Question for part time free rangers

My chickens know where to go and not to go. i usually let our pairs at a time and if they stray too far i run them back. Its not that hard for me. Funny story actuallt, i had to train all of my chickens [that free range] with a handmade chicken leash. :]

 

I kept them in their pen/coop for a few days then let them out. For the most part they stayed close to home at first and gradually ventured farther abroad. They know where home is and know when it's time to go home. Has to do with the amount of light in the sky.

I have about 55 of all ages that roam during the day and come home at night. Sometimes a few need some encouragement but not much. Home is where the easy to get food is.

 

Mine stayed inside their coop exclusively for 3 weeks, starting at about 6 weeks old while I was finishing their run.

They stayed in the run and coop for about 3 weeks.

Now, I let them out of the run when I get home from work for a couple hours, and I let them out all day Saturday and Sunday when I'm home. When it turned really hot, I started letting them out every day. Of course, my property is fenced in, but they have about 3/4 of an acre to roam.

They go in just before dark every time.

 

I open the gate to the run and all 17 of them come running. They dont wander too far from their coop. They all go back into their coop on their own around 8-9 depending on how much light is left.

 

I grain train ...using scratch. When they see me with that bucket they come running and I get them into the coup anytime I need them in there

 

* Chook is disabled, with low sight in one eye and a wing smaller than the other. She doesn't fly and only wanders now if she's "eggy". She tends to stick close to her food dish, water, shade and nest box when she's not in a laying mood. She also has a loud squeaky toy she responds to when she hears it so I can find her if she's tucked away somewhere hiding.

 

Quote:That is exactly what we do. There are times when I let them out in the morning, but have somewhere to go in the afternoon. So, I needed them to come back in. Scratch grains work great! Much better then me running in circles like a "crazy" lady. Yes, I have done that too, but this works much better.

Hope this helps!

 

We haven't had any problems with ours. They are confined within a larger fenced yard, which is about an acre. When it's time to go in, we get behind them, and wave our arms. Or we'll grab a rake, and kinda shoo them in. We don't hit them or anything with it.

We haven't had any problems to speak of with rounding them up that way. How long have your chickens been in your coop? We had ours probably 6 months before we got brave enough to let them free range. I am sure you don't have to wait that long though-maybe 3 weeks or so. Maybe your chickens have too far to range, too much to do to be caught easily. Maybe condition them to a scoop or something that means FOOD!! and they'll come running. Good luck!