New flock started, need advice!

[NoCluckingAround]

Hi! I just acquired 3 hens and rooster from a person that had many chickens, as the start of a new flock for our family. The hens were kept together but only in a coop/run and separate from the Roos on her farm (which were left to free range). And the one particular rooster that I acquired was kept alone in separate cage for a couple weeks (for fear of losing to a problem fox during the day). They are all 1 to 1 1/2 years old.
I would like them to free range in my yard, how long should wait before I try this? I really don’t want to have to chase them all over the place to get them back in the run/coop. Is using some sort of Pavlovian response like ringing a bell or calling them in that helps with trading them to come back?

 

[azygous]

Absolutely, you can easily train chickens to come when you signal them. It's quick and easy. But first, the new flock needs to be confined for a few days in the coop and run to familiarize them with their new home.

During this confinement, you can start to train them. Choose a signal device and use it every time you give treats. I use a clicker you can get at Petsmart for $1. When I'm about to throw my chickens some scratch grain or get out the raisins, I signal it with the clicker. They all come running.

This is very handy, as you'll see in my old thread here. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...training-my-chickens-this-past-month.1230489/

 

[NoCluckingAround]

Absolutely, you can easily train chickens to come when you signal them. It's quick and easy. But first, the new flock needs to be confined for a few days in the coop and run to familiarize them with their new home.

During this confinement, you can start to train them. Choose a signal device and use it every time you give treats. I use a clicker you can get at Petsmart for $1. When I'm about to throw my chickens some scratch grain or get out the raisins, I signal it with the clicker. They all come running.

This is very handy, as you'll see in my old thread here. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...training-my-chickens-this-past-month.1230489/

Oh, amazing. Just what I needed to know!

 

[aart]

Calling them with a certain tone of voice and/or rattling the treat can also works.