The net IS stressful for them, to an extent (I’d put foxes and raccoons as more stressful for example). They CAN be injured, but it’s not ever happened to us, and a tween here has done a lot of the catching. But, once caught once or twice in the net, they avoid it wholeheartedly. So, it is VERY effective at herding them.
we’ve employed the treat scenario too, but some of the hens don’t want to go in for the treats. And, when trying to get the wayward one or two back in, the gate needs to be open, and some of the others come back out. But the sight of the net approaching keeps them wary, and much less likely to leave the run.
In the mid summer, when the latest chicks are a few months old and full of their youthful energy, they stay out and are hard to catch and don’t want to go in right away to roost. So, they get net caught a couple of times, removed gently and placed in the coop through the pop door. After a couple of times, they avoid it and it’s a “chase”, except we are walking. They walk the other way...eventually they figure out they can avoid the net by going into the coop! Success!
good luck, whatever you do!
