Cube Run Question

[mole]

had my chickens a week now so am going to let them out into the garden to free range for a bit. just wondering how you call them back into the run? at around 530ish ive been giving them some corn and saying 'come on chickens bedtime!'

 

reason being that i thought they'd associate me saying that with getting treats in their run. so when i say it they should come running back to their cube - right?!

 

what do other people do and am i on the right track?

[Minnie&Moose]

I used to work with horses as a teenager so all our pets, cats & chickens, are trained to come to a tongue-click. Works for my 10 yr old son and my partner as well

[CR666]

We have some corn as a treat in a plastic kitchen container, the girls respond to the container being rattled, this normally provokes a high speed response across the lawn, we then throw a small handful into the run and they just follow it in.

[C&T]

Either a shake of the Meal worms pot, or waving a plastic container that they get their porridge in, and they follow me anywhere! One day they may cotton on that the meal worm pot means being locked away - but until then it works just fine!

 

A whistle also works, they come running across the garden as associate it with treats!

[tom123]

A whistle or tell them it's 'bedtime'

[Alis girls]

A lot of Bok bok bok and a handful of corn

[scarlettohara]

Mine go in the run about 7 because of Mr Fox so this is when they get their treat - pasta, mashed pots, corn on the cob etc. I call them and as soon as they see the metal dish they all charge after me

[GGLGirls]

Special whistle works for us too - not just for bedtime, but also if we cant see them in the garden, we whistle and they come running Bless them.

[PurpleTree]

Mine usually come running as soon as they hear the back door opening. I've been using a treat bowl right from the beginning - just a cheap plastic dog bowl - they recognise it now. They usually get a couple of handfulls of corn in it, then place it in the run and they follow.

[docsquid]

I just call "chickens!" and rattle the tub of mealworms. Then scatter some into the run and shut the door. I do give them mealworms at other times too, so they don't get to associate mealworms only with bedtime and being shut in. They are pretty good, really. They spontaneously huddle around the cube run shortly before dusk. One night I forgot them and they were already in and going to bed of their own accord and all I had to do was shut the run door.

[dannablue]

I use a similar method - they see the treat tub and they come running. If they hear me go into the bag of corn they run up the garden and into the run and stand their waiting for their treat! If they are distracted and I am giving them a treat from the house, i.e. corn on the cob I just shout "Come on Girls" and show them the treat and they come running and will follow me wherever I need them to be.

 

They learn very quickly dont they...not sure if it is us that have trained them or the other way around though

[shelley8179]

I use kiss kiss noises , I love it when they come running, its so funny the way they run. One of my new girls has learnt it from the older two, just waiting for Holly to cotton on

[Millie-Annie]

My two answer to their names thought all chickens did

[Guest]

My lot answer too their names aswell.

 

Well bob and betty do. The MD's think their names are bob and betty aswell lol.

[foreveryoung]

mine all follow me in, more so if they see I have a bag of raisins in my hand lol its like a little "V" flying formation lol. oo and they come running to a click click noise.

[Tutti Frutti]

Mine come to food... called by the sounds of kisses, the sight/rattle of food/treat tubs/mealworms tubs (full or empty - how mean ), or to DH - he just has to stand there and they all flock round him

[whoopsie]

As soon as mine see the mealworm bag they come running. Doesn't work if i've got them in my hand, it's the bag they recognise!!

[Mooresey]

I herd them with my arms out saying chuck chuck chuck.

[poachedegg]

I herd them with my arms out saying chuck chuck chuck.

 

 

We do similar - started off shaking the bowl and shouting 'chuck chuck' - now just 'chuck chuck' gets their attention!

[gargan]

Sometimes I herd them back into the WIR. It works, but can be very slow. The quickest method has been: I go into the garden speaking chickenese. Once I have their attention I run towards the WIR. Most of the time, almost always, they begin to run behind me as fast they can. Judging from my wife's and neighbour's laughs this most be a very funny situation. Anyway, I then enter the run and stay beside the door. They all follow in, I go out and close the door. Works like a charm.

[mole]

well the chickens are having their first FR time in the garden as we speak and i will try all of the methods if they dont come to my 'come on chickens - bedtime!' and a bit of corn.

 

ha ha they are so funny running around!!!

[rachael_farnsworth]

I just pick them up and put them back in the run...

[Plum]

If I haven't any treats at hand and they ignore me calling due to worms and such like, I close the cube door and a minute or so later they are anxious to go in