Respecting The Stick

[deChickyHen]

I like that idea, minds are only 5 weeks old and free range during the day, but when it comes time to go back in that coop at night they are not tryna hear it!! they love to be outside! lets see how a hearding stick would help!!

 

[CapeReds]

Nobody ever got whacked with the stick, but it does get an almost godly respect. ( I liked that one too). When herding the flock, this makes the directional control easy.

 

[ontimeborzoi]

I use a stick too. I call it a Chicken Stick. It has to be just the right length and weight to be an easy to handle extension of my arm. A broom requires two hands, at least for me...
With TWO chicken sticks I can practically make them do handstands LOL!

Normally the girls ( and boys ) all come running soon as they hear my Chic chic chic call, but their willingness to come in is in direct proportion to my need...the bigger the hurry I am in, the more likely that at least one will have better things to do out in the yard. : ) Thus, the Chicken Stick.

 

[so lucky]

I use a leaf rake as my "chicken stick" It's the same one I use to rake out the run. The chickens have learned that if I hold the rake "business side" down, I am using it to rake poop. If I have the "business side" up, I'm herding chickens. Who says chickens are dumb?

 

[Mommysongbird]

Quote:
You give you chickens 'string cheese'??? My 10 yro has often wondered if they are suppose to eat that stuff. He has been eargerly wanting to fee them some just to see what they will do with it.

 

[gmendoza]

I have an unofficial" Larry Sprinkle" Git Stick.

It takes care of:

Alligators
zombies
bears
and bigfoot

it takes care of chickens too

 

[Mommysongbird]

Quote:
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your way of thinking "Nana". This is how more kids should be brought up, especially now days. You don't have to beat them or Yell at them, just a threat with something like this will do, but most parents don't understand that. I am a gammy to 7 and my kids were brought up similar to this, but b/c of so many laws, they are not bringing up the grandkids this way, oh no. They are pretty much letting them do as they please. Now this gammy is ONLY 41 years young and I don't believe in the 'let them do as they please crap.' I also still have 1 child at home, 10 yrs old and he walks the like better than the grandkids and I have NEVER used anything with him other than my hand across his hiney a few times when he was younger. Now all I have to do is start counting and I usually only get to 1!!!

 

[Sjisty]

We use herding sticks. We have never had to whack a chicken, but the sticks guide them in the right direction. Being in Florida with lots of palm trees, we always have a plentiful supply!

 

[Mommysongbird]

We have several sticks!

A long stick that is for the mean ole roo that does get hit sometimes and then I have a night stick as well, that one has also been used as a roo fighter.

Our girls tend to shy away from either stick. We can't free range but when we need to get into the run we have to make sure everyone is away from the door, don't need no flyers, so the stick is mainly for that purpose.

Hopefull after the roo's are GONE we won't need either stick, just some treats for the girls.

This thread reminds me of a children's book that my son and I have read, The Story About Ping! The little duck who looses his family. In the story all of the ducks walk in a line up the plank for the night and the duck who is last in line will get a 'smack' on the tail feathers from their master's stick (which looks kinda like a branch of a willow, don't remember exactly what it is made from). It is such a cute book.

 

[WallyBirdie]

Our 15 year old son, the Chief Herder, discovered the virtues of the herding stick. We let the girls out to free range almost daily. Using the stick has made the round up extremely easy to control the direction and movement of our flock. During "Share the Run With The Little Ones" time, keeping "The Herding Stick" present helps the assimilation time remain non violent.

I'm late for finding this post, but I love using a herding stick! Mine is the handle of an old shovel. When the girls are all over, the stick helps corral them into a group. Then they go without a fuss.