Chicken Memorials

[superjules]

As you can see from my sig, I've got 2 hens. If they are in their run at bedtime they put themselves to bed with no problems at all. However, if they are out in the garden, they will try to stay up far too late like naughty children. They will roost on top of the dog's kennel, in the green house, on the back step, anywhere but the eglu.

 

Anyway, when this happens they are a real pain to get back into the run. Earlier in the day (when they're hungrier! ) it's really easy to lead them just about anywhere. At bedtime I have to carry them back to the run one at a time and when I try to put the second one in, the first one rushes the door and tries to barge past me to go out on the town again.

 

Are all chicken like this? How do people with more than 2 chickens manage this task? It's like trying to herd cats!

[Egluntyne]

Call them in with a trail of sweetcorn. It works every time.

[Christian]

Try getting them into the run an hour before bedtime. That way they can't roost anywhere other than the eglu. In theory.

[chocolatedog]

I "trained" mine with a small plastic cup of mixed corn - now they come running whenever I shake it as they know they'll get a handful of it back in the run........works like a dream!

[chocchick]

I've learnt, if they stay in the pen and don't expect to go in the garden they will not try and sneak out through the door when you go in, and will be containable so that they will follow some yummy grain into the eglu run.

Wave grain at them if they're in the garden and it takes ages....one chicken will go straight in, Megan will not notice it....Abbie will try and get through the fence and fail to work out that she has to walk round

[superjules]

I've tried raisins, corn, all their favourites which work at any time other than bedtime, but they are just naughty I think.

 

Christian, you are right, I need to put them away earlier, when they are more amenable. I do like them to have the maximum roaming time but if they're going to play up they'll have to be locked in earlier. I guess it's safer for them too.

[The Dogmother]

Try training them like chocolate dog has done - mine come when I whistle, they run down to the eglu and race into the run in anticipation of their corn treats.

[Aunty e]

I used bribery with treats. I also found that clapping made them go into their run. Don't know how, but now all I really have to do is walk behind them clapping and booting the odd one out of the bushes and they go in. My husband can't make it work though. He runs round flapping his arms like an idiot.

[susiepoos]

I have 6 girlies and the first day we got them they got out of the pen - I panicked and picked up the nearest thing to hand to try to 'catch' them which was the net for the pond!!!!!! I manged to heard them all back into the pen - subsequently, if they are being a pain and won't go into the pen I get the net and hold it out - I don't touch them I just hold it out so they can see it and off they go back into the pen - works a treat

[Olly]

Mealworms never fail with mine - but if I am out in the garden and it's getting towards dusk, they head back to the Eglu anyway.

 

I only have to shout 'chook, chook' or rattle something and they come sprinting towards me anyway - useful if they are out in the garden but I lose sight of them.

[lisa33]

If we are going out and we have to put the girls in the run, we bribe them with raisins or corn.

 

If they are out in the garden when it starts getting dark they put themselves to bed.

 

Only once they decided they wanted to sleep in the conservatory but I just picked them up and put them in the run. They were quite sleepy so it wasn't realy a problem.

[James516]

Pick one up in each arm - the one-armed chicken scoop is an essential skill for any hen owner

 

Alternatively, put one in the run, close the door, then go get the other one and put it in the eglu through the eggport.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Mealworms work every time - they recognise the Bonne Maman jamjar & would probably jump into the washing machine (I nearly said oven but that's a bit ) if I put some in there!

[superjules]

Alternatively, put one in the run, close the door, then go get the other one and put it in the eglu through the eggport.

 

Great idea. Why didn't I think of that?

 

Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions.

[arowland17]

i was going to say you could close the eglu door and put them one at a time as you catch them through the eggport then they are less likely to jump out - ours have never tried to escape through the eggport yet..

[Chickaboo]

I trained mine to come when they are called by rewarding them with a raisin, so now all I have to do is call their names and they come running back like good little hens (they are better trained than most dogs Its worth doing, as it saves me running round trying to catch them eact time.