Moving adult chickens, can I do it without catching all of them?

[Flock of Many Colors]

Hello there! I am trying to move my chickens into their new coop from a grower run I had them in.

So far I've tried throwing food in there and that's about it.

A few wonder in there but the rest seem very skeptical. Is there an easy way to do this or am I just going to have to catch all 12 and put them in individually?

 

[Patinas]

I used a portable dog kennel, one of the open wire types, and lured them in with treats. I had 21 of them to move so I caught 3 or 4 at a time with the kennel. Of course, got down to the last 4 really skeptical ones and those I had to just physically catch and put in the kennel. Took about an hour and half and a lot of patience and treats to get them moved to their permanent coop. Good luck!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

You just have to find the right treat, I guess. Something irresistible!
Easier to move them into a new pen at night.. they don't have good night vision and are fairly easy to pull off the roost.

 

[lazy gardener]

trying to lure them all into the new abode at once would be as easy as herding grasshoppers. I would wait till they go to perch at night, take a good box with me and catch 2 - 3 at a time, stuff them into the box, take them to the new coop, settle them on the perch. It's helpful if you have some one to help you by managing doors. A head lamp is extremely helpful. If you can find one with a red light option, that's the best one to buy.

 

[centrarchid]

trying to lure them all into the new abode at once would be as easy as herding grasshoppers. I would wait till they go to perch at night, take a good box with me and catch 2 - 3 at a time, stuff them into the box, take them to the new coop, settle them on the perch. It's helpful if you have some one to help you by managing doors. A head lamp is extremely helpful. If you can find one with a red light option, that's the best one to buy.

This option would be quickest approach although I pile mine into a wagon.

If time not an issue, then start feeding them only in the new location for a couple to a few days. Leave feeder empty for a little longer then apply feed so all hungry and crowd into together.


Are expecting to new location to serve as roost?

 

[Mrs. K]

You can do it if you have a long stick, and one or two others to help, but not necessary. This is a case where slow is fast. Open the yard you want them in. Put a small pile of treats just beyond the door, and a larger one further in.

Go out around the flock, so that they are between you and the opening you want them to enter. They should naturally, calmly move away from you. Stand there without moving until they stop. Using the stick to tap the ground, call Hut, hut, and take a step toward them slowly, if they don't move, take a second step and third until they move away from you towards the hut, when they move you stop, stand there, until they stop, then repeat.

If one thinks of heading the wrong way, just tap the ground in front of it, and she should return to the flock. If she gets by you, let her go, and work on the others. Eventually, most will get close enough and discover the feed, don't race, just keep slowly apply pressure until they move in to find the second treat pile.

That should keep them occupied, while you make another round encouraging the ones that got away. If you stay calm, they only be a bit nervous, and will be strongly attracted to the flock to move away from you and to see what treat they are getting.

If all else fails, I have used a fish net on a 5 foot handle.

Mrs K

 

[chickengeorgeto]

If you'll wait till after dark you can move thousands of chickens in a short time.

If you go around beating on the ground with a stick an calling out hut, hut, hut... the job may take days.

 

[Patinas]

If you'll wait till after dark you can move thousands of chickens in a short time.

Geez!! I never thought of that!!! Excellent solution!

 

[aart]

I would wait till they go to perch at night, take a good box with me and catch 2 - 3 at a time, stuff them into the box, take them to the new coop, settle them on the perch. It's helpful if you have some one to help you by managing doors. A head lamp is extremely helpful. If you can find one with a red light option, that's the best one to buy.

Exactly!

 

[Mrs. K]

Well actually, the stick on the ground will move a fair size flock in broad daylight. If you want to move them in the daylight. I was just offering another suggestion.