Valkyrie Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Is there any safe method of picking up hens without getting massive injuries? I have had to administer treatment to Apache and now Sioux (haven't been able to grab Annie - she sees the other two being sorted out and bolts) and my arms are covered in deep scratches - surgical spirit bath for me too - OUCH! Has anybody tried the hypnosis method: http://www.zyra.tv/hypnocx.htm Is this too cruel or does it work? At the moment my shirt is covered with blood - mine - so I am getting desperate! The Omlet video is fine for small birds but I just had to have the giants didn't I. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Lou Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Kerry.. grab a towel and wrap around each girl as you need them.. works a treat and saves any damage to bird or human! I use this to clear Freckles nose which is always full of mud/gunk and when bathing Porsche's bum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 I always wear long sleeves otherwise I get lacerated. Hubbie's old shirt hangs up in the kitchen as my "chicken shirt" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phonix Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 I've never had to handle a chicken but trying to hold a cat still who REALLY doesn't want his claws clipped i've found that the towel method really works! xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted August 5, 2008 Author Share Posted August 5, 2008 Hello all The towel sounds good, thank's for the tip - we used it on our old cat some 20 years ago trying to get tablets down her. As for sleeves, well chain mail might be good - I have quite a few T-shirts that are now old shirts because the girls rip through them (few cuts on the body too as a result). I showed OH today's war wound (it's officially 7 inches long) and he was so shocked - but then he is a woose. Being accident prone myself, another bump, scratch etc is pretty normal, but they are now scratches on scratches so enough is enough. I think I had better get a tetanus boost too. Hen Watch, I sympathise with you, but I am bigger (fatso) than skinny husband (although he is getting a little pot belly), so no long sleeves in da house that fit me! So I will attempt the towel wrap-trap tomorrow and see if I can manage on my own - DD has been passing the spirit and tub while I hold and wipe then rub the jelly in. Lou, hope your Diddies are fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Lou Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Hello allThe towel sounds good, thank's for the tip - we used it on our old cat some 20 years ago trying to get tablets down her. As for sleeves, well chain mail might be good - I have quite a few T-shirts that are now old shirts because the girls rip through them (few cuts on the body too as a result). I showed OH today's war wound (it's officially 7 inches long) and he was so shocked - but then he is a woose. Being accident prone myself, another bump, scratch etc is pretty normal, but they are now scratches on scratches so enough is enough. I think I had better get a tetanus boost too. Hen Watch, I sympathise with you, but I am bigger (fatso) than skinny husband (although he is getting a little pot belly), so no long sleeves in da house that fit me! So I will attempt the towel wrap-trap tomorrow and see if I can manage on my own - DD has been passing the spirit and tub while I hold and wipe then rub the jelly in. Lou, hope your Diddies are fine. Yes there are very well thanks.. growing like crazy and I am 99% sure I have 1 boy now.. If you get stuck with yours and need an extra pair of hands I'm happy to pop over during evening to hold while you treat? just shout! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Why not treat them at night when they are drowsy. They might shift around a bit, but they are much easier to handle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 i have long fingers and quite a wide span which comes in handy (pardon the pun) when playing the piano or picking up poultry thumbs and palms holding wings firmly in place, fingers curled round under their breast bone then with a deft movement, lift and tuck quickly under the armpit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted August 6, 2008 Author Share Posted August 6, 2008 Egluntine and Poet thank you two too. We can just do the snatch and grab at night with Annie because she is smaller, but the other two are T Rex owls. By the time we have opened up the cube they have pressed themselves over the other side. Annie usually stays near the hatch back so we can get her easily, but with Piggy and Patch we have to almost climb over Annie to get them and by that time they are really awake. They are so strong too, so that it is so hard to pin down a flapping bird and not wake up the neighbours! There's a lot to be said for bantams! However, once we have them in the strangle hold they do whinge a bit and kick and give up for a while, then the process is repeated when we put them back in - then they refuse to get off your arm because it makes a comfy perch and the only way to get them off is push them up the btm, resulting in more scratches as they reluctantly get on to the bars. Annie is the good one at night, but day time and she's Speedy Gonzales - catch her if you can! I hope it all changes when they start laying. Lou, I might just take you up on that offer! DD and OH off on Saturday, I got the dates muddled (wishful thinking, hoping I'd get the house to myself sooner). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcolmS Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Do you need to cut chickens claws every so often. (not having chickens yet!) - Is there anyone else in Glasgow on this site? Malcolm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Best to get the vet to do if they really need it in case you nick the blood vessel that runs down it so far. Usually, if they are free ranging and scratching about they shouldn't need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Lou Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Lou, I might just take you up on that offer! DD and OH off on Saturday, I got the dates muddled (wishful thinking, hoping I'd get the house to myself sooner). No problem! I'm free all Sunday I think if thats any good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted August 6, 2008 Author Share Posted August 6, 2008 Oooh! Fine by me Lou! Fancy some lunch or tea? Or time it between downpours! Tried the towel method - so painless on Apache - the rest of them gave me the slip. Managed to get Sioux this evening just as they had taken themselves off to bed and forgot the towel, by this time Cheyenne was trying to hide underneath Apache. But we got Sioux good - after much flapping and squawking, and DD covered herself in Surgical Spirit, quarter bottle gone! Still have to get Cheyenne, so tomorrow will have to put their knockout drops in the water! Malcolm we have had our birds a few weeks and their "talons" have stayed the same length, mainly due to digging to Australia in the flower beds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oatley Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 We do any health checks at night. My husband giggled because at 1.30am on our wedding anniversary - we were powdering our chickens for lice/mites. What a romantic life it is?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted August 6, 2008 Author Share Posted August 6, 2008 Ahh, the joy of sharing - I am guessing you are relatively newlyweds! Just wait, 23 years on and my OH goes to bed not long after the hens! Then he shares his snoring with me by the time I turn in and I have to resort to dirty tactics for some peace and quiet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oatley Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Ahh, the joy of sharing - I am guessing you are relatively newlyweds! Just wait, 23 years on and my OH goes to bed not long after the hens! Then he shares his snoring with me by the time I turn in and I have to resort to dirty tactics for some peace and quiet! Nope - been married for 12 years now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 SWAP!!! Drat - too late, I mentioned the snoring! Doh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
