Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Lapinou]

Hi

 

I've noticed a lot of threads about handling chickens lately, and can't find an FAQ post about them...would it be worth one of the mods picking a really good thorough thread and sticking it in the FAQs?

[Hen Watch]

Maybe it's not on here as it is in the Omlet Guide online????? Not sure.

 

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

 

Above link is "How to catch and handle your chickens" and includes a video.

[Nicola H]

Thanks for putting the link on Katie...........I am not sure if we need to put it in FAQ but i will ask the rest of the mods. and see what they think....You are right there have been a lot of questions recently about how to handle chickens, but i think the guide pretty much covers everything.

[Lapinou]

but i think the guide pretty much covers everything.

 

You see I disgree that it covers everything. We read the guide front to back, and still found more help and info on the forum. The guide is great, don't get me wrong, but an FAQ is a question that is asked frequently...and how to get chickens used to being handled is asked frequently...seems to fit the bill for an FAQ section to me

[Faye&Ant]

I think its down to the individual chicken. No matter how hard you try with some, its never going to work lol.

 

Whilst two of my girls will quite happily let you cuddle and sit with them, the other two hate it and we have had them since last September! They are Pekins and are supposedly friendly, chickens who like being handled (hence why they are good with children)

Maybe my girls need to read the 'handling chickens tip' and take notes

[The Dogmother]

All birds are different - some of mine loved being cuddled and others are ... well.... It's one thing that I always get asked on my hen courses and so I cover how to catch and pick up stroppy hens.

 

The Omlet guide is pretty compre'hen'sive geddit?

[Egluntyne]

I have 2 girls that are virtually impossible to catch. It is a very rare day when I can get hold of Artemis Fowl and Atilla the Hen. I tend to medicate them etc at night.

 

We all devise our own ways of handling them. It is a good idea in the early days to take it cautiously and stroke them through the pop hole at night when they are roosting. they might stir and mumble a bit, but are unlikely to flap about.

 

After a few nights of this, you may feel confident enough to lift one out and hold her, firmly but gently, so that her wings are held down. Chat to them so that they get used to your voice.

 

When they start free ranging, scatter food so that they come to you, and stroke them then, too. You might even want to venture to pick one up.

 

Once they come into lay, they will squat as you approach, and it is very easy to pick them up then.....in most cases ( see above )

[Nicola H]

I have added Handling Chickens to the FAQ..................