4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Cyber Chook]

I've read here about picking up our chicken friends at dusk, when they're nice and dozy inside the cube/eglu. My cube isn't inside a walk-in run (yet), and I've been hesitant to pick them up in case they get spooked, and leap out of my arms and into the night.

 

Are people talking about being in a safe run when they do this, or, do the chickens tend to stay dozy even when you pick them up at this time of the day?

 

I'd love to have some nice chicken cuddling time with them, but so far I haven't dared to try.

 

Caroline

[Snowy]

As you have a cube, try pushing the roof forward and just reaching in to stroke them. They might shuffle about a bit and mutter at you, but they won't try to jump out. Once you get your confidence, you can lift them out for a cuddle

[Hen Watch]

I don't have a walk in run. When I first got mine, I made sure they'd been asleep for a good while and then picked one up out of the egg port. They struggle less when dozy so unlikely to make a break for it down your garden.

 

But my top tip is do wear long sleeve top. The nails on young hens can be very sharp and I got a big scratch on my arm doing this with a T shirt on.

[Egluntyne]

They are unlikely to make to make a run for it, as they can barely see in the dark.

 

As Snowy says, they will "shuffle and mutter" but they won't object too much.

 

Stroke them first to build up your confidence, and if you do lift them out, be firm in the way you hold them around the wings.

 

Good luck.

[Egg Lou]

I had night No 1 last night and did exactly as the advice above.. I pushed the roof open and just spent a few minutes stroking.. will build up to picking up once they are used to being stroked.

 

Go on have a go.. it fab!

[Cyber Chook]

Thanks guys. The stroking's the easy bit! (and just so nice, isn't it) - I've been pushing back the cube roof and stroking them every night.

It was taking the next step of actually lifting them out that I was anxious about.

 

And Katy, that's such a good tip. I've been scratched once or twice, and needed to be reminded to cover up, as I've never remembered yet. I'm glad though, that you said a young chicken's claws are sharp, as I'm hoping that means that when they get older they get more rounded, is that right?

 

Caroline

[Hen Watch]

I'm glad though, that you said a young chicken's claws are sharp, as I'm hoping that means that when they get older they get more rounded, is that right?

 

My lot still have very pointy claws 1 year on. But I've never needed to clip them as they free range and scratch a lot each day. But when I pick them up now I very rarely get scratched. Might be as they are older now they struggle less, or less sharp claws, or maybe I'm more confident. But do take your time, be confident (firm hold but not squashed to death) and as with everything it sort of takes a bit of practice. Took me a good few weeks to get the hang of it.

 

Then when I first tried to pick up a chicken during the day it was like a cartoon strip, of me running round the garden trying to catch one. Now it's easy, I approach them, they usually crouch (which they do when they start to lay) and I scoop them up.

 

Have fun practicing.....

[Cyber Chook]

Hi Katy,

Thanks agaain for your helpful advice, because I've been trying to pick them up when they're in their netting run and it's not been easy! I'm confident but useless.

 

Glad to hear it gets easier, and reassured to hear that it took you a few weeks to master the art. I can just picture the scene of you running around after them, with the Benny Hill music as a backing track.

I made an early decision not to chase after them: not a good idea with two broken arms and a lumpy clay-based lawn, plus there's my dignity to take into account, overlooked as we are by the neighbours. And also, of course, not wanting to scare my delicate new friends eggless

 

Caroline

[Egg Lou]

Just to reassure you.. I can now pick up any of my girls fairly easily, 2 even climbed on lap on second day.. I have been stroking them at night and come over for food during day, spent a long time sat in run and now they find it comfortable to be handled and stroked without dashing to get away..

 

Just keep at it and it will happen quicker than you think!

[Cyber Chook]

Hi Egg Lou, thanks for your responses, but you've misunderstood - I don't think it was clear in my posting, but I have been picking them up, stroking them etc, during the day, for a couple of months now!!!

 

My concern is actually that my garden fence isn't secure, so it would be really unsafe if the sleepy chicken was to suddenly spring into wide-awake mode again and leap off into the dusk. So I was wanting to know if people who actually take their chickens out of the cube at dusk are people whose cube or eglu is safely enclosed in a run. It'd be awful if they escaped, because it would be very hard to catch them, especially in someone else's garden.

And also do people find that the chooks generally stay dopy (from Katy's and others replies it sounds like they do)?

 

Caroline

[Egluntyne]

They are unlikely to go flapping off into the night as they can barely see in the dark.

 

Hold them firmly, and pin the wings down and there should be no problem.

[Egg Lou]

Hi Egg Lou, thanks for your responses, but you've misunderstood - I don't think it was clear in my posting, but I have been picking them up, stroking them etc, during the day, for a couple of months now!!!

 

My concern is actually that my garden fence isn't secure, so it would be really unsafe if the sleepy chicken was to suddenly spring into wide-awake mode again and leap off into the dusk. So I was wanting to know if people who actually take their chickens out of the cube at dusk are people whose cube or eglu is safely enclosed in a run. It'd be awful if they escaped, because it would be very hard to catch them, especially in someone else's garden.

And also do people find that the chooks generally stay dopy (from Katy's and others replies it sounds like they do)?

 

Caroline

 

Opps sorry teach me to read quickly! wasn't even late a night like I first thought

[Cyber Chook]

No worries, Egg Lou, and thanks anyway, it was nice of you to take the time to give me the encouragement

 

I'll be firm with those flappy wings and make sure it's fairly dark, Egluntine, thanks.

Looking forward to a hopefully non-wriggly cuddle this evening.

 

Caroline