I use a long blue, fluffy, feather duster to train, it's the fluffy monster. I tell them to go to bed, if they don't I herd them with the monster toward their door. Those who refuse to be herded get the duster pounded on the ground at them and told to go to bed. Trains them pretty quickly and today when I say go to bed, they go. Usually, I say usually because not everything can tear them away from their mulberry tree at peak berries but darkness. Usually, feeding when I want them to go bed brings them in because the roosters call them to come and see what is for dinner. You need a silkie cockerel or rooster.
Cathryn
rainbowsilkies MI
rainbowsilkies MI
From: zilla963 <zilla963@yahoo.com>
To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 8:22 AM
Subject: [CHICKENS-101] Chicken "training" question...
ok.. let me first say patience is not a virtue I am good at...
Over the weekend we started letting the 2week chicks out of the coop and hang out in the run... when the weather has been good
First time we had to shoo a few out... a few followed .. some stayed in..
Second time they ALL went out on their own and have been doing this since then... (loving the freedom and the bugs etc)
My trouble is getting them back in... Its been cooling off in the evening so I didnt want to wait till dusk for fear they may get too cold .. one night we went out to dinner ( and wouldnt be back till well after dark/cold) and another day a storm was rolling in ( cold/wet) so we have had to "herd" them back into the coop for the night...
and its not going too well... the first night we had to chase/catch all 30 of them and put them in the coop...( wih a big treat inside)
Second night i showed them the treat and they saw me toss it inside.. I was hoping they would follow.. no luck .. so again we had to chase/catch...
Last night was a bit better ... 2 went in to eat the treat... 1 ran up the ramp and went inside while being chased .. the rest had to be caught and placed inside...
( we tried to herd them towards the ramp, but they tend to run under it to hide than run up it and inside)
I tried to sprinkle a treat onto the ramp.. but they stop to eat and not continue inside...
Any ideas to speed up the process of teaching them to go to bed??
I guess I am spoiled because my dogs know when I am getting ready for bed and beat me there.. I dont have to herd/chase them...
Over the weekend we started letting the 2week chicks out of the coop and hang out in the run... when the weather has been good
First time we had to shoo a few out... a few followed .. some stayed in..
Second time they ALL went out on their own and have been doing this since then... (loving the freedom and the bugs etc)
My trouble is getting them back in... Its been cooling off in the evening so I didnt want to wait till dusk for fear they may get too cold .. one night we went out to dinner ( and wouldnt be back till well after dark/cold) and another day a storm was rolling in ( cold/wet) so we have had to "herd" them back into the coop for the night...
and its not going too well... the first night we had to chase/catch all 30 of them and put them in the coop...( wih a big treat inside)
Second night i showed them the treat and they saw me toss it inside.. I was hoping they would follow.. no luck .. so again we had to chase/catch...
Last night was a bit better ... 2 went in to eat the treat... 1 ran up the ramp and went inside while being chased .. the rest had to be caught and placed inside...
( we tried to herd them towards the ramp, but they tend to run under it to hide than run up it and inside)
I tried to sprinkle a treat onto the ramp.. but they stop to eat and not continue inside...
Any ideas to speed up the process of teaching them to go to bed??
I guess I am spoiled because my dogs know when I am getting ready for bed and beat me there.. I dont have to herd/chase them...
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