...I guess I am on country time and tomorrow really means Next Week (continued from previous post)
Even though the chickens were finally outside, they were a long way from safety. We have a lot of predators out here- from dogs to foxes, skunks and raccoons to name just a few. Before that night they would need shelter and safety.
We had enough of Chicken Palace ready that they could use the floor for a makeshift roof (it's about three feet off the ground) and the fence could keep out predators as soon as we hooked up the electric wire around the top and bottom. But this pen was around the garage, 30 yards from the house. There was wood and downed tree branches and lots of space between those terrified chickens and safety. The idea of catching all of them again and moving them into that pen was crazy. Especially now that we could not run them into a corner...they could just run from us forever (and they are FAST!).
When I got a call that day from Austin, saying he would be in the area because his wife had an appointment in our town, I asked him to stop by. His mom had raised chickens for a number of years (like, 200 a year) and I thought he might have some ideas for us.
When he arrived, I explained my predicament. He craned his head over toward the Palace "So, you want them over there?"
"You think it's possible?" I asked, expecting him to laugh at the thought of moving chickens that far.
"Sure."
And with his daughter in one arm, he opened his other arm wide, and started walking slowly toward the chickens, saying calmly "Peep, peep, peep, peep".
The chickens, all together, started walking in front of him. After they had gone about 15 feet, one escaped. Austin slowed down, walked back to that one chicken, and started "peeping" at it until it was back with the group. He navigated the group around the sticks and I held the fence open while they walked in.
In fifteen minutes they were in the pen.
He explained to me that they like to be together. That even if one of them escapes around you, you need to go and get it, because it will chirp loudly and the others will run to it, rather than vise-verse. If you huddle them all together, it is much, much easier to move them.
Which would explain why our loud stick waving and drag 'em by the legs technique didn't work so well.
2 comments:
Sure, the "peep, peep, peep" method was more effective, but the ""loud stick waving and drag 'em by the legs technique" sounds more fun. You guys need to start a reality TV show - I'd call it something like "City Folk". Between the chicken wrangling and Phil getting attacked by cows, I think you would have a hit!
You certainly can't learn how to "peep, peep" wrangle chickens in a farm book! I love it. In fact, I can see the book now: "Practical Farmer's Advice for First-Timers."
And, yes, I was wondering if you were on Country Time there, lady, but I know how busy you are, too! Thanks for finishing your chicken story, it's a new classic.
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