You're going to laugh at this one...

[Sock Puppet]

You know what I found that really helps herd chickens

a Water bottle, yep thats right.

Spray it to the side of them and they move right or left depending on the side you sprayed.

Spray behind them they go forward

Perfect way to herd chickens and saves me from running all over the place trying to get them where I want them to go. Plus they dont associate me chasing them. Im safe.

Pretty easy and I dont have to chase chickens all over the yard.

They are starting to recognize the water bottle and head towards their coop when I get behind them

Just thought I would share

 

[brandywine]

Lock 'em up for about five days. Don't let them out at all.

Then let them out into a small run for about a week. Give them a treat at night before bedtime in the coop. (That's when mine get scratch and kitchen scraps.)

Only when they are in the coop waiting for you to close them in at bedtime should you let them free-range again.

Remind them it's for their own good. Protective custody, as it were.

Cool house.