Routine
Patience is not a trait often associated with chickens. But, every morning I endeavor into the basement to get the treats and upon my return I am met with this general image….
It is because we have a routine and they stop there because they are a little apprehensive about venturing into the basement. Routine is great for chickens. They know Husband will let them out of the run at 6:30 or so and that when I come out of the house and venture into the basement, it’s treat time. It’s at the same time every day, even on weekends, and sometimes if I am late they will gather at the back door as if to remind me. Treat time is doled out in the run of course. Which makes it super easy to get them back in before I go to work each day.
A trick I also use is shaking the container I use everyday for the treats before I give them out. This is just like Pavlov and his dog. They can tell from across the yard it’s time to go in at any time of day by a shake of the container.
Now, we have to remember, they are chickens. This works nine times out of ten. I keep a five foot stick for herding just in case. They see the stick and know I mean business. All you have to do is hold it behind them in the opposite direction you want them to go. They will learn where they are going pretty quickly, especially if the stick means they are going to the same place every time. See….routine.
LOL! I have a chicken stick too! It is a piece of PVC pipe. Works like a charm!
ReplyDeleteYour pictures were just beautiful.so pretty. Sounds like you have the right idea with the chicken stick lol. Blessings Jane
ReplyDeleteLol. Such pretty hens. Good tidings from California!
ReplyDeleteMy chickens know when it's time to be let out. If your late doing it. They let you know. They will start getting really noisy in till we let them out. So there is no sleeping in for us.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting and your nice comments ladies. I love my chicken stick. It has saved me many a time when I have to go out quick and they don't want to go in. Aphrodite is the master demander in the coop. She has a yell you can hear through closed triple pane windows. If your not out there on time, she let's you know and Percy is learning quickly from her.
ReplyDeleteSo funny. I have a 4 foot piece of 1' x 4' that I call my "chicken whacker" (even though I've never whacked anything with it). It's great as a herding device. The chickens see me pick it up and they take off back to the coop. Funny that we all seem to do the same thing!
ReplyDeleteCrankypuppy, My first chicken stick was a 1"X 1" X 5' piece of leftover trim. It was great until I was tapping it on the ground one day behind the girls and it broke into pieces. The latest is a broomstick. Works like a charm. Thanks for visiting and your comment. Come visit again sometime.
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