puffball Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 Well I have been told a number of ways to hold chickens but I am wondering which is the best method? and also, does anyone havve a tips for catching them? So far the only way I can catch them is by grabbing their tail feathers and holding on until they finish flapping! My auntie who used to have chickens said that you only need to place a hand on their tail and they crouch for you, so far they only crouch when I'm not expecting it and by the time I go to get them they've changed their mind!!! Please help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 That will get easier once they start laying! Try getting them out of the cube once they've gone to roost. That will get them used to being handled. Also, getting them used to having treats once a day in a specific bowl. They will crowd round and it will be easier to grab them. I can never get hold of Bambi - she hasn't started laying and is a bit jumpy at the moment. Today when I put their treat bowl in their run she dived in and I managed to grab her as she was distracted by the food Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 My girls are a bit hit and miss when I want to catch them. sometimes they just stand there other times they run away squarking I bought a anglers landing net from Argos for about a fiver. This does the job nicely if I really need to catch them It is telescopic so folds down quite small. Try taking your girls out of the Eglu when it is dark via the eggport for a cuddle. They will be sleepy and not mind so much when you handle them. When they come into lay they should start crouching when you approach them making it easier for you to pick them up ( No one has told my girls this and they still run away sometimes ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted November 9, 2007 Author Share Posted November 9, 2007 Well my hens have started laying and have been for at least a year now The only problem I have with the food idea is that the chickens might not trust you if when they go to eat they get grabbed for 'a cuddle'. Dad says they're too stupid but I don't know... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 Well my hens have started laying and have been for at least a year now The only problem I have with the food idea is that the chickens might not trust you if when they go to eat they get grabbed for 'a cuddle'. Dad says they're too stupid but I don't know... I hate to say it, but your Dad is right They will put up with anything if food is involved When I go out of the kitchen door with their treat bowl they all crowd round my feet. I try to walk to their run but inevitably they get their toes trodden on, or drop kicked across the patio They never learn though! Once their heads are in that bowl they are oblivious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted November 9, 2007 Author Share Posted November 9, 2007 Well in that case I'll try it! ali-s: my girls are laying but, like yours sometimes they just refuse to crouch! As for taking them out of the coop(sadly I don't have an eglu, I would like one but we are keeping the coop we already have ) it is very hard as the roof doesn't lift off or anything! Still perhaps I will try getting them when it is dark, it might have a similar effect on them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 Do try taking them out of the coop at night. They are very dosey then. I still do this quite often as my girls like to run away still and this is the only way I can get to cuddle them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted November 9, 2007 Author Share Posted November 9, 2007 I just looked under your name and was astonished at how many chicken pictures there were!! You are very lucky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 So far the only way I can catch them is by grabbing their tail feathers and holding on until they finish flapping!My auntie who used to have chickens said that you only need to place a hand on their tail and they crouch for you, so far they only crouch when I'm not expecting it and by the time I go to get them they've changed their mind!!! Please help! Not a good idea to grab and hold on - everyone gets stressed! it will get much easier once they start to lay as they will crouch for you - hold your hand over them and they will squat down. However I do have another method which I use in an emergency. Its a big homemade net made with a couple of wire coat hangers bend into a circle and some netting which I throw/drop over them. Then once you hold them (hand underneath supporting with legs between fingers) and stroke them they settle down almost immediately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 Shall I send hubby up to you Puffball?.....he's a professional chicken catcher! (and makes an honest living from it!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 I hold mine tucked under my arm, that keeps there wings in place, and leaves a hand free for me to stroke them while minimising my risk of having them struggle and let go. As fpr catching them I go from the hand from aboe, so it clamps the wings down and forces them into a squat, so you dont end up chasing them around and stressing them. You have to be very fact and decisive though like this, no ently trying to sneek up on them. Also I agree with the food idea. If I put treat food in the grub when their head is inside it eating they cant see you coming and it makes it really easy. I read that if trying to hand tame your chooks, you should start by sprinkling food near you, then when they are confident of eating near you (minimum noise or movement to scare them) try to offer out your open hand and get them to eat from it, then once they are doing this, try to stroke them gentle while they eat from your hand, and then progress to picking them up for a stroke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 I've started using a long handled brush - I hold it out in front of her and she stays put long enough for me to put my free hand on her back, drop the brush, other hand on and pop her under my arm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 I catch my girls by crouching down beside them, putting my hands either side of their wings as if clamping their wings down and then holding them under one arm (as CatsCube described). Asfor getting them that tame that they would tolerate this. At the weekend I sit with them in the afternoons and I hold a corn on the cob. They just toddle up and eat it while I am holding it. The brahmas are particularly friendly and don't mind snuggles. However, be careful that you hold them low enough under your arm especially if you have large breeds. I didn't when I first got them and the brahma pecked me. She went straight through my lip. Ooo it hurt. And the blood... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 Mine don't squat and run away most of the time, or if I'm lucky I'll get one squat in a day and pick Katy up. Mine aren't even keen being picked up at night. Abbie goes RAAWWK RAAWWWK and tries to flap away and go back in the eglu, in the day she runs away (sometimes whilst squatting) and walks away horrified if I stroke her. Katy is OK at night and with the odd stroke, and will squat about once a day, if she doesn't want to be caught she will not squat and will run off, if you pick her up she will often struggle. Megan is neurotic and runs away from me, but will sometimes feed from my hand if the others won't peck her. At night she will nearly take off your hand if you feed her, then flap with no warning and try and escape. I can hold her briefly while I lift her off the nest and collect eggs (cold), but longer cuddling results in peeping and struggling. Lifting at night just seems to annoy them and their heart beats faster, and they struggle. I try calmly stroking, but they don't want to know. I wrap my arms round them, if I hold them underneath they tend to flap off before I've got a proper hold and use me as a launching pad. I don't think it's me as I was fine with Trinny (RIP) and my friend's battery chickens. They will all follow food back so I can shepherd them back if needed, and they will follow me round, or stay close when I clean them out. They will eat from my hand, and run over at the merest possibility of food (I open the back door or walk past them). Abbie has an obsession with pecking my rubber gloves and investigating what I'm doing by landing on/in it and walking over it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted November 10, 2007 Author Share Posted November 10, 2007 This morning I tried the food method-it worked once but then they caught on and ran off as soon as I tried to get them. I turned Gloria on her back becoz she was struggling so much and she has scabs on her tummy. She got up and ran off and a few feathers fell out! I don't think it went too well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted November 10, 2007 Author Share Posted November 10, 2007 Thanks for all of your comments, by the way. I am working on the hnd over them one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 This morning I tried the food method-it worked once but then they caught on and ran off as soon as I tried to get them. I turned Gloria on her back becoz she was struggling so much and she has scabs on her tummy. She got up and ran off and a few feathers fell out! I don't think it went too well Ahh, I'm sure it'll get better. They can lose them quite easily, during a moult I picked up Megan and her entire tail fell off. If you can find the right food you can try getting them to follow it to return them to the run. Blummin Megan evaded us for 10 minutes today, eventually she got interested in the pearl barley and came over rather than grabbing the food and running away (leaves). Grabbing and failing to catch them does seem to make it harder to catch them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted November 11, 2007 Author Share Posted November 11, 2007 Ahh, I'm sure it'll get better. They can lose them quite easily, during a moult I picked up Megan and her entire tail fell off. If you can find the right food you can try getting them to follow it to return them to the run. Blummin Megan evaded us for 10 minutes today, eventually she got interested in the pearl barley and came over rather than grabbing the food and running away (leaves). Grabbing and failing to catch them does seem to make it harder to catch them. Her entire tail fell off? I know the feeling. Amelia's first moult was just the same.... Today I tried to catch her using food but she still is to crafty for me. I managed to catch her but it is still the old 'corner and grab' method. She does get stressed by this but so far it is still the only way to get her (without getting a net of course ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 I'm considering investing in a landing net! I don't pick mine up very often to be honest, but then I find they will do anything for food, so I don't usually need to. Just rattle the mealworms pot and throw a few in the run and they are in. I don't think chickens are all that smart, bless 'em ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 Food is definitely the best option for mine. Bambi is the youngest and hardest to catch - she is starting to look interested in me but as soon as I reach out to her she leaps in the air! Tonight I put their treat bowl in the run and greedy Bambi jumped straight in. I put my hand out to push her off and she 'crouched' with both feet in the porridge! Wings spread, she just went rigid. Easy enough to catch her then! She's got very messy feet though and the others weren't impressed with her standing in their tea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 Just wondering if we should be picking up our girls for a cuddle if, as seems to be the case, so many of them don't like it? Two of my girls seem to be very happy to be stroked, but the rest are not keen so I don't even try. Obviously it is quite another matter if they are ill, checking for mites, they are in danger etc, but - and no offence is meant here -I'm not sure that it is right to chase them around and grab them by the tail in order to have a cuddle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share Posted November 12, 2007 Just wondering if we should be picking up our girls for a cuddle if, as seems to be the case, so many of them don't like it? Two of my girls seem to be very happy to be stroked, but the rest are not keen so I don't even try. Obviously it is quite another matter if they are ill, checking for mites, they are in danger etc, but - and no offence is meant here -I'm not sure that it is right to chase them around and grab them by the tail in order to have a cuddle. I don't like chasing them around and grabbing them by the tail for a cuddle either-that's why I started this chain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 Just wondering if we should be picking up our girls for a cuddle if, as seems to be the case, so many of them don't like it? Two of my girls seem to be very happy to be stroked, but the rest are not keen so I don't even try. Obviously it is quite another matter if they are ill, checking for mites, they are in danger etc, but - and no offence is meant here -I'm not sure that it is right to chase them around and grab them by the tail in order to have a cuddle. I think that by handling regularly it will be easier to check them for mites or handle in an emergency, which would be a struggle at the moment. Not sure my stroking/lifting is improving it though. Maybe if I concentrated on the hand feeding rather than lifting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 Food is definitely the best option for mine. Bambi is the youngest and hardest to catch - she is starting to look interested in me but as soon as I reach out to her she leaps in the air! Tonight I put their treat bowl in the run and greedy Bambi jumped straight in. I put my hand out to push her off and she 'crouched' with both feet in the porridge! Wings spread, she just went rigid. Easy enough to catch her then! She's got very messy feet though and the others weren't impressed with her standing in their tea Adorable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted November 12, 2007 Share Posted November 12, 2007 Mine wouldn't squat if I touched the tail - it has to be centre of the back or they run off. I have to come from above quickly and they 'submit'. Ironically they squat if you walk up when they aren't expecting to see you My new girl won't squat at all for me at the moment so I coerce with food, I am not above bribery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...