training chicks to recognize name

[isingtomychickens]

I never thought of naming my chickens even though I think of them as pets (I know, what kind of horrible parent am I?--I DID think to name my cat, dog and children so I am trainable

). I do however have them trained to come when I sing and follow me into the henhouse for the night...kind of a pied-piper thing. One chicken, however, has trained me to play ring-around-the-rosy with her around the henhouse before she goes in. She will head one way and watch for me to come around then go the other and peek around looking for me...some days it's funny, others-not so much

However, she seems to really get a cluck out of it...lol (I know, it's corny)

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
My best pupil now flies from point to point (were my hand is) when I say his name. Now in yard he follows me around foraging and quickly comes over when his name is called. I would like to set up a series of perchs in yard that he can fly up to or between. The perches will be unique in appearance. then I want to train him to fly to a given perch based on a specific audible command and ignore other perches. Based on his learning curve to date it will take more time to setup perchs that it will take to train him. A clicker my provide a more reliable audible than my voice.

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
I could have started training almost at hatch but could not tell little buggers apart. Had same problem with other training efforts involving fishes. Required some external tag or isolating trainees.

My red jungle fowl are like a bunch of clones. Will have to use some sort of tags on those guys for sure.

When perch system setup in pasture, I will try to film Eduardo selecting which one to go to as a function of the audible command. Gotta do some mowing to see what is going to be going on.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

That's great Centrarchid! I know what you mean about telling them apart. I couldn't tell my two BOs apart until they were a few months old. Consequently, all the other birds knew their name but those two didn't. I see that some people use zip ties on one foot (like a bird band) to differentiate their birds. When I saw your username, I wondered if you studied fish!

 

[geebs]

I found mealworms to be the training device of champions... Chickens are highly trainable... I use bread to put them in their coop and meal worms to bring them when they are out of view... i call them Chicky.. chicky... Chickeeee and they come running or flying from wherever they may be hiding. I never trick them... I am faithful to my word and they come everytime.