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

[Tilly Bud]

Hi!

 

Firstly, this is my first time on any kind of forum and i hope i've posted this in the right way/place!

 

I recently got two beautiful chickens from Omlet and they're settling in nicely. For now, they're living in the Eglu and run, I'm going to be building a bigger enlosure soon. I was just wondering how I go about holding them for the first time if they're not roaming around. They come up to me when I sit by the bars but don't want to dive in and pick them up, i'm trying to gain their trust!

 

I'm not at all afraid of holding them, i've held chickns before at farms etc, in fact, i'm quite excited! I got Betty and Gloria on 1st July.

 

Thaks a lot to anyone who wants to help me!

 

Karen x x

[Earthchild]

Hi Karen,

 

Welcome to the forum

 

Don't have my chooks yet, so not much help - but I do remember seeing a little video clip showing you how to pick them up - I think it is in the guide bit - I will have a look and get back to you after the school run.

[lisa33]

Wait till it's dusky and they are in bed.

 

Take them out through the egg hatch. They will be all sleepy and cuddly.

[Egluntyne]

Welcome aboard.

 

I lived in Stockport years ago.

 

lisa33's tip is a good one.

[Tilly Bud]

Thank you very much for getting back to me so quickly! This forum idea is a brilliant one! While you're on, i was wondering how you get those little pictures of your chickens on your profile, with their names next to them? Everyone has them but me!

 

Thanks a lot for your advice! xx

[Laura & CTB]

Hi Karen and welcome to the forum

 

This link will help with your sig:

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21966

Edited July 4, 2008 by Guest

[Tilly Bud]

Where abouts in Stockport did you live? I'm trying to find people who live in Bramhall now who wouldn't mind me coming round and seeing thier chickens!

 

Karen x x

[Egluntyne]

Heaton Mersey.....years ago.

[Earthchild]

Hi Karen,

Sorry for the delay, got held up with work etc.,

 

Anyhow...found the link to the page I was on about, take a look, there is a little video clip at the bottom too...hope this helps

 

 

http://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/guide.php?view=Chickens&cat=Chicken%20Care&sub=handling

[Keanie Bean]

Welcome to the forum.

 

Sarah.x

[Tilly Bud]

Thanks for the post, i'm going to try holding Betty or Gloria tomorrow night! I'll let you know how it goes!

[Abbey Road Girl]

Yes, I think that almost everyone is a bit daunted at first. But it is surprisingly easy if you take it one step at a time--stroking them when they have gone to beddy byes and then stroking them when they are free ranging, talking to them all the time.

 

I find that you soon get comfortable with them and they get comfortable with you.

[Avalon Fantasy]

Welcome to the forum too... talk to your chicks, and stroke them and quite quickly they do come running up everytime you appear..(ponders..sounds like a song... goes off humming for a bit...)

Anyway I digress, watch the helpful videos, and then eventually you get a way of holding them thats easy for you and them.

[Rachel33pink]

Hi, I too am new to this, our chickens arrived on Monday and so far I haven't picked them up or stroked them - just sat next to the run chatting to them!

 

I was going to let them out tomorrow afternoon now that the 5 days are up but am a bit worried about them escaping from the garden - it's quite big and spread out and not totally secure and also getting them home again. I haven't found any treats that they seem to really like so not sure I can tempt them back with anything.

 

I was going to try to stroke them through the egg hole but all 3 of them were huddled up together and I chickened out of stroking them because they are so fast to peck you!

 

Does anyone have any advice please?

Thanks

Rachel

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Hello Rachel, welcome to the forum (if I've not said it already!)

 

I would persevere with the stroking through the egg port - if it's quite late, they'll be very dozy and I'd be surprised if they peck you. If you feel brave, it's a good idea to pick one up and give her a cuddle (even bring her into the house ). It does get easier when you get more confident - just get used to using a firm grip and hold them against your body so they can't flap.

 

When they start to lay, they'll probably start crouching and it's much easier to pick them up then.

Don't worry, soon you'll be walking about with 2 chickens under your arms! (That's my latest party trick - pick up 2 at the same time .)

[Tilly Bud]

Hi Rachel!

 

I'm glad there's someone else new on here, and you're in exactly the same situation as me!

 

I got my ladies on Tuesday, i've been sat next to the run chatting to them for hours and i stroked them a little bit through their egg port. My garden's big and not totally secure and, like yours, my chicken's haven't shown a lot of interest in treats.

 

I'm going to be brave and try picking one up from the eglu tomorrow evening. I got in the run for a bit and they pecked around me and let me stroke them, but i haven't done that again cos i don't want to invade their personal space.

 

I'm building them a bigger enclosure with some netting soon (from the website), so i'm hoping that when their in there, they'll be more likely to come to me.

 

Keep me updated with how you get on and let me know how you go about holding your chickens!