Single hen

[chick1]

As a newbie and a person yet to get their chickens i thought maybe i could do with a few good tips,

 

Here's one a read on someones blog when i was googling round.

 

This bloke had trained his chickens to a bell when he went out to feed them much to the amusement of his neighbours,until one day when they all got out and he had them rounded up in no time and following him down a country lane like shadows when he rang the bell.

 

And i thought yes, i could see one of the kids or the OH letting them get out of the back garden, ooh and how easy it would be to get them back,without me having to run round aimlessly for hours TRYING to catch them.

 

Anyway anyone got anymore or mabe just your favourite way of saving time or making clean up easy, all will be much appreciated.

 

Hev.

[splodge88]

FOOD

 

bribary is always the way

 

I find a few grapes works well for getting our chickens into the run...only thing is they are pretty clever and tend to grab one & run...so something like porridge works better.

[cluckbok]

Food is the way to a chickens' heart! We only have to open the back door and whistle and they all come running at top speed. It doesn't take long for them to learn that - Humans=FOOD!! Even when I pegging out washing and they free ranging they follow you round like little a little lap dog!! it's so funny! It doesn't take them long to twig on!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

If I go out with my plastic jar of mealworms calling "chook, chook, chook" they all come running . Or any kind of food, for that matter . They even come running if they see me open a kitchen cupboard or hear me open the back door .

 

Another tip is to keep two plastic food scoops, one by the eglu for removal of poops from the nestbox each morning and another on the patio to flick poos into the flowerbeds .

[chick1]

ooh splodge88 i have just had a look at your youtube video and i have seen it before when i have been you tubing.What do your neighbours think of the chicks?were they always that tame too?

 

they are soooo cute

[Falkor]

Food is definetely the answer! I alway serve porridge/afternoon snacks in a big green treat bowl and have a green beaker that i carry corn about in.

 

Now the girls follow me as soon as they see the green bowl or beaker whether I have food or not. It is a great trick for getting them back in the run

[Dolly]

We went on one of Cotswold Chickens' beginners courses and they recommended feeding treats and making a particular noise at the same time - doesn't matter what it is but everyone needs to make that noise when feeding treats. The idea is they hear the noise and associate it with food and come running, but as everyone else has already said, if they see anyone, they'll probably come running anyway!

 

It's very handy when you need to get them back in the run before they would normally go to bed!

[Mrs Webmuppet]

I use a plastic tub for treats especially treats that rattle, a few shakes of the tub and they are tripping over each other at my feet. They then follow me to the run, throw some treats in (corn or sultanas usually) and they all happily troop into the run.