Hey Debbi,
This is for you my friend. Will try and explain this like you had never taken a chicken from a show cage or any other kind of cage. I am right handed so will explain like everyone is or you can just switch it around.
When taking any chicken out of the show cage run your arm to back of cage and turn the direction of bird to face you then slowly move the bird forward to the door area, then you can use both hands to bring the large fowl out of the pen. Turn the bird to your right hand and put your hand under the bird, put the left hand over the outside wing. To start taming your bird just hold the bird with your left hand and take the right hand and start gently rubbing the wattles and neck. After doing this a little offer the over ripe Banana and stick the beak into the Banana if you have to .
When my young fowl go into the growoff pens I feed all of them over ripe Bananas every day until I turn them out in the field.
When it comes to a mean male bird you can also put your fingers around the head and use one finger to rub the neck, this way he will quit pecking your hand.
The Banana is real sweet and has lots of potassium.
The 4H and other youth groups around here teach the handling procedures to the kids, I have done the siminars for the youth before. I believe the kids might be a little more receptive then adults. If you have never been to one of these for the youth you should check it out as the kids are great.
