Catching my darned hens.

[SoapFlavoured]

Hello!

Well I recently acquired a Araucana, Light Sussex and a Wyandotte and I can't catch them. I have tried all the remedies I have found but I still can't catch them.

They are quite smart so I can't corner them no matter how hard I try.

Any help? Thanks xx

 

[mandelyn]

Do you have any rolls of fencing laying around? If you temporarily attach it to the side of a coop (or nearest building or tree where they hang out) and create a circle around a large area, you can make a catch pen. Slowly walk them towards it. It helps to carry a long stick or broom to help herd them. Once they're in, close up the gap. Easier to catch them in smaller spaces.

Or, make friends with them through food. They'll let you get closer to them if you build that trust with food. It then gets easier to herd them into a smaller space.

You also have to be very calm and patient. Moving slowly until it's time to snatch them, then you have to be quick. Encouraging trust through food really helps the most in making them easier to catch. When you catch one, spend a moment petting it and gently place it where it's going, making it as low stress as possible, to make it easier the next time.

The birds I have had the longest squat when I reach for them. Makes it easy. But I spent a lot of time making friends with them. If they fear you, it's chaos trying to get them caught.

 

[shmccarthy]

I found that the best way to herd my flock of 30 into the pen is to herd them kind of like cattle. I got a long, thicker stick and I tap it on the ground behind and around them. It works well with stragglers too because they go away from the noise.

 

[Mrs. K]

Herding and catching are two different things. I too herd with a stick, and every time I feed, I call, "here chickchickchick" which brings all running.

But if you need to catch them, take a fish net, the kind that comes on a handle, and is used to scoop a fish into the boat. It works even if you are not real close, it will really extend your arm. And they might struggle a little bit, but then they calm right down.....even pretty mean roosters.

Mrs K

 

[shmccarthy]

Oh I must've misread it!
Anyways if you want to catch them, maybe offer some of their favorite treats in your hand. Mine can't resist blueberries and mealworms. After a while they'll know that you come with treats and will run up to you when they see you, good luck.

 

[Roxannemc]

i do the same .
Give them their best treat and always call "chick chick" as i do
They go crazy running to me ,.Then you just throw it in the small run or a small space They run in after the treat... shut the door, then go in and get them.
Do the same to put them to bed when young Later on they just go in the coop at night without anything

However i find if i need to catch one Night when they bed down is the very best time.
They dont move or run when you grab them at night.Much easier

 

[donrae]

I don't ever catch them, so I don't have to worry about it

If I really needed to look at a hen, I'd wait until night and take her off the roost. But I can't think of the last time I needed to actually handle a bird........it's probably been over a year.

 

[Mrs. K]

I don't handle mine either, but I did need to catch that mean rooster, and the net worked perfect.

 

[CowGrrrl]

A crook of some kind works beautifully, also nets and mandelyn's technique seems like a good idea.

 

[wasntme]

I don't know if you have a dog, but I trained my schnauzers to "fetch them up." My male schnauzer gets them back in the run. My female schnauzer makes them go in the coop when I say "bedtime." I tried to catch my buff orpington but couldn't. My male schnauzer crouched down and caught her between his front legs and held her until I could get to her. He is very gentle with the girls. One day though he went in the run and stole their watermelon . The girls chased after him. Lol he didn't know what to think.

All I have to do is close their coop door at night.
My dogs are very protective over them.