themselves up.

#2. If they are going to need food or water, refill at the time they need to go back in the coop.

 

[Life is Good!]

Just like dogs who are food-oriented; treat train your chickens!

I've got a red plastic scoop from Farm&Fleet (remember, chickens can see red quite clearly)...I put about a cup of Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (BOSS - otherwise known as chicken crack), and shake/rattle the seeds in the scoop. It makes a distinctive sound which they come RUNNING for.

Mine also adore red grapes, but grapes don't make noise in the red scoop! LOL. But they will come quickly for the crinkling plastic sound of the grape bag.

 

[Bp10244]

Just like dogs who are food-oriented; treat train your chickens!

I've got a red plastic scoop from Farm&Fleet (remember, chickens can see red quite clearly)...I put about a cup of Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (BOSS - otherwise known as chicken crack), and shake/rattle the seeds in the scoop. It makes a distinctive sound which they come RUNNING for.

Mine also adore red grapes, but grapes don't make noise in the red scoop! LOL. But they will come quickly for the crinkling plastic sound of the grape bag.

Thank you, I never thought about using the same cup every time. I’ve been desperately trying to get them to learn a whistle but they’re a stubborn bunch haha.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yup treats are an easy way to get their attention. I don't even use the same thing each time. They recognize if I'm coming towards them with a rustling bag, or a rattling jar, or even with my hand cupped a certain way, that there's going to be something to eat.

As far as actually herding them, I don't usually have treats on hand while the chickens are out, but I do have my poop scooper, so if I just slowly walk behind them with the two parts of the scooper extended, they'll walk in front of me until they get back to their run. Any stragglers get pushed along with a light tap. They know where the doors are. After they go in the run it's more treats.

 

[bobbi-j]

Thank you, I never thought about using the same cup every time. I’ve been desperately trying to get them to learn a whistle but they’re a stubborn bunch haha.

Give their favorite treat every time you use the whistle.

 

[centrarchid]

A friend of a family member ties a rag to the end of a long stick like a bamboo pole. The rag end is then shook in the air to scare the birds. Takes practice but can be used to herd. Care must be take not to push them too hard.

 

[Mrs. K]

Just get on the far side and then walk close enough to them that they move toward the coop, when they start moving, you stop, then when they stop, you move until they move again. A bit of scratch thrown inside the gate will help, but not necessary. I use a stick and tap the ground, if one gets by you, let them go, get the main bunch into the run, and the others will not like being alone, and will come back.