How to catch skittish hens

[Mr chicken dude]

Alright so I would like to totally free range my hens....But we got them when they were six weeks old and they had just about NO human interaction at all.....So when you go to pet them they run away except for my one hen...So when I try to totally free range them and they end up not going in before it starts getting dark and predators start coming out for food....So what I am asking is.....

1.What is a good way to catch them if they don't go back in....

2.And how can I get them warmed up to humans to where I would be able to pet them without them running away....

Thanks,Collin

 

[LittleFeat]

TREATS! I've heard they go really nuts for meal worms. I haven't tried them but will have something for them. Now my 5 girls come running every night when I turn into the driveway. They come running to see if I have anything. If I do, they come all around and let me pet them and they follow me all around the yard. If I don't have any treats, they figure that out and will begin to wander back to their own thing. The first few times I let them out of the run, I did it about 30 minutes before their normal roosting time. Now we let them out for a couple of hours each late afternoon.

 

[mdbokc]

Treats are the key. Start by feeding them treats in their run. Make your presence pleasant. When I feed treats, I click the edges of two plates. They come charging at the sound of those plates clicking. If you start in the run where they are close and learn quickly what that is all about, they will respond when they are out as well. Have fun.

As an additional thought, we use a 10' white 1" PVC pipe to heard the girls when we need to move them. I would move to something like that AFTER they are used to your immediate presence and don't feel threatened at all.

 

[chuckzoo]

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

Have you confined them to the coop for about a week, so that they know where home is? LittleFeat is right, their stomachs is one of their weaknesses. What I do to tame skittish chooks is to let them know I am the provider and that I am not there to hurt them. When I put them up for the night,I put up their feed. Then when I let them out of the coop into the run the next morning their crops will be empty and they will be ready to eat. I Wait about 30min. and offer feed from my hands without reaching out to touch any of them. After a few minutes I provide the feeder with enough for them that they would normally eat in a day. I do not do this to any chicks less than 8wks old as I want them eating 24/7 if they desire. It won't take them long to come around. Keep in mind that all chooks are not personable and will remain skittish. I'm not saying that this is the right way, but it works for me.

 

[dawg53]

I recommend catching one of the skittish hens and gently carry her around with you for 30 minutes a day walking in your yard,talking calmly to her. It may take some time, but she'll come around and wont run from you. She'll eventually jump in your lap while your sitting outside,make sure you have treats ready for her. The others will see this and might copycat,as it happened to me. You might have to do this with all the hens, who knows, it worked with my easter egger.

 

[Mr chicken dude]

Quote:
Yes...They have been confined to the coop for a week without the option to go out in to the run..Because we had 10-20 degree weather for two weeks....I have been giving them a little bit of cheerios... and set it down in front of me....But I stay there by the coop door so they have to walk toward me to get they're treat....I only have one EE that comes forward toward me and lets me pet her...But I got her warmed up t humans because she didn't have any energy a couple of weeks ago because of a cold or something? and while I was nursing her back to health I would pick her up and pet her and give her treats....But the other 5 just want nothing to do with me..They have improved since we have got them they don't run away when you open the coop door.....