sorry me again - going to bed

I was under the impression that come dusk the girls would put themselves to bed, not so it would seem. Waited until nearly dark and decided I would have to intervene. Half an hour later with two of us running around the run like nutters we finally got them all in the house ( watched with amusement I feel by our cat!!) any tips?!

I am sure that like most of us you sometimes give your girls a little treat, probably in a small feed dish of some sort.  Try carrying the dish so they can see it and take into the house, they may well decide to follow you with enthusiasm.  Once they settle into a routine you will probably have little trouble.  Mine always put themselves to bed often before I think it's necessary.  When I go down to close the pop hole and lock the compound they have already settled down.  Best of luck.  John

Hi orchardlady, tried to find post, no 53 about ducks, will keep looking, thankss

Here you go Debsie, sorry about that.

I must start this post in saying that I have kept hens for over 15 years now and absoluly no hens were over stressed or hurt doing this.

I have 8 new POL warrens and I started them off in a house with a run, then made the run bigger and then removed the run and used poultry flexible netting to cordon off their lovely large area. All the time being able to see the other hens. The final stage was to allow them access to the other hens and for them to free range together. I felt they should continue to sleep in their origanal house but rather foolishly moved the house about 20 yards from where it had started. They could see it, they could go in and out, they could walk round it but no they decided that was not where they were going to go. Some decided to go to bed in with the ducks (much to the ducks displeasure) some decided to go into the main hen house..fine..and some decided to go into the half grown chicks house again not ideal. In and out they went looking worried and unhappy and simply refused to 'see' their origianl home. To herd chickens I thought why not use the hose pipe. So I set the hose pipe to a thin strong stream and herded them to the main hen house. I did not make them wet but put the hose water just in front of them if they looked like they were going to make a dash in the wrong direction and they responded calmly and perfectly taking themselves to bed perfectly happily. Voila ...how to heard hens!   

Mine will go mad for corn.  But, if I give them tinned sweetcorn they will go into their coop, onto their perches and dance a can-can should I want them to.