In at night...

[Chicks4LMHF]

Will they naturally go in at nightfall- if free range as young will they learn to go in or do I have the "herd" them in. How soon can they go out in the paddock free? They are now 4-5 weeks old. I am building a ramp to go in and out of the horse stall in the stable at will. Planning to keep the feed inside---do they feed outside if they are free range in the paddock?

Their little chick feeder and water thing is too small already bc all 8 try to eat at the same time. I plan to get gallon galvanized ones and put is some perches this weekend.

My dog- a 45# mix hound loves them, and they tolerate him now. He is in their stall sort of sniffing them and nudging them around with his nose---no open mouth ever---I always am with him with the chicks. He kind of herds them--seems to like them to all be in a cluster of 8.

This is my first ever experience w birds. I know horses and dogs. Hoping they will eat ticks if free range on my farm. Sparrows flew into their stall and started to nest and it really scared the chicks.

 

[Mckennas poultry]

Sit them in their coop for 24 hours, then let them out the next day, they should go back in, it’s always worked for me.

 

[featherhead007]

Yah, just show them their new home for 24 hours.

 

[chickens really]

Depends..They usually don't venture to far from the Coop and Run at first..You possibly will have to herd them in because Momma teaches them that..

 

[Mckennas poultry]

Depends..They usually don't venture to far from the Coop and Run at first..You possibly will have to herd them in because Momma teaches them that..

She’s free ranging them, so there won’t be a “run”. Herding chickens is extremely hard, it’s like trying to herd cats

She should either have them in for 24 hours to imprint them to the coop or she could throw mealworms/ chicken food into the coop at night to attract them in

 

[chickens really]

She’s free ranging them, so there won’t be a “run”. Herding chickens is extremely hard, it’s like trying to herd cats

She should either have them in for 24 hours to imprint them to the coop or she could throw mealworms/ chicken food into the coop at night to attract them in

I have well trained chickens that I herd daily..Not like herding Cats at all....I also have a Yorkshire Terrier trained to wrangle my Chickens and Ducks too...

 

[Ducksandchickens]

My girls always go in at night. When I first got them I kept them in for a while and then let them out. They should just go back in. Usually you just have to close the door!!

 

[abraga]

I kept my babies in the coop for a week prior to letting them out. The 1st couple days I let them out an hour or to b4 bedtime. I also had them trained to come for treats when I said chick chick..so I just walked into the coop and said chick chick and they came for the treats. After a couple days I extended the time out and called them back in at night with the magic words. I also kept feed and water in the coop and right outside.

 

[Mckennas poultry]

I have well trained chickens that I herd daily..Not like herding Cats at all....I also have a Yorkshire Terrier trained to wrangle my Chickens and Ducks too...

Oh well your chickens must be different than all 20 of mine, the skidish chickens are like cats. My chickens will follow me into the coop but if I tried to herd them they’d think I was going to attack them.

. “Yorkshire terrier trained to wrangle my chickens and ducks too”
I have a cocker spaniel, if he tried to “wrangle” my chickens, the rooster would be running him off and pecking at him, I guess all flocks are different

 

[chickens really]

Oh well your chickens must be different than all 20 of mine, the skidish chickens are like cats. My chickens will follow me into the coop but if I tried to herd them they’d think I was going to attack them.

. “Yorkshire terrier trained to wrangle my chickens and ducks too”
I have a cocker spaniel, if he tried to “wrangle” my chickens, the rooster would be running him off and pecking at him, I guess all flocks are different

Exactly as is the way people manage their Birds ..
I have a Rooster and he never once had conflict with my Yorkie..She is driven in her job to get the Birds back into the Coop.