The Poultry Keeper

rubychik · Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 11:30 pm Post subject:

train your chooks to come when you want them. if you make the same noise ie a whistle or clucking noise or shake a container of feed everytime you feed them/dish out treats they soon learn when to come running....we find it works every time! Very Happy

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I used to do that ~ shout 'chickens' and make the appropriate sound and they would come running ~ that was with my first 4 girls who used to like to go in the wilder bits of the garden. The last bunch, just used to see me and once one set off they all came ~ no sounds needed!!!

madslg · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 298 Location: Farnham

i find that the mere sound of the back door opening sends mine into a squawking frenzy! Wink

CP · Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:50 am Post subject:

Absolutely madslg! Ours are the same - you only have to appear at the door & they come running if they are out in the garden. And if you're carrying anything you practically get mobbed! Laughing

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

It's terrible isn't it...trying to sneak out of the kitchen door without making a sound for fear of being mobbed by chickens of all shapes and sizes.

Nursie · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 162

The worst thing is when I go out to put washing on the line and get mobbed, then they all leap in the washing basket and cover my lovely clean washing in dirty footprints - little buggers!! Shame on you

madslg · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 298 Location: Farnham

or peck your slippers or the back of your leg!! Rolling Eyes

Issy · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 371 Location: somerset

I decided to move the two bantams up from the field to the back garden at the weekend because they were having a hard time of it with a couple of the LF. OH built a new house and run and we moved them up.(very straight forward so far!) Today I decided to let them out for the first time (first mistake). The garden is surrounded by a 6 ft wall (their wings are newly trimmed) so they are safe I assume (second mistake). Our very laid back friendly cat who gets on with rabbits etc decides he would like chicken for tea - no amount of persuasion will sway his judgment - luckily I manage to get him inside quick deciding that this was a bad idea after all Rolling Eyes

Whilst trying to catch two very friendly bantams (who have been stuck inside for three days and are not loosing their freedom now!!) one of them discovers that by hopping on their run then house it is a short hop to the roof of the back porch hence giving them access to the roof Shocked

To cut an even longer story short! it took me an hour of balancing on walls laying trails of bread to get them back as I couldn't risk leaving them.
They are now safely back in their ark in the field with the rest and i can honestly say I'm not sure who is more relieved me or them!
I am now going to have a very large glass of wine.

CP · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 12:19 am Post subject:

Glad you managed to get them back safely! Wink

madslg · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 298 Location: Farnham

Oh Issy, i am afraid that i had to have a little chortle!

My cat once tried chasing mine but Betty (my light sussex) decided that she was having none of this and ran at Bob at top speed causing him to spend the afternoon up a crab apple tree! Even now 6 months later he approaches any of them with the greatest trepidation.... Twisted Evil

debcat · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 1:00 am Post subject:

glad you got them back safely
my cats ignore the hens now after getting pecked a couple of times

poultry poofs · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 4:51 am Post subject:

Issy · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 371 Location: somerset

Perhaps i'm going to have to move a couple of my big girls up for a couple of days to teach the cat a lesson Twisted Evil

. My parents didn't ever have a problem with the cats but then they only ever had LF.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I had a cat with my girls and she never bothered with them at all. Then again she was an older cat and at a previous house used to sit on the neighbours hard roof at the side of the netting roof of the aviary just watching her birds. Never put her arm out or anything just watched them whilst she sun bathed. Fortunately the lady was fine about it and told me about it laughing at the time.

You could always try the water pistol method with your cat, everytime it even takes one step towards any of your girls a quick squirt of water, should do the trick....it's tamed rampant cockerels before now, so I think it should work on your cat.

Issy · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 371 Location: somerset

Hi Summayah,
I happened to be holding a small cup of water that I was going to give the ferrets when he charged and it didn't even change his direction - I ended up virtually rugby tackling a soggy cat Shocked

as my hens ran screaming round the garden (they aren't very brave).
I think I may just have to separate them in the field if things get out of hand with the others.
It would have been nice to look out the kitchen window and see them but at least i keep my garden intact now.