What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[crankycookie]

I've more or less mastered the art of picking up and holding my standard girls so they feel secure enough not to struggle. The little silkies on the other hand, are another matter. I try to pick them up the same with (pinky and index finger separated out, on either side of their legs with their belly and chest resting against the palm) but they struggle and bleet a fair bit. I'm not sure if it's because they feel like they are going to fall or if they are just unused to being handled. Usually they end up struggling into a position where they feel more secure and they quiet down, but it's not any consistent position.

 

Do you pick up your bantams differently?

[Guest]

I have found with my bantams that they like to have something to hold onto like your fingers.

 

I have held standard breeds at my breeders but I do think bantams prefer to grip onto something. My pekin's just sit on my arm.

[quickcluck]

Strangely enough, i've been wondering the same thing!

 

As my babies like to sit on my hand or arm, rather than dangling their legs as you would a bigger girl...

[Patricia W]

I just cuddle them all.... but the bantams are extra cuddly..

Tricia

[Lewis]

It could be 'cos they're young and less used to being handled that they want to perch on your hand.

 

I tend to put their legs between my fingers just because they can't flap about + it means you can have a look at them with your other hand.

You can just have them up against your chest with a hand underneath on their chest, legs dangling underneath

[quickcluck]

My Rosie flaps like mad thing if I do that!

[Guest]

All my bantams do!

 

(Can't hold Marsh Daisy's)

[Plum]

I'm having a difficult time with mine they are so squeeky and mad. I'm creeping out in the dark to keep trying

 

However, today they ate from my hand before running away in panic. It's going to be a long job taming these two.

I wonder if you are best just picking them up each day even if they don't like it so eventually they give in rather than winning them round slowly What do you think?

[Guest]

I gave up trying and just talked to them and eventually they came to like me and the pekin's jump on me and let me stroke them and the sussex crouch.

 

Give them time without forcing it and they will come to you.

[crankycookie]

The girls are sweet and take treats out of my hand, and like to sit by my feet when I read. The look like a pair of mismatched fuzzy slippers. I wonder if the fact that I am starting to free range them with my big meanie girls, who sometimes peck at them, makes them that much more skittish. I guess I'll just keep bribing with food and hope they settle down more as the pecking order is more established.

[Plum]

Like the comparison with slippers

 

Yes Rhys I'm going to keep to the talking and bribing tactics. They are so different to how my hybrids were but I guess that is the breed. My other two a Welbar and cross were very skittish until they matured but I thought that getting them a lot younger would be easier and my Welbar still is shy but easily handled. I'm learning all the time .

[Isabel]

Our Pekins are happy to sit on arm or finger like Rhys said. As for the big girls - don't get me started ... the Orp is a pussy-cat, a real honey; the Sussex a demon - I grabbed her tonight when she was perching and she really fought me - she hates it; New Hamp Red much the same. I live in hope that once they start to lay they'll settle down cos treats just aren't doing it.

[Guest]

Aw. My girls took a long long time. Bob it didn't but Betty I could only do it when we had the WIR built so maybe she just didn't feel comfortable.

 

My pekin's make horrible noises when picked up which brings the other hens but when they are perching on my shoulder or arm they are perfectly fine and don't want to get off.

 

Marsh Daisy's on the off chance I do get to hold them they are mentally mean. They struggle so much. And scratch me really bad so I do that when I can but they are a wild breed anyway.

 

Mine have never become slippers because they like pecking toes. And in this heat flip flops are mandatory. So we don't sit with them where we can't see our feet.

 

I am scared of getting them to eat out of my hands because I know how frantic the MD's get when eating treats so I stay clear and either hang treats up or hide them.

[Plum]

How many fingers have you got left?

[Guest]

All of them lol. But they are hanging on by a thread.