ashjc Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 Hi Can anyone help me please. Had two chickens about 4 weeks ago. Read the guides on here on how to pick them up but I am struggling. When I had them they came in a cardboard box. I was able to pick them both up, clip wings and dust them with diatom. Since then I have struggled. One I have managed to on a couple of occasions pick up, when she has been cornered has squated and let me pick her up to inspect and dust. She is getting harder to catch now. The other I have not been able to catch at all. She runs, jumps and squarks very loudly. I have tried to shut them in the cube to catch but she has squarked, lost a few feathers and managed to fly out of the top of the cube hatch. I have tried to do this in the evening too when they have roosted for about 30 mins but still the same. In the meantime I am putting diatom in where they lay and also where they appear to be dusting in the run to medicate them. However I do need to be able to pick them up incase I ever need the vet and to check them over for other ailments and applications in winter. Can anyone suggest how I do this without stressing them. I think the neighbours think I am trying to kill her! (Urban garden keeper) On another note, this may sound strange but I am obsessed with making sure I dont get redmite! My cube is placed on wood chippings and I only let them out in the evening on the lawn as we work all day, so spend all day in the run. Does redmite live in wood?... therefore would they live in the wood chippings? Can I therefore buy some poultry shield solution and medicate the run area as I would the henhouse? Or is this not required? thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 It will get easier as they come into lay, they should start squatting down when you approach them. Doesn't always work, though - some hens haven't read the manual. You are doing the right thing by taking them out once they are roosting, and if they are still restless then leave it a bit longer after they've gone to bed, and this way they will get used to being handled and you can check their health. Some hens are never easy to catch - once you start chasing them, they get very wary and both of you end up short of breath and out of temper! You may find it easier to scatter a treat on the ground and let them approach to pick it up, you might be able to grab one then. The more they are handled, the easier it should get. Redmite lives in dark places, so it's much more likely to be in the coop than in an area that is exposed to sunlight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 Oh dear brings back memories of my two wyandottes when young. They would scream 'she's trying to kill me' when I tried to pick them up. Best way I found was to herd them into a corner of the run and put something like a board on one side then they are cornered and they can just shoot upwards but were trapped. You might find it easier to use some netting to drop over them. When you have one in your hands talk quietly to her until she calms down and you do too (keep breathing) and give her a little treat. They do get easier but with mine it wasn't really until they were mature that they were easy to handle Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 omlet chicken course suggested a fishing net for helping to catch chooks! What a picture!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 Why not take them out of the Eglu at night and dust and inspect whilst they are drowsy. They will be much easier to handle. Buy yourself a head torch. I wouldn't be without my landing net. An essential piece of kit for a chicken keeper in my book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 what size net would you say would be ok for bantams? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 Just a bog standard landing net. Its blue if that helps. Cheap as chips from any angling shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 Why not take them out of the Eglu at night and dust and inspect whilst they are drowsy. They will be much easier to handle. Buy yourself a head torch. I wouldn't be without my landing net. An essential piece of kit for a chicken keeper in my book. Exactly what I do with 12 hens it's easier this way. I just shut them all in the cube and take them out through the back one by one. Chickens which have been treated are popped in the run until they are all done. Try reading this thread for information Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 is there a clever (ie simple ) way of saving a linked topic (like the lice one) for easy reference at a future date? Can it be saved into another place on the computer? or tagged in some way? LOL - found a way of saving the 'page' on IE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 Just bookmark it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 I second the fishing net idea! my girls are quite happy to come close, even to be stroked or eat from hand - but if I try to pick them up it cues mass hysteria, shrieking, flapping etc. a net is just a quick way of getting hold of them without the stress levels - and once you've got them they do calm down and even seem to quite enjoy most things. I think it is just the 'catching' bit to be honest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashjc Posted June 23, 2011 Author Share Posted June 23, 2011 Right the landing net seems to be the most popular solution... I shall away to an an angling shop in the next few days and let you know how I get on. I have tried the cube after dusk option but they still screamed the place down, even though their eyes were closed when I went in. Fishing for chickens... who would have believed it at my age lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Most of mine will come to hand, or I do them at night, but the araucanas are flighty; if I need to catch them in the day then I net them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 I'd persist with the bedtime routine as they'll soon get used to it. I borrow my OH's landing net for urgent "catches" during the day, but I'd rather not use it as it only stresses them more. They all eat from my hand but as soon as they see the net, they're off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
