Persuasion

[Mikey]

What do you use to get your chooks back into their coop. My chooks aren't out all day, they come out for about 2-3 hours in the morning and the same again around teatime.

During the week it is easy to get them back in as one goes to lay mid morning and the others tend to follow. In the evening I put some titbits in so they are happy to go in.

However on weekends as their routine differs they are normally reluctant to go in off schedule, if we are popping out to the shops or something.

Do you peeps have any special practices which get your girls back into their run.

[chris]

I used to chase them around like a dope, but now if I need them in I make a clicking noise and they follow me whereever - they've learnt it means a treat is on the way.. I did it everytime I had something nice, showed it them, then walked away - much like training a dog I suppose. They now come when "called"

Layers pellets soaked in hot water, mashed up - when cooled down is probably their favourite.. they go crazy for it, and as it's their normal feed anyway, its all fine. They do make a mess with it though - it goes everywhere

[frias]

I whistled every time I gave them a treat. A few raisins or a little corn. They now come immediately if I whistle.

[Polly Fouracre]

Sunflower seeds make mine very obedient.

[Suechooks]

Spoon rattling on dish makes mine come running!

[VirginVegGrower]

Shaking of the corn bucket for me and sprinkled into their run. Baak, baak, baak, baak, baak goes Maddie (chieftaness of the flock). They all come running like they're in the egg and spoon race. Waddle run, waddle run.

[Flummery]

Cheapo sweetcorn does it for mine. They are anybody's for a tablespoon of sweetcorn between them!

[Mikey]

Only one responds to calls at the moment, the others are a bit slow.

I hadn't thought of warming up their pellets, cheers chris, I'll try that.

Mine definitely have some no no's they will pick around cooked carrot or peas very much like my DD.

Cheers peeps.

[Glutton4...]

Mine just run toward me every time they see me! But I'm sure it's only because I feed them.

Try different treats; Raisins, Sweetcorn, Mealworms, Grapes, Strawberries. That way they will be more interested, as they won't get bored with the same thing.

[BUFFS]

i rattle their corn tin and get back out of the way,i love the way they run,they will then follow anywhere,that was my first ever job ,to get them to come to the tin,legs are getting too slow to chase them everywhere,so it was a shrewd move,i got something right......

[polo]

mine come to the shout of 'girls' across the garden - they know they are likely to get some corn or peas etc. very funny, I particularly like it when they run the length of the garden without using their wings.

[its hilly]

I put corn in a milk carton and shake like mad yelling 'last one here doesn't get any'. How fast are chickens
Mind you as I arrive in a car they are normally queueing up by the gate as I'm getting out..they actually recognise the engine noise. Confused the living daylights out of them when I changed it

[VirginVegGrower]

Garlic porridge is a must for mine too. They make so much racket when they see that silvery bowl. They wipe their chopsy beaks on the gravel and then had to the knot garden for a dusty bath. I love hens!