How to Recall Free Range Chickens

[Mrs. K]

I also employ the long stick tactic. Husband makes them (we call them chicken sticks) from sapling cherry canes on our property. I usually only bring it out when I have an errant goofball who for the life of her can't find the coop door. And I confess, even with the stick it sometimes turns into a chase-around-the-coop game with her overshooting the coop door and here we go 'round the coop again!

Been there! Especially teenager chickens, they just want to stay out late!

 

[Buffbrahmabantam]

These are all great ideas. Other treats that work well for us include peanuts, eggs (scrambled or hardboiled, yolk especially) and cheese - anything from hard shredded cheese to ricotta (scoop into little dishes). I feed these things only as treats in situations like this to avoid making them fat and to ensure they are highly motivated to come running. Ours range over about 1 acre of chicken paradise including a big veggie garden, orchard, berries and grapes, pasture and bushes so having good treats to entice them is a must.

Like others, I have a special call/song that I sing when I have treats. They are really smart though so if you try to fake it and call them when you don't have treats, they will quickly remember and not come running reliably to your call/song. My husband has this problem. I don't. I have treats ready before I start calling them in.

 

[Pigeony]

Feed them treats repeatedly doing the same noise, it's best if it's a little repetitive like the rooster tidbitting sound- In my case, I do
"Chick------chick-------chickens!"

Once they recognize that's the food call, they'll come to you when you make it. But make sure you actually have something, because tricking them just makes them not believe you and not come as reliably. If you make the noise while standing in the run, they will come to you with no fuss or chasing.

 

[Buffbrahmabantam]

Feed them treats repeatedly doing the same noise, it's best if it's a little repetitive like the rooster tidbitting sound- In my case, I do
"Chick------chick-------chickens!"

Once they recognize that's the food call, they'll come to you when you make it. But make sure you actually have something, because tricking them just makes them not believe you and not come as reliably. If you make the noise while standing in the run, they will come to you with no fuss or chasing.

I totally agree with this. This works for us.

 

[McChooky]

I'll call my chicken loudly "Chicky! Chicky! to get their attention and if they don't come running immediately I'll go after them. Soon as I find them most of them will run straight home(they'll test you)Those who don't I herd like cattle home calling out 'Lets Go!' while tapping my stick on the ground and waving it in front of me from left to right to block any stubborn ones(leghorns) .By blocking their path I can usually get the most stubborn ones heading home pretty quick.I had to chase a few home in the beginning-especially the leghorns! My chickens have been thru this so many times it usually only takes me 5 minutes if I need to go anywhere in the middle of the day.If I get back home early enough I'll let them back out. I feel its very important to train chickens to do this for any emergencies that come up.I could save their lives.You might need a strong drink afterwards if you have a lot of Leghorns to train lol
(my stick is a long skinny orange driveway marker)