Beca Chick Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 What time of day is the best time to try and catch chickens ? Bex - Beti - Heti Still waiting for first egg !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevtheplumber Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Depends when you have the most energy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 when they are young the best time to catch them would be when they are sleepy and have just gone in to the coop in the evening When they are older (POL +) you can catch them at any time and much easier because they crouch down when you approach and stay still Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevtheplumber Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 when they are young the best time to catch them would be when they are sleepy and have just gone in to the coop in the evening When they are older (POL +) you can catch them at any time and much easier because they crouch down when you approach and stay still Mine never crouch down, they run unless there is food involved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 OH is a chicken catcher for a living Best time to catch/handle chickens is by night, if you want to be able to see what you're doing though -dusk/roosting time is ok too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raina Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 I pick my girls up at anytime during the day I've only ever been able to pic Lady Lay up once (when i took her to the vet)she'll crouch and just as i go to pick her up she takes off lol Orakiah will let me pick her up...but she isn't pleased about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-sarahjayne Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Depends when you have the most energy I pick mine up at various times throughout the day, but I had one who was very reluctant to go within a meter of me at first. So here's what i did.. Throw down some corn in the afternoon and hopefully she will tuck in She'll have her head down so grab her but dont be too tight with your grip, hold both wings in so you don't get the whole 'flapping in the face' thing, and then tuck her under your arm and give her a stroke. This should get her used to it, I had to be persistant with Evie but it really paid off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teri Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 having four kids my chickens get constantly picked up! most of them will crouch down, spike isn't so keen but i think she has learned that it's better than being chased round the garden! the chicks are really hard to catch as they are soooo quick and small enough to dash past you! they are becoming slightly less nervous and once caught they do seem to enjoy a snuggle. if all else fails our dog always manages to corner one or two which makes it much easier for the kids to catch them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clare L Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Our laying gingernuts love to be picked up and are also constantly being picked up by my 4 year old. Our younger girls are still not keen on being picked up and run a mile...we also tempt them with a bit of corn on the ground and then grab them. We have been taking the younger ones out of the cube at night for a cuddle and it must be paying off as I actually managed to pick up both of them today without resorting to corn or running after them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 Just rattle the treat box. They run to you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pollo Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 ....I hate to be smug but I've managed to get one of mine to jump onto my forearm in the style of a bird of prey....! Once there I can walk around with her until my arm gets tired or she gets bored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-sarahjayne Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 ....I hate to be smug but I've managed to get one of mine to jump onto my forearm in the style of a bird of prey....! Once there I can walk around with her until my arm gets tired or she gets bored. I tought Esmee how to do that yesterday.. she now does it everytime I go into the WIR without fail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 ....I hate to be smug but I've managed to get one of mine to jump onto my forearm in the style of a bird of prey....! Once there I can walk around with her until my arm gets tired or she gets bored. Princess does this too!!!! She's the only one that we can pick up tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 ....I hate to be smug but I've managed to get one of mine to jump onto my forearm in the style of a bird of prey....! Once there I can walk around with her until my arm gets tired or she gets bored. I tought Esmee how to do that yesterday.. she now does it everytime I go into the WIR without fail I've got one that will do that if there is a food around however she does periodically missjudge it and smashes into my head and will then pick herself up and shout at me for the fact that she missjudged it and made a fool of herself. With the others it's a case of casually walk round get them pinned in a corner and pounce. Or eat a piece of bread in which case they will fight to climb on your lap. With the at night thing i'd agree that they stay still so it's easier to get a hand on them however mine shreik and scream and shrug their shoulders to try and provent you picking them up and then when you manage it they drag the roosting bar out with them if they can. Still yes, docile no. (At least for mine but then i had chickens that didn't attack new chickens they went and sulked in a corner and attacked people soo i think they are just odd) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
