anyone making a video etc of how to get a chicken on its back?

[ladyearth]

saw a you tube of lady applying DE to a chicken while holding feet and on its back... video said its calming for them>>>> I cant imagine applying sevin or sulfur or poultry dust to a flapping upright chicken.. will one of you all post a video to show up newbie how......

 

[sunflour]

I think holding them on their back would be terrifying to the chickens. Better to dust at nite while on roost, they are sedate.

Check out this thread. Got one of the pistol dusters to have on hand, just in case.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/926097/interesting-dusting-technique

 

[bertgwen]

My daughter carries ours around on their back, like she's cradling a baby, all the time. Never thought much of it. I often sit in a chair and lay one down in my lap to give them a once over. They often stay well after I let them go.

Thought I had a picture but couldn't find one. Firm grip, calm soothing voice. Don't rush it.

 

[SavageDestiny]

My chickens don't put up a fuss about being on their backs. I can pick them up and turn them over in one arm, or if I need both hands just lie them on my lap. They just chill out.

 

[krista74]

I think this depends very much on how tame your chickens are generally. Mine are quite skittish, so if I want to be able to dust them effectively I need to get them tipped onto their backs.

Normally Hubby and I do this sort of job together. He will catch the girls whilst they are still contained within their coop, then bring them outside one at a time. Hubby sits on a milk crate and holds the bird's legs together in one hand, and I hold their wings to their sides so they can't flap about and hurt themselves.

At that point they really can't move. We turn then over onto their backs and nestle them down on hubby's lap so they are comfy. They usually don't struggle after that, so I dust them, check their feet, and do a bit of an all over checkup on them while they are in that position. It's handy because I can pay particular attention to dusting under wings and around the vent area when they are on their backs.

When we are done, we tip them right way up, pop them on the ground, and they wander off as if nothing happened! To be honest, sometimes I think the whole thing is more stressful for the us than for the bids!

- Krista

 

[bertgwen]

Found a couple pics while cleaning up files on my phone.

Nugget, our Gold Star.

Gus, our easter egger.