Allow me to start by saying I am fairly new to the chicken game, but I thought this was good enough to share... I allow my chickens to free range while supervised in my yard and have found that training them to come when called is the best thing I could have ever done. From day one every time I walked into my brooding area and greeted the babies I always made the side mouth click you hear a lot of horse people do. Same thing when feeding them, holding them, and especially during treat time. Now I make the noise and they all come a-runnin fast as fast can be. I think sharing this bit of info might save someone's time and maybe a pet. My husband who was supposed to be watching them while I fixed dinner got side-tracked and then decided to mow the yard. As he came driving by on the first pass he suddenly remembered that he was supposed to have put them in their own and freaked out thinking they had decided to run for cover in the neighbors overgrown field. Well, they did, and they were waaaay in there. I called them and Big Boy answered back with his "I think she has treats" noise, and poof they all marched back and popped through the fence and fallowed me to the pen. All I'm saying is find a way to be able bring them to you without using a fishing net. Just a thought.
Very good advice....have tried a few tricks, and mine only get to free range when I am home, and only for an hour before bed, but no one thing has worked so far? Will try harder as they now want out and about dive for greens.....LOL
I make a little whistling sound similar to the sound sleeping chickies make at night. They know that means treats and every little head pops up- it's like dozens of little fluffy periscopes pop up.
