How do you get them back in the coop?

[cleoandtheo]

It's a warm & gorgeous day here today & I want to take the girls outside with me for a bit while I do some yard work. They haven't been in their coop yet (they aren't quite old enough yet, but almost), so I thought I'd let them explore the coop, and also explore the yard. I'm a little concerned about catching them all again..... Is there a trick to rounding them all up again?

 

[Backyard Hencam]

I would put them in an enclosed area at first. Running free can be overwhelming. I don't know how many chicks you are talking about, but rounding up a flock can be daunting (and scary for young chickens).

It is a lovely day in California, isn't it?

 

[fancbrd4me02]

They will go back in if they know how to get back into the pen when it gets dark. If they get confused or are hanging outside too late, lure them with some food or treats. Mine go out every day, and go back in at night. They also return to the henhouse during the day to lay thier eggs in the nestbox.

 

[patman75]

I never have to catch mine.

Get a some sratch. Get them used to you giving it to them in a bright colored cup.

I all I have to do is shake the cup and call them and they will follow me around the block if I wanted them to. Throw the scratch in the coop and they will file in with no chaising or catching.

If you have no scratch then use their favorite treat. grapes work good.

 

[Shelly_WNC]

I let my eleven Wyandotte 3 week olds outside for the first time this week. I took them out of the brooder and put them all in a box and then took them outside beside the house where I could sit on the lawnchair and watch them. They did good, they all stayed together and we were outside only 30 minutes but they didn't go more them a few feet from where I let them out.

Now ... gathering them up was a little hard. Mine don't like to be handled and so they didn't come willingly. I had to do some chasing and they liked to hide under the lawn chairs. They are young and therefore don't run to fast so it wasn't to troublesome catching them.

So next time I will take away all the places they can hide under.

Good luck on your first outing - I'm sure it will be fun.