Eglu Go & guinea pig zippi run

[Donna_0]

Hi,

 

Does anyone have any advice on how we can catch our ladies and pick them up? We tried various tactics at the weekend, but it ended up like an evasion exercise! I am a bit scared of them, although hubby isn't..but can they run!!! I really want to hold them to check their health, as i've read lots of things about lice, etc We've had them two weeks on saturday. I don't want to end up making them more terrified of us by chasing them around the garden every time they're out!

Also, I've tried making them porridge, giving them fresh fruit and veg but they just turned their noses up..do I have very choosy hens or is this normal?!

Any help would be appreciated, as I would love them to become a little tamer and to check that they are healthy

 

Also thinking of re naming them ...Thelma and louise (being a pair of criminals ripping up the garden and being on the run lol).

 

-Barbara

-Margot

 

& Georgie the cat xxx

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Hello Donna O . Don't panic! I presume they're not laying yet? Once they get close to laying, they will crouch when you approach and will be much easier to catch. Try bribery in the meantime. Sit with food in your hand and they should get used to eating from your hand.

 

You can also stroke them at bedtime when they're drowsy - that gets them used to you.

[Egluntyne]

Why not stroke them and lift them out through the pop hole at night when they have gone to roost and are drowsy. That way you can get used to handling them, and they will get used to you.

 

Also, use the same bowl, whistle, call when you are calling them in at night and they will make the assocaition eventually.

[Hen Watch]

Take heart, it took me a month of running round the garden then many attempts at holding them still before I finally got the hang of it.

 

No probs now just takes time to master.

 

When they lay it is much easier to catch them as they will crouch (almost freeze on the spot).

 

Long sleeves is a must for handling new chickens as their new claws are sharp as I found out to my cost. Getting used to holding them firmly so they can't struggle away but not too firmly so you squash them takes time.

[owenofj]

Yeah, I'd have said stroke them when they're sleepy... mine now get ever so excited when I open the back door (usually because they get a treat)

 

Now they crouch down when I go near them and they love to be picked up and stroked and cuddled and sung too.... if they weren't so damp at the moment I'd go and give them a cuddle now.

 

Good luck, and keep trying, you'll get there eventually.

[Abbey Road Girl]

All I can add to the advice given by others it to remember to clasp their wings to their bodies. Stops them flapping.

 

If you run the fingers of the hand on your free side down between their legs (above the hock or "knee") toward their back, that will allow you to give a quieting squeeze to calm them down even more.

 

Actually, I'm describing as best I can something I've never tried or had to try but I'm sure that I'll be corrected if need be.

 

Mine seem to be okay with being picked up, though sometimes they ruffle their feathers afterwards as if to say "eewwww".

 

They are so physical with each other that I don't think we should worry that much about our getting physical with them. If we are well-intended, I don't think we will do harm.

[Donna_0]

Thanks everyone the advice is much appreciated,

 

The local black cat (neighbours hunter) caught a mouse and left it on the lawn yesterday, unbeknown to me. We let the girls out and they almost started fighting...then Barbara was running around the garden with said mouse in her beak like she had won a prize! I of course panicked (not sure if they can catch anything from mice?!) and chased her to try and make her drop it.

 

We finally got it off her when she crouched, and hubby picked her up (i think she was too interested in the mouse). She made no attempt to peck, and just sat in his arms letting me stroke her (she was also making a funny cooing). I was sooo happy!

 

Lets hope it's me that picks her up next time..I'll try and stroke them when they're tired, I tried it before but they weren't keen on it!

 

I am loving them though, and am now a hooked chicken mummy

 

-Barbara

-Margot

 

& Georgie the Cat xxx

[clootie]

As for the mouse......... my black cochin (r.i.p Cilla) used to throw mice up in the air a few times and then swallow them whole!! I saw this two or three times, just the tail hanging out of the beak - gross. The eggs weren't furry though so it was okay.

 

They like shrews too and squabble between themselves to get to it if the cat drops the poor creature. They can muster up quite a sprint if there's something they're after and I need to be double quick to rescue the doomed creature. Must be a hoot to watch actually. Eggs anyone?