Ammonia smell in coop-first time owner

[iggyigster]

wanted hens for about ten years and wife vetoed it until the children expressed an interest and now we have them. Two young hens not yet at POL. A Barnevelder and a Vorwerk (which honks like a goose?!). Trouble is I'm useless at handling them. I think they're too small to get a wing under my arm so they start flapping. What do you do when they flap other them put them down and run off screaming? Also they're sleeping in the nest box. Please help a green, wet behind the ears, slightly nervous newbie.

Edited September 28, 2010 by Guest

[Margalot]

Hi

 

I found it quite hard to get used to handling hens also as I always thought I would hurt them. You may want to take time to let them get used to you first by letting them feed from your hand and then move on to feeding from your hand and stroking them at the same time. It does take time though and we used to have ahen who hated being touched and would run away if you looked as if you were going to try to touch her. Sometimes its best to handle them after they have been in bed for about half an hour as they will be a bit more docile and less likely to flap. when I eventually had the nerve to hold them I found the advice I was given on here invaluable! It was suggested to me to pick them up by first holding them over their wings then putting one hand under their lower carriage and holding their legs between your fingers, that way you have got the legs and they are less likely to wigggle. Thaen you also have your free arm to hold the other wing as one wing will be pressed against your body. when your hens are due to lay they will start to crouch when you stand over them and this will give you an opportunity to catch one.

 

I used to see one of the pictures on the club home page which shows hens being held under one arm and think wow? how do they do that? but time and patience will eventually reward you with a cuddle from your hens I am sure. Hope this helps. Although I still have one hen who would rather run away than be handled she is so suspicious of me!

[LeeMeadfan]

I have one that does that too margalot!

 

She does crouch/squat but then sidles away at the same time

 

My Bluebelle let me pick her up from day 1 - she wasn't laying then but was very tame - she seems a bit more reluctant now - I think she thinks she might be missing out on eating if I'm holding her

 

They do become more tame, the way to a chook's heart is through her stomach

 

Mine follow me round if they think I have food. I got leapt at the other day when I took a cup of coffee outside (when we had some decent weather!) & Scarlett jumped as high as my head when she saw me carrying the pot I use for their corn

[C&T]

Re the sleeping in the nest box.

 

Some people put something in the nestbox before the girls go to bed - a ball, plant pot, something that will stop them getting in there. It can then be removed either after they have been in bed for a couple of hours, or in the morning (but before they start laying!!).

 

For picking them up - I agree, wait till they have gone to bed, and then pick them up when they are sleepy. They won't struggle nearly as much, and will give you the extra confidence, and let the chooks get used to being picked up in a stress free way.

 

Enjoy your chooks! I had to wait 3 years for OH to say yes and I thought that was long enough - but 10 years . I don't know how you waited so long!!

[Plum]

If a chicken is a bit flappy I have one hand under them and hold them against me gently so one wing is held against my body and the other by my other hand. I don't put them down when flappy because I think that is what they remember so I always wait until they are calm before they go down (often have to use bribes to get them in that state )

[LES DUNNING]

My bluebell squats and slightly holds her wings out when ever i try to move them out of my way.Think this looks very odd, as if she freezes on the spot ,then slowly turns back to normal. Didnt know wether to laugh or be concerned, though sounds like its perfectly nomal then

[Plum]

She just thinks you are a cockeral It's known as crouching

[iggyigster]

many thanks everyone, I guess patience is the key, it's only day three after all. Tried the footballs in the nestbox and the Vorwerk shouted at me! went in, pecked at the ball, ran out, honked at me and kept repeating, she literaly told me off and they just slept on the floor under the perch. oh well i'll keep plugging away.

 

I spent all evening sat on the step just staring at them. is that normal? Also anyone stopped eating chicken? The kids say they'll never it chicken again and even I cringed a bit when looking at the chickens in the freezer.

 

This is going to be entertaining!

[chickanne]

When I got my girlies in July I was determined to get them tame so that I could always get them when I needed them.

As with any training, regular, rewarded sessions are needed. I spent time with them in a small pen (you could use a garage or shed) hand feeding them. Then I would pick them up, give them a mealworm or bit of grape and put them down again. I might do that 10 times in a row. Think Pavlov and his dogs. I always use the same (laundry soap powder) scoop for their daily treat of mixed corn. They can just get their head inside it (both together if they try hard!!). I borrowed a dog clicker trainer thinking it would be a good loud noise to attract them at a distance but now find I can stand anywhere in our large garden and click my fingers and they will appear at the double expecting a treat.

 

Now after 3 months they follow us around in the garden and will beg for treats if we sit out. My partner has never picked them up but can click his fingers and lure them into their run with a grape.

I can get them to come to me when I need but only the pepperpot Thelma (the dominant one) is easy to pick up without a lure. The Ginger Ninja, Louise is far more wary and I need to get her to feed from the scoop so that she cannot see the hand coming. However, once I have got her, she is very docile. Even then, she whimpers in a pathetic way although this is just for show.You need to accept that chickens do not show affection in the same was as a mammal. They tolerate handling because they want something or at least realise they are not in mortal danger.

 

Spend time just sitting with them and becoming part of the flock. Not quite so easy at this time of the year but very relaxing, nontheless. Think "lure" rather than "chase" - they will win hands down. For some reason, grapes to Thelma are as heroin to an addict - she will put up with anything for one. Try cutting one into 8 little pieces and luring your babes! Let us know how you get on,

Chickanne

[Margalot]

Hello,

I got home last night and my copy of Practical Poultry was on the mat (YAY!) Anyway there is a whole article in there about handling poultry and how to pick them up etc, you may find it an interesting read!

[Gelbel]

It won't take long before your girls trust you and you are confident with them to be able to handle them. A fish landing net is useful in emergencies - do a search as there are a few threads about their use.

 

My replies to your questions!

 

I spent all evening sat on the step just staring at them. is that normal?

Oh yes - you can waste hours and hours and hours. I swear blind my girls lower my blood pressue.

 

Also anyone stopped eating chicken?

It took us a while to eat chicken after we got them. We did not have any for a few weeks, then I brought breast or boneless thighs only. It was a good few months before I brought a whole chook for a Sunday roast and it was a few of those before I learnt to disassociate my dinner with my girls.

[gaunyerselhen]

Hi All, first time on this forum. We've had our two girls for about 4 weeks now. We live in Northern France and sourced our two lovely girls from a guy who lives about 15 mins away. He has only organic chickens, he said they're Bretons but we're not sure (they're beautiful black with white "ears" and lovely red combs). We haven't been able to pick them up yet but getting close, I think! Dany (Danyfretyersel hen) is the greedier and bolder of the two, when eating from my hand; (we end up face to face while I'm crouched down and trying to sort out an even amount of treat in each hand, as she tries to get in first). Gaunny (Gaunyersel hen) is the older of the two and a bit more timid, but still eats from my hand. I want very much to be able to pick them up. Sorry for the shameless Scottish link!! When I appear in the garden and crouch down they come running (when they run from one end of the garden to the other it is very funny to see. I love them very much. On a sad note though!! we bought the Egloo Classic but now we want the cube!! The advice here has been great so thank you folks, I'm now assuming that it is ok to pick them up when they have been in bed for about half an hour. (I was worried in case they linked being picked up inside with nesting and so may stop laying). Sounds like that's not the case. Will post some piccies of my beautiful girls soon. Bye for now Derek

[gaunyerselhen]

Partner and I are in dispute about our girls; I've just read about La Flêche but he thinks not. They look the same, don't want to be picked up, their owner said they would happily stay out all night and roost in trees, they are laying on average three eggs every two days, are flighty and one has flown into next door neighbours garden a few times (though seem to be happy in our garden now!). Who knows!! Derek

[Chortle Chook]

Welcom iggyigster

 

Re handling chooks - the advice from everyone here is excellent. The trick is to keep the wings down. You could use two hands to lift the chicken up in front of your chest then gently put the girly under your arm. I do this with my Silkies (they are, however, notoriously easy to handle).

 

The two breeds you have chosen are lovely breeds I think and are both on my 'short / for next time' list.

I'm Where did you get them from at this time of year?

 

Re eating chicken - I stopped for several months after I got my first girls and still can't manage a roast as it reminds me just too much of one of my chooks. Now I eat cut up bits but never ever unless I am certain it is from a free range chicken. Just seeing my girls run about and enjoy life to the full has convinced me how dreadfully cruel battery farming is. I used to make sure that any eggs I bought were from free range chickens, but until I got my own birds I wasn't too particular about checking in restaurants or for things like sandwiches. Now I am dead fussy.