chick wiggle Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 I know I should be picking them all up to do health checks etc. but, honestly! you would think I was a fox in drag the way they run! Two of them are absolute angels and let you stroke them and pick them up but the others - well no chance! Should I keep trying or wait and be a bit more patient. I have only had them for 3 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 I know I should be picking them all up to do health checks etc. but, honestly! you would think I was a fox in drag the way they run! Two of them are absolute angels and let you stroke them and pick them up but the others - well no chance! Should I keep trying or wait and be a bit more patient. I have only had them for 3 weeks. Mine were the same for quite a while. Once they started crouching it got easier and then a little sweetcorn on my lap had them much friendlier. I have to be careful kneeling by the run as Tango in particular will happily jump up on my back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 Its strange but the only one who is laying yet is the one who runs the farthest and she isnt crouching. Does it take a while for the crouching to kick in? Oh I think I do ask some dumb questions on here, isnt annonimity a wonderful thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 One of ours you can never catch, she never did become tame enough for us to pick her up, although our daughter has just the once! She's not laying though, so that probably doesn't help! The other two are tame enough to pick up and have a cuddle. They will become tame with time, they begin to know that Humans = Food = Treats We only have to open the back door and whistle and they all coming running, even the one that isn't as tame, she still follows the others. They look so funny running across the garden as fast as their legs will carry them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 When they are in wicked non catching mood I herd them into a corner then you have a fighting chance. Or show them corn and they're sitting ducks. I think Egluntine uses a fishing net. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 My Silver-laced Dotte is the only not to crouch so it's hard to get a hold of her most of the time. All the others crouch, so get picked up and quickly checked for lice, a couple of times a week. By some fluke Ness forgot to run away last night so I grabbed her......and yes she had lice , so I had to keep a tight hold of her and give her a good spray. Problem is I'llll need to try and get her again in a couple of days to recheck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 The lady i got my chickens off took a big fishing net in just in case...in the evening mine seem quieter but once we start chasing too much it seems to become a big game. Luckily the lady didnt need the net but they were getting more excited once we started picking the hens out..my speckledy is very flighty and nervy. I have only had them a week so they are still settling in just like me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 I'd try taking the flighty one out of the cube at night when she's sleepy to do your health checks. Doing that quite often even when you don't need to might make her happier to be handled as well . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 I agree - take them out when they are sleepy and get them used to being handled. Then get them used to coming for treats. Mine took a while but now I get mobbed when I'm in the garden - not easy digging the veg patch with 3 beaks in there with the fork! I have to turn over a few forkfuls, then move to the other side for a few more forkfuls till they catch me up. And then back to the other side! Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 I had never realised til reading this and hearing from everyone else how sleepy and docile they become at dusk..its like wierd. They do come over to see me and they do seem to get attached to us...I will def try to pick the flighty one up more often . I put them all together last nite as decided they were all new and young enough and so far no problems...they seem to be mixing a bit better than yesterday when they first met..(yesterday they kept in opposite areas) Oh my not tried to do any digging with fork.....& with chickens yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted April 15, 2009 Author Share Posted April 15, 2009 Thank you so much, what a good idea. I will definately try picking them up tom night when they are sleepy. Od dear, wish me luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I use a landing net if I need to look at a reluctant one during the day. Night time, when they are sleepy is far easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
