Seriously? It's like herding cats! or, well, chickens!

[Mama Hen Chris]

I have taught my girls to come when I call "Home". In the beginning I would stand in their pen and say "home". When one came in and saw I had treats the others followed. I do this every time I want them "home". It took a few weeks but sure is easy now. It takes patience but now I just have to say Go Home and they come running. Once they are in the pen, I still give them some BOSS or some treat.

 

[SC_Hugh]

Try out a few suggestions and see what works.

I started out letting my flock out in the evenings 1-3 hours before sunset. They were only let out into their 25' x 50' dog run area outside of their enclosed coop and run.

Now that they have eaten EVERYTHING in the dog run, I let them out in the whole backyard 120' x 75' during the day on weekends when I am around. I put them away when I leave.

I use the long arm of the law to herd them, a 5' PVC pipe that allows me to reach around them and herd them out of the bushes and not let them take off in another direction when the goal is back to the smaller yard and then back into the coop.

Without the long plastic pole, I don't think I could get them to go where I want them to,

--Hugh