amandajane Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Can anyone tell me what they do regarding letting their hens out free ranging around the garden. If i want to let my hens out, i cant get them back into the eglu run if i need to go to work or go out. I dont want to leave them alone in the garden. I would prefer to be in the garden or the house. If im at work sometimes i dont get back until after it is dark, i dont want mr fox to get them! I dont want to be chasing them around the garden too much, scaring them, as im trying to get them used to me and tame them. Hope this makes sense???? Amanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 treats is the answer feed them treats in the same bowl every day, i have a yellow bowl and they come running as soon as they see it, infact they come running as soon as they here the kitchen door open, but if i want to put them in their run i just bribe them with some sweetcorn which is their favourite hope this helps sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Hi, I let mine out only if I'm in the garden, or able to watch from the kitchen (I even bought a high stool so I can use the laptop in the kitchen & watch them ). Getting them back into the run gets so much easier when they are laying. In the meantime, get a treat you know they love (dried mealworms for mine), put some in a distinctive jar and shake it while calling "chook chook chook" or whatever. They will soon learn and come running. Then you can sprinkle some in the run and shut the door on their fluffy bums . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iChicken Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 How you let them out will depend on your situation with foxes. Luckily we never get foxes in the day so as long as we are home the girls are out in the garden in an area that's fenced off with Omlet netting. When someone is in the garden we allow them the whole garden but have to watch them because there is a gate on the drive they can get under. If you need to get them back into the run a handfull of corn does the trick if you're not confident handling them. When its dark they go back into the Eglu on their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 The dish thing works a treat - I use a silver one ( not real, though only the best for those laydees) as they like shiny things, and call the same thing when I go out - they are like Pavlov's dogs after a while. Also if you chuck some grain or birdseed into the run once they have spotted you they should head straight in... and after a while the minute they hear you or the door they will come running at you! Greedy devils! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Do be careful about leaving them out unsupervised, particularly at this time of year, when the fox cubs are tiny and the parents hungry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Or, you can run into the run shouting 'choooooks' while rustling an empty poly bag, once they're all in shut the door, then when they look at you with those poor wee faces, tell them you'll bring something nice back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nursechick Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Chickens are amazingly quick learners,they will soon learn that you represent nice treats and will take to following you around or running up every time you go near the run especially when you get the grub out to fill up etc. Ours run across the garden at a mear shake of the mealworm tub.Also once they are either near to laying or have started, they crouch down when you approach,making it much easier to pick them up. Chasing them just gets you puffed!! Also it's best to start by letting them out in the hour before dark cos they will naturally want to go into roost. Have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I agree with the treat bribe suggestions. Never fails for me! Chickens are always thinking of their stomachs (or should that be crops) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peanut12 Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 oh, those early days were so embarrassinng as a struggled to get mine to go back in, chasing them, thinking I'd got them and then they squeezed through a gabuilt for a gerbil! At first I used the door pin as a shpeherd's crook which got them going in the right direction. Then we found raisins and life became so much easier. We just stood by the door to the run and they came jogging along, then went in. Once they're laying, they'll squat for you if you put your hand flat about 4" above them. Maybe be pure luck, but our Gingernut was much more trusting, while the Pepperpot enjoyed the game a little more, so we used to get her in first, otherwise she twigged what was going on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 we got ours trained to a bell while still in the run so we ring it, drop corn or other treats they like (there's many to choose from!) through the bars and after about 3 days we started letting them out and it didn't take long for them to learn that once they hear the bell they'll get a treat so I ring it at the back door, they sprint over, then they run to their run in excitement trying to trip me up and when I chuck the treat in they can't get in quick enough! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I have a red plastic dog bowl that I use for treats. They go crazy when they see me coming down the path with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I agree with everyone else, so can't give any unique insights! Just thought I'd wish you luck. We've only just started letting ours have total free-range in the garden and they are loving it They're dead easy to get back in as they associate the lock n lock we use for mixed corn with happiness! they go mad when they see it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Maisie actually skidded on the path and fell flat on her face in her desperation to get to the mealworms yesterday (and yes, I laughed at her ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazygal Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I also let mine have complete free range of the garden when I'm home- currently Miranda is sitting in a flower pot, and the other two are mucking about on the patio trying to get me to go outside (but its brrrr!) The others have given you great advice- just go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Tilytinkle Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Okay, so is there a list of suggested treats .. . I like the bell idea, i bought an antique one years ago & hung it on wall at bottom of stairs, it has a really loud dong sound, as apposed to a gentle nice ding .. its a dinner dong . . used when i get fed up saying 'dinners ready' & on table for the third forth time `;D they hate the noise so much all, infact anyone in house comes running when they hear it, think its called aversion therapy - association or just blind panic I know broccoli, pasta, sweetcorn ( corn we would eat?) do remember i havent chickens yet!!! Ms Tilylearning (due date 6th March) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 sweetcorn (rinsed to get salt/sugar off) raisins grapes cherry tomatoes mealworms chopped-up banana mashed potato potato peelings (cooked) pasta broccoli, cabbage, lettuce ... anything green Can I hasten to add that I don't buy any of these specially apart from the mealworms - I use up things that are going squishy in the bottom of the fridge, or buy 20p lettuces reduced at Waitrose. Mashed potato/peelings are very popular, but cherry tomatoes send them into a frenzy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheshire Chooks Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Ours are so daft that they peck at the picture of the sweetcorn on the empty tin!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amandajane Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 Thankyou everyone, you have all been helpful x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Tilytinkle Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Gooooood Morning Ladies, Hope you're all well. Great help & list, additions now added to 'To Do' & To Buy lists Thank you ( do they enjoy raw equally as much as cooked ? ) Ms Tilybettagetbusy (due date 6th March) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 They do Mrs Tilymadasaboxoffrogsbutdelightfullyfunny. Mine go mad for a cob of corn tossed into the run to amuse them on a day when I can't let them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Mrs Tilymadasaboxoffrogsbutdelightfullyfunny Sorry that made me snort my tea! I wish I had a quick a sense of humour as you lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy the Whippet Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I let Flo and Aggy out before I go to work at about 8:00 - they then free range all around the garden all day and then I put them in at about 4:30 - they're easy to get in with a bit of suet, bread or biscuit. In the Summer I leave them out until about 7:00 - there's a slight fox risk but I'm sure they'd rather take that risk and be free all day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Tilytinkle Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 And breathe . .inbetween work .. er is that skiving ? anyway . .Corn on the cob - bar b qued or just boiled Hmmmmm Goosey Lucy - really too many details but if you must snort tea . .or coffee ... one must admit it is much safer than anything else in this generation ..so go gal chuckle & snort away . Ahem - ladies ladies, humour .humourous . . but but for some its an insane reality, never - not even ever intending to be funny!!!! Eglutine . .now now I am perfectly normal in all realms of being . .just some don't understand ..plus i am curious but whose frogs in who's box ? ..and when???? actually does that mean you've sat & watched a box of frogs, then considered - concluded a worthy opinion of them & their behaviour . . hmmmm still takes all kinds of madness to be in sanity Welcome !! teee heeeeee Ms Tilyhavingmochacoffeethinkingaboutfrogsinboxesandwhoputthemin (due date 6th March) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Neither barbecued or boiled....just as nature provided. I'm not the frog watcher.....that's Christians job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...