Potty Training Chickens, How-to!

[duckncover]

Can this potty training work with ducks?

 

[vermontgal]

I'd certainly believe you can train a chicken like this. You can also train your dog to pee or poop on command via a similar method. Very handy for long car trips with short stops at rest areas.

Learn to anticipate when the animal is about to naturally do the thing you want it to do (pee/poop), and reward.

I taught my dog to file her own nails. Front nails were easy, as I essentially reinforced a digging motion; I am still working on the back ones. Back nails are harder because the dog doesn't naturally use them as much.

Thanks for these details on the house chickens, Hackles - maybe some day!

 

[sara]

Quote:
Dogs can hold it for hours, I don't think chickens can.

 

[jforsness]

 

[chickenbottom]

so what would be a good chicken treat to give them im thinking of trying tis my birds turn 3 weeks old tommorrow and i have a clicker but im just not sure how to do this help?

 

[vermontgal]

Quote:
Well, I think chickens hold their eggs for hours when their natural cycle would have them lay at dark. Different duct work, yes, but same vent.

But, I don't think potty training a chicken entails holding it for hours. It is just trained to go to a certain place to relieve itself. Like a cat goes to a litterbox. Chickens need to "hold it" only long enough to get to the litterbox.

Maybe someday....

 

[vermontgal]

What is a good chicken treat - a lot of people say the best treat is meal worms. My gals were certainly eating earwigs by 3 weeks old, but I think earwigs are out of season right now.

You can buy meal worms at a pet store.

Read up on clicker training - any number of youtube videos on that - and several past threads on here (do a search).

 

[mamaKate]

Thanks for the info. I'd love any further ideas you have about house chickens.

 

[Hackles]

Treats

What works best for me is a 99cent loaf of store-brand bred. and tear small peices off, plenty of treats, little cost. You can also use scratch, anything that your chickens like in particular.

As for the clicker:
Train your chicken ,using this method. Click, give the chicken a treat,and repeat. The clicker is a handy tool if you're in a posistion that that you cant give the treat IMMEDIATELY, the chicken know's one is coming when he hears the click.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Chickens CAN hold their "bodily functions" Case in point Broody Poop!
She'll hold it until she feels that she can leave her eggs safely and have something to eat or drink and leaves behind this stuff that we should be able to drop on Afghanistan and win the war on terror...