Rounding up chickens

[lizch]

I have seven 6-week old pullets who moved out to their coop about 10 days ago. They have an enclosed run underneath the coop, and per a suggestion on this board, I built a small hoop run for them that can be moved around the yard.

However, it's obvious that they are their happiest when free ranging. When I'm working in the yard, they're exploring, cheeping happily. I love having them around me as I work.

But then, when it's time for me to go indoors, I need to get them back into one of their runs (we have coyotes, hawks, owls, bear, raccoons, bobcats, neighbor dogs...) Is there a trick to this? I'm pretty good at snagging them if they are out in the open, and I can carry two at once (which they actually seem to prefer). But if they decide to scurry under a shrub, I'm stuck! Is there a surefire way to tempt a chicken out? Can I train them over time to respond to a bell or something? I guess I haven't quite figured out how smart these birds are!!

 

[Larkspur88]

Quote:
If you get lucky they may get into the habit of knowing it's time to go in so to speak. The last few nights my chicks of the same age have been waiting at the garage door to go into their dog crate for the night. (they free range all day) I just open the side door and they are waiting and I scoop them a bit of feed and they all run to their box and then get their evening snack. I just hope they keep this up. Otherwise I wait right at dusk when they can't see as well and try to pounce on them. I'm sure my neighbors watch out their windows and laugh

 

[macdoogle2]

I let mine free range when I'm at home. When It's time to go in they all seem to follow me back into the run. Of course they know I have treats. Meal worms are a favorite. They follow me everywhere for those. Once in the secure run I leave them alone. They go in the hen house on their own. I do have an older hen in with the juves. She no longer lays and I didn't want her eating layer pellets. She's a great den mother.

 

[Celtic Chick]

As they get older, they will learn the routine. You just have to be consistant. And patient.
Walk around calling them as you try to herd them back. Once you get them into the run, make sure you give them a treat like a handful of scratch. They will remember rewards. Every evening when you go to round them up, be sure to call them the same way every time. Pretty soon they will catch on. Plus, as they get older, instinct will set in and they will be looking to get back into their coop area to get ready for bedtime. They do not like being out in the dark.
And if they give you a really hard time, pick up a long stick, rake or broom & start walking toward them. I guarantee you they'll high-tail it outta there!

 

[TigerLilly]

Same here as with everyone else...TREATS! They usually run TO me when they see me coming outside.

 

[gryeyes]

I don't know if you tried this, but I lock my tweenies into the coop for about four days before I let them out. They learn that's The Safe Place Where We Live, and because they want to be in their safe place at night, they go back into the coop on their own just before sunset. A couple of nights I had to gather up a couple and put them inside, but that was it.

 

[PapaChaz]

yeah the treats work the best, no doubt. i don't let mine free range all that much, but in the run or out in the yard, if i go in the garden shed and back out, they're all already gathered around, they know that's where the feed and scratch are! the other day i put a bag of top soil in the run to fill in a low spot, and as i carried the empty bag to the shed to the trash can, i looked around and i had started a parade!

they certainly know what a bag usually means!

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
It's tough to train chicks using treats, especially if they dont know what treats are. But they learn from the older chickens and will eventually come running. In the meantime I recommend you use a broom to shoooo them along...a broom works wonders.

 

[ketcham]

I had 2 after free ranging all day that wanted to be a problem.10 went right in but 2 just wanted to have fun.I left them out and alone.They started squawking and were no problem to get in.Always one or two in the bunch!!!! Ketcham

 

[JulieNKC]

Mine will go in by themselves once it's dark. When they were younger it took a couple of us running and chasing to get them back in. Now that they are older they all come when they are called but the silkies. The silkies stand there and wait for me to pick them up and put them back in, unless I have treats. Then they will follow the big girls to get their share. To train them to come when I called I would call chickie chickie chickie when bringing them food or treats. Now they hear chickie and come running.