Watched my friend try to corner his escape artist rooster for an hour. That bird kept ducking under the same bush every single time. He finally just sat down on a bucket nearby, and the rooster strutted right over to him like nothing happened.
That rooster was playing a game the whole time, @fionalee. It wasn't trying to escape, it just wanted your friend to chase it. Birds and little kids do the same thing, they see it as fun. Your friend finally figured out the rules by stopping. Smart move on his part.
My neighbor's dog does this exact thing with a tennis ball. You have to pretend you don't want to throw it, then he drops it right in your lap. It's like they all read the same playbook on reverse psychology.