Britannia Ovens (esp Range cookers) your experience

[Marky D]

Amateur here.......how on earth do you catch them to pick them up for a cuddle / dust them them down with red mite powder, i am currently doing the ridiculous stalking thing where i try creep up behind them real slowly (which i'm sure they find amusing) then try grabbing them which results in a little jump, flap and off they go . It's real amusing to watch (so i'm told) but i need to master this art for when i REALLY need to catch one.

Any advise

[Mollie333]

Once they start laying, or get nearer to point of lay, they do this thing where they crouch for you. If you have a run, run them into the corner, but if they free range, you'll have to get a landing net, which some people couldn't live without

Also if you put some food on the floor, and go up behind them.....

 

Wishing you many more happy memories with your girls.

[SJChick]

Hi

 

Yes, we try to run ours into the corner of the shed or their henhouse and then usually they crouch down. We went to collect 2 new chicks today and the lady there used a net because there was a lot of chickens in a big run. One of our hybrids (the oldest one we have) likes to be picked up now and carried back to her henhouse. The only thing is she likes to use your fingers like a perch and curls her toes around them for stability, so basically she is just standing on your hands, then, when she wants down she doesn't like to have to flutter. She wants you to bend down right to the ground so she can "alight", Queen style from a fancy carriage.

 

Move faster I guess - good luck.

Happy Days!

[Marky D]

It's like a scene from Benny Hill lol.

Fishing net...... hmm interesting idea but a drastic last resort i feel ha, will try the cornering in run bit (thats when i can get them in from the garden) only had them 5 days and already they know not to go back in run unless it's really necessary (like bedtime or treats).

[Patricia W]

Just leave them to go to bed, then you will be able to pick them up, cuddle them, do ANYTHING with them. Also train them to come to you for treats by always taking out the same bowl/making the same call at the same time every day.

 

Seemples!

 

Tricia

[frizz]

I agree with Patricia, we have done the benny hill run round the garden until someone told us to leave it until they take themselves off to bed, they are really docile then and will let you pick them up etc with ease.

 

I have found that by having them from a young age, they get used to being handled and will let you pick them up after a few weeks of tlc. Older ones, same as everyone else, battle of wills. lol

 

Good luck

[Egluntyne]

If ever I need to catch a reluctant chicken, if it won't crouch, I use an angling net.

[Purplemaniacs]

My new girls are VERY difficult to catch, even though they are laying they don't seem to crouch.

 

Latte is easy to pick up, she likes a cuddle.

 

I have now invested in a net after reading about it on here, not used in anger yet.

 

Chrissie

[Gelbel]

It's like a scene from Benny Hill lol.

Fishing net...... hmm interesting idea but a drastic last resort

Once they are in the net my 3 sit happily and love the gentle swing - then they can easily be handled.

 

I only use it if they are not crouching - or just being chooky minded and I need to get them in the WIR PDQ.

[Valkyrie]

I find a rugby tackle with the orpies works fairly well. Then get them in a strangle hold. Actually they aren't that bad once they start to crouch. The bantams are really easy. Our biggest problem is the scatty Maran and then it's a matter of picking the right moment. Usually if she's tangled in the netting trying to run away.

[Calamity Jane]

My three young sussex lights are not used to being handled yet, but I dont have a problem getting them back in their run. I sort of herd them. I use a big board and walk it slowly, bit like one man and his dog really Once watched someone round up geese like this and thought I would give it a go, it works brilliantly. My ladies seem to know now that when I pick up the board, it is time to go away.

[Marky D]

They are fine (so far) at bedtime but at the weekend when we wanted to go out during the day and wanted them back in the run then that was a different story...... i think the neighbours think we are nuts, we have high fence so they cant see us but can hear the running commentary ha ha.

They are about 16/17 weeks old so not laying yet but will test the crouching theory nearer the time.

On a different note, we have some red mite powder, should this be used as a prevention or cure?

 

Thanks for all your comments, it's funny to read it's not just us.

[karena]

I've not needed to catch them yet, but when I do I am planning on training my cat to adopt the Babe-technique. They get on well so far, and she does talk to them, so I think that approach will work just fine

[Charlottechicken]

To get mine back in the run I just shake the mealworm container I can round them up from anywhere with it, even if I can't see them, they magically appear as if from nowhere. Then they just follow me back into the run.

[Burtie14]

I think some chickens are just naturally more comfortable about being picked up than others. Betty has absolutely no problem with being picked up, cuddled, rocked, tucked under an arm, perched on a shoulder, perched on a head, playing 'aeroplanes'... actually, she's not totally keen on the last one... But she never runs away when we go to pick her up.

 

The others are all a bit more difficult and take a bit of patience, persuasion, and agility. I'd definitely recommend waiting until they have just gone to bed, then easing them out and just holding them for 10 minutes and saying nice things to them. We found by doing this for a few evenings, and they became much easier to pick up during the day. They all still like to make a bit of a game of it, but it's far easier than a month or two ago when we couldn't get near them.

 

And it's a lovely feeling when a previously frightened hen is calm and happy in your arms and making little hooting noises!

[little brown hen]

My four aren't allowed out of their run, but it is 15ft x 15ft so they have plenty of room. If I need to catch them I use mealworms and then corner them if they are being really difficult.

[Marky D]

Seems a little mean to take them out of there nice little bed when they are dozing but defo going to give it a go to try and get them used to it. They are definitely 2 characters and a great source of amusement, we've had them a week now and we are still in the "lets sit and watching the chickens" mode.

Got used to all the poo now and you certainly get used to it and doesnt become a big deal, the big test i suppose will be in winter but hopefully wont be too bad.

Cat still not sure about them, he's tried to catch one today but didnt get anywhere near, think he's realised there far too much like hard work

Awaiting the arrival of the first egg but wont be until another week or 2 because still a bit young (so i was told by woman at Hinchliffe's) but still not stopping us checking nest box every day

[Burtie14]

Seems a little mean to take them out of there nice little bed when they are dozing but defo going to give it a go to try and get them used to it.

 

My girlfriend says exactly the same! You don't have to wait until they're fast asleep - just 5 mins after they've popped off to bed. They're very dozy, but a long way from catatonic. Alternatively, if you think you can grab them while they're climbing the stairs, that's sometimes a good option. In fact, if they're perching on anything it's usually quite easy to grab them.

 

Depending in the chicken in question, you can usually expect a bit of grumbling and flapping, but if you hold steady and make soothing noises they'll calm right down within a couple of seconds. As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing better than cuddling a chicken! Enjoy!

[ChickenBruce]

Two words...Random Reward*

 

We got our 3 at POL and neither had been handled much before. Understandably, they were well cautious of us, (after all, we're the ones at the top of the food chain).

Step 1 was to get them to eat out of our hands. Sweetcorn, sunflower kernels or the dried mealworm were particular favourites.

Step 2 was to get them to come to our hand every time. This is were the Random Reward came into its own.

 

It was then very easily onto Step 3, where the 3 were comfortably sitting on our knees, shoulders, whatever and being stroked and then held. Approaching them at night is all well and good, but it isn't half handy to be able to handle them whenever. We've been able to blow dry them after they've been drenched in a downpour, administer tomics, arnica and other meds and am able to thoroughly check them for creepy crawlies.

 

Our 3 are all different breeds, specifically chosen for their relaxed temperment; Black Rock, Amber Star and a Bluebelle, (although Blue is the flightiest of the group).

 

We've since acquired 3 Pekin bantams and are progressing well with these.

 

Regards,

Bruce

 

*Oh yes..."Random Reward";

A chap called BF Skinner did a series of experiments in his study of behaviour. Working with pigeons, he discovered that the birds could be trained to peck at a lever, by being given a reward of food. This 'proved' that the birds could have abstract thought and connect seemingly unconnected events.

He then discovered that, if the birds didn't get a reward every time they pressed the lever, they would press the lever more. It seems that Random Reward is better at reinforcing desired behaviours, than a Predicted Reward. (It is on this principle that slot machines, the Lottery and Scratchcards work).

 

So, for the chickens, occasionally having no reward when they run to the hand, makes them run to the hand all the more.

 

The downside to this clever application of behavioural sciences is that I am now unable to sit and eat anything in the garden, without being mobbed by hens!

[Calamity Jane]

I like where you are coming from Bruce... I am going to give your method a go with my Light Sussex girls. Although I have had them for 3 weeks now they still do not let me near them. One of them will SOMETIMES take food from an outstretched hand, but the other two run away. I really would love them to be more tame.. Slowly, slowly I suppose. jane

[beach chick]

I think also a confined space could help here. mine currently freerange within a 50m electric fence, and it's pretty hard to catch some of them - some are easy, but some just wont have it! so when I get my WIR finished I am going to keep them in there for a good few days and get them more used to being handled. also take the opportunity for a really good check-over while they're in there!

[chocolatedog]

Once they start laying, or get nearer to point of lay, they do this thing where they crouch for you. If you have a run, run them into the corner, but if they free range, you'll have to get a landing net, which some people couldn't live without

Also if you put some food on the floor, and go up behind them.....

 

Wishing you many more happy memories with your girls.

Hah! Pepper and Spice never did the crouching thing like Ginger did!! As I have an omlet net kind of up in the garden I tended to drive the girls into one corner of it and catch them there......(after having shut the run door so they couldn't escape out of reach in there!)

[FiggyPudding]

I used to whistle to my girls & they'd come running. They also came running when I tapped on the kitchen window. All responses rewarded by food & lo & behold, trained chickens ! I guess they were pretty docile 'cos I could usually just pick them up, apart from the black rock, who is a bit flightly.