Lucas Delgado
Chickens are trainable, and it's never too late to start. Training can be a lifesaver for your flock, as it can help you get them back to the protection of their pen quickly in case of bad weather, predators, or free-range time being over. One effective method is to use food as a reward. Scatter treats in the run and call out something like Greedy girls! or use a whistle, bell, or small gong. You can also try clicker training, target training, or teaching your chickens tricks like perching on command, jumping through a hoop, or even playing dead. Keep training sessions short and positive, and use repetition to reinforce learning. Chickens have short attention spans, so don't overwhelm them with lengthy lessons. Start with simple tricks and gradually move on to more complex ones. Building their confidence will help them learn.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Training method | Food treats, clicker training, target training, verbal cues, hand signals, whistles, bells, gongs, shaking containers of food, calling their names, and teaching them tricks |
| Chicken response | Come when called, follow you, go to their pen, and perform tricks |
| Training duration | May take some time, but can be reinforced through repetition and consistent daily training |
| Training environment | Keep hens in their coop for a week to ten days to establish it as "home" |
| Chicken breeds | Some breeds are more domesticated and receptive to training than others, such as Barred Rocks |
| Chicken behavior | Chickens are curious and greedy, which can be leveraged for training |
| Chicken intelligence | Some chickens are intelligent and can learn advanced communication methods, such as the AAC style learning system |
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What You'll Learn
Use treats to train your chickens to come to you
Chickens are smart creatures that can be trained to come when called. The key to success is consistency and communication. Here are some detailed tips on how to use treats to train your chickens to come to you:
First, choose a specific call or cue that you will use each time. This could be a word or phrase, such as "Here chickens, here chickens," or even a sound like shaking a container of sunflower seeds. Make sure to use the same call consistently so that your chickens learn to associate it with treats and coming to you.
Next, decide on a tasty treat that your chickens will love. Mealworms, sunflower seeds, unsalted pumpkin seeds, cracked corn, or even wheat bread can be great options. You can also offer high-protein treats or their regular feed if they are more motivated by that. The key is to find something that your chickens go crazy over and are willing to work for.
Now, it's time to start training! Here are some steps to follow:
- Start by getting your chickens' attention and using your chosen call or cue.
- Toss a few treats into their pen or the area where you want them to come.
- Close the door or block the exit so they can't wander too far.
- Reward the chickens that come to you with a treat and some verbal praise.
- Repeat this process daily, gradually increasing the distance or adding distractions to make it more challenging.
- As your chickens learn, you can introduce new treats or reduce the number of treats given to maintain their interest.
Remember, training should be a positive experience for both you and your chickens. Keep sessions short, be patient, and always ensure the safety of your flock. With time and consistency, your chickens will soon come running when they hear your call, knowing that treats and rewards are waiting for them.
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Train your chickens to recognise your call
Chickens are different from other pets, like dogs or budgies, because they are less likely to run away when let out of their cage. In fact, they will naturally return to their coop in the evening, or when they hear you calling. This is because they associate the coop with safety and food.
To train your chickens to recognise your call, you can use food as a reward. Scatter treats in the run, and call out something like "Greedy girls!" or "Chickiedos!". You can also use a whistle, bell, or small gong to train them to come to you.
If you want to train your chickens to come to you when they are free-ranging, you can use a training stick. Hold the stick in the run, and when a chicken comes to investigate, offer a treat. After a few times, the chicken will move towards the stick when she sees it. If you call her name at the same time, she will begin to associate the sound with the treat. You can also try this with food in your outstretched hand, at ground level.
Some people have had success with shaking a container of sunflower seeds to get their chickens' attention. The chickens then associate the sound of the seeds with food and come running.
You can also try clicker training, which helps chickens associate a sound with positive behaviour. This can be used in conjunction with treats to train chickens to follow a target, like a stick or your hand.
It's important to be patient and use repetition to reinforce learning. Keep training sessions short and positive, and always ensure the safety of your chickens during training.
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Use a training stick to teach your chickens to follow you
Chickens are creatures of habit and can be trained to follow you using a training stick. This technique is very useful if you want to lure a chicken in a specific direction or onto a set of scales for weighing.
First, get an animal target trainer, which is a long stick with a ball at the end. You can buy one online or at a local pet store, or make your own by attaching a small wiffle ball, golf ball, or disc to the end of a chopstick.
Next, present the target to your chicken. If your chickens are not immediately engaged by the target, reward them for looking at it. Increase the criteria so that they only get a reward for looking at the target and taking one step closer. Each time they are successful, make it a little harder for them to receive a treat. For example, they must now take three steps forward to get a treat. Once the chicken touches the target with its beak, reinforce this behaviour with their favourite treat.
In time, the chicken will begin to follow the stick, and you can lead it around the garden. You can also use the stick to herd your chickens into their pens at night.
Remember, chickens are smart, but you need to reinforce their good behaviours daily if you want your training to stick. Make an effort to work with your chickens at least once a day, and always use treats to reward desired behaviours.
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Use a clicker to reinforce positive behaviour
Clicker training is a positive reinforcement method that utilizes a clicker to train chickens. This method can help you build a special rapport with your chickens and improve your communication with your flock. Animal behavior specialist Giene Keyes, the author of *Click with Your Chick*, suggests that you can use clicker-training techniques to house-train and crate-train your chicken, and even teach her to perform tricks.
To start clicker training, you must first “charge” the clicker. This involves associating the sound of the clicker with a reward, usually food. To do this, use the clicker and immediately give your chicken a treat. Repeat this process several times until your chicken makes the connection between the sound and the reward. It is important to be consistent and ensure that a treat follows the use of the clicker every single time during this initial phase.
Once your chicken has made the connection, you can use the clicker to reinforce positive behavior. For example, if you are trying to train your chicken to come to you, you can use the clicker to “mark” the behavior of your chicken coming towards you. The clicker tells your chicken that it is doing something right, and it will expect a treat to follow. Over time, you can use the clicker alone as a reward, with treats given only some of the time.
In addition to coming when called, there are many other behaviors and tricks that you can teach your chicken using a clicker. These include perching on your arm, pecking at targets, performing a simple dance, spinning in a circle, jumping through a hoop, recognizing shapes and colors, and even playing a miniature musical instrument!
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Train your chickens to recognise their names
Chickens are different from other pets, like dogs or budgies, because they naturally tend to stay in their coop, which they recognise as home. However, there are several tricks you can use to train your chickens to recognise their names and come to you when called.
First, you need to get your chickens' attention. One way to do this is to use food. Scatter treats in the run, or hold them in your upturned palm at ground level. You can also use the sound of shaking a container of sunflower seeds to grab their attention. Once you have their attention, call out their names. You can also use a whistle, bell, or gong to train them to come to you.
Once your chickens are trained to come, they will respond even when you are in a panic. This can be useful if there is a predator in the area, or bad weather is coming in. It can also be useful if you need to lure a chicken onto a set of scales for weighing, or if a chicken is injured or ill and you need to pick it up.
You can also try some other tricks to train your chickens, such as teaching them to perch on your arm, spin in a circle, or jump through a hoop. You can also train them to recognise their names by using a clicker, which helps them associate the sound with positive behaviour, and treats. Start with simple tricks and gradually move on to more complex ones. Building on their success will boost their confidence.
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Frequently asked questions
Chickens are greedy, so food is a great motivator. Start by keeping your hens in their coop for a week to ten days. Scatter treats in the run and either shout something like “Greedy girls!” or use a whistle, bell, or small gong. You can also try shaking a container of sunflower seeds to get their attention.
Chickens can be trained to do a number of tricks, including:
- Pecking to the beat of a whistled tune
- Responding to a specific whistle
- Navigating stairs
- Following you
- Playing fetch
- Recognizing shapes
- Jumping through a hoop
- Flapping their wings on command
- High-fiving you with their wing
Chickens have short attention spans, so keep training sessions short and positive. Start with simple tricks and gradually move on to more complex ones. Always ensure the safety of your chickens during training and avoid forcing them or causing any stress.
