Keeping free range chickens away from the road

[Wyandotte Annie]

So sad had a young hen hit by a car on our country road the other day. Afraid now to let them out which is something they really enjoy doing. Do they learn to stay out of the road as they mature or will it always be a definite issue? How do those of you who free range manage to keep yours from the road?

 

[GuppyTJ]

Annie,

I free range but not near a road. I have tried to keep my 16 chickens out of certain places (like inside my barn) with no luck. The only way I know to keep chickens out of an area is with a fence or hedgerow.

Here is a similar post on this topic, with a good deal of healthy discussion and several suggestions. It may answer your question and give you some workable ideas.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/510337/chickens-in-the-road/10

Good luck,
Guppy

 

[Wyandotte Annie]

Thanks Guppy for the link and reply! I'm out there when they are but they sneak out to the front yard. Caught them yesterday heading towards the road again and herding chickens is like trying to herd sand! I have 5 acres of pasture behind the coop, do they head there nope.

Keeping them in the run for their safety atm. Will try letting them out to forage an hour before dark the time they normally keep close to the coop till I figure out a solution.

 

[GuppyTJ]

Annie,

Can you try baiting them to use the pasture? Bet you tried this but maybe always feed them their treats there (like your table scraps type stuff). Or, another idea is scatter their treats out in the big pasture so they have to spend time finding them and get used to wandering around the pasture?

One other thought... chickens like to have cover, things to run and hide under when they get scared. Do they have cover by the road (trees?) and less cover in the pasture? If that's the situation, you could try to give them cover in the pasture. Picnic tables, plant some trees, build a lean-to? I'm not sure but this might be an idea.

Guppy

 

[Farmer Viola]

How old are they? My 19 week old's get scared of the sound of a car coming by, if they're in the front/side yard they scoot away from the road. I was wondering if yours are maybe too young to hear cars coming? Or just don't care?

Haha I have so been there with herding chickens, like sand that's a new one! XD

What works best, seriously you'll be amazed, is leading them with chicken scratch. I bought 5-grain scratch and added some sunflower kernels. My girls go CRAZY for it! I throw very small handfulls and back away slowly and they just swarm me. I don't really drop that much, it's just seeing it fall that excites them (like a cat!)

I've herded soo much more successfully this way than trying to move them with my body. I think I need some kind of sheepdog to make that happen

Also what Guppy said is spot on, they want to be under something - low tree, low bush, etc. If your pasture is wide open, they see that as dangerous because they (rightfully) fear predators from above - hawks, owls, etc. You could give them objects to hide under to encourage them hanging out in that area.

And! Just be patient. My girls spent seriously 3 weeks under 1 bush, when I have acres and acres of space. Then, they slowly started branching out to other bushes, running across the open yard to the opposite tree, and venturing into my front yard garden area. They really love bushy/overgrown areas! If your road is like that, or maybe the neighbor's yard is like that, it could be what's drawing them there. Best of luck!

 

[Wyandotte Annie]

They have lots of great spots in the back to forage under protection, flower gardens, lots of rose bushes. There's mulch to dig in, clover, grass, weeds, a chicken haven & buffet lol. They actually have to cross a wide open space to go to the road. The neighbors field across the road is overgrown with tall weeds. That may be the lure! I thought too all that open area to cross might deter them but no. Goofy brazen chickens! My pasture is fairly open but there is a long row of shrubby trees coming up along it's fence line. They range in age from 17wks to 19 wks. My two older hens won't venture near the road. Maybe it's a lack of maturity wisdom thing? The younger ones don't give the passing cars a glance and just go about whatever they're doing. Great idea on luring them back and guiding them to a desired area with the scratch & treats and creating additional cover areas in the pasture! Will definitely give that a try! Thanks Guppy & Viola!

 

[centrarchid]

Annie,

Can you try baiting them to use the pasture? Bet you tried this but maybe always feed them their treats there (like your table scraps type stuff). Or, another idea is scatter their treats out in the big pasture so they have to spend time finding them and get used to wandering around the pasture?

One other thought... chickens like to have cover, things to run and hide under when they get scared. Do they have cover by the road (trees?) and less cover in the pasture? If that's the situation, you could try to give them cover in the pasture. Picnic tables, plant some trees, build a lean-to? I'm not sure but this might be an idea.

Guppy

Above is very good advice. You are trying to get birds to invest time and effort away from road by providing resources in a direction you want them to go. Additionally you can make it so food and water are in separate locations but still all in direction you want birds to go. Separation further increases time they invest in going after resources.

If your are like me, then you must be careful not to have more birds than the area you want birds in to be able to support. A large flock will split up with one going direction of its choosing.

 

[heybarb]

We have "sort of" trained our chickens to come when we call "Here chickie, chickie!" It took a while to get them to come but like another poster said, we always feed snacks in the same area, so when I call them, now they usually come running since they think they'll get a snack. When I see them wandering toward to the road, I call them. We haven't had any problems yet...

 

[aart]

I can't resist......just ask them, why do you want to cross the road?....ba dut du

 

[Wyandotte Annie]

LOL arrt!!!

Haha the age old question! The Wyandotte's do a pretty good job of coming when called. They make a beeline for treats, and are the first to head in the coop when called.. My other five (2 Buff Orps & 3 Barred Rocks) are my "special girls with their own agenda. They're off chasing butterflies while the others make for the treats. My young Roo is working hard to get them to listen to him when he calls. Good to see I'm not the only one struggling for their cooperation!