Chicken bald back

[emmalou]

We have a variety of hens which we adopted 7 weeks ago at 20 weeks. They are a red, black, sussex, medicis and a marans cou cou. The medicis and the sussex just aren't that friendly. They come up every time I go in the run, feed them or let them out but they just won't let me stroke them or pick them up. This obviously is a problem if and when I may need to check them etc. If I try to pick them up they get in a flap and fly off or walk away very quickly.

Can anyone shed any light on this? Maybe it is their breed? Can I do anything to help with this?

[Beantree]

It's not in a chicken's nature to like being picked up or stroked Emmalou, although you will get some exceptions. Catching them takes some care and they should never be grabbed by the legs as their hips are easily dislocated. Ours are best caught whilst in the coop and then checked over and let out one by one. In time (sometimes), when they realise that they are not being hurt or their feathers damaged when being picked up, they get easier to catch. Some however are wild from start to finish, our Marans being a good example. So their nature is somewhat breed dependent, but more so the handling they got when they were chicks. Breeders don't have the time to handle all their stock daily, but if you ever breed your own (by incubator) you will discover you will be able to get them very tame.

[emmalou]

The red, black and marans are very tame. It was really just for handling should it ever be necessary. I want to be able to catch them without giving them too much stress.

[Alis girls]

I have 3 newbies who are skittish - no idea how I will ever do health checks. All laying but dont crotch - and i have just had a verbal b------g from Lucille cos I dared to try and retrieve an egg. Blimey what a gobby tart

[emmalou]

Yikes, she sounds handful. Ours aren't quite that bad but like you say it is just being able to handle them for health checks which whilst they are not bred to be handled will at some point need to be handled without giving them too much stress.

[Alis girls]

I have an old bird who loves a stroke. Not sure how I am going to get round newbies.

[mullethunter]

In my experience they'll only be really tame if you get them young. I got my Pekins at 10 weeks and they'll jump on me and let me pick them up (I wouldn't say they enjoy it though) but I struggle to catch my Wyandottes who I got at 18 months.

[Alis girls]

Sadly I think I will be doing checks by torchlight.