Catching uncooperative chickens

[saysfaa]

This is how to use it and some pros and cons compared to other methods, like a net.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/leg-hook-for-catching-birds.262177/

 

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

My chickens have never been trusting and friendly, but now that I've been needing to catch them for stickflea treatments, they truly avoid me. Even if I go into their coop at night, they will wake up enough to run away after I catch the first few. (The structure of the coop is such that it's impossible to corner them while I have the panels open to reach inside.) Any ideas on catching very suspicious and avoidant chickens?

I don’t know what kind of light you use.

I use a headlamp that has a dim red light setting. Much less likely to cause a stir.

I use a headlamp 300+ days of the year so I bought a $70 Petzl Actic Core. But plenty of good ones in the $25 range

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Yes, as I said, even at night they will wake up and run out of the coop and hide.

Can you not close the coop so they cannot escape?

Many good suggestions here:
~Catch them at night.
~Use a dim or red headlamp so you can see but they cannot.
~Close access so they cannot escape. If you have one of those elevated coops, get the bird you need, remove it and yourself and close the hatch behind you as quickly as possible, and go elsewhere to do whatever you need to do with that bird. Ideally, put the finished birds in a dog crate until you get them all done, then return them to the coop.

 

[629864]

I have had luck with the net. To prevent injury, hold the net over the bird until you are right next to it. Then flip the net, which will momentarily turn the bird. Reach your hand in and grab their ankles and remove them from the net by their feet. It may seem kind of brutal but it prevents the feet from tangling in the net. After they are upside down for a few secs the blood rushed to their head and they calm right down. At this point safely transfer your big spurred rooster to a football hold or however you want to hold him.

If they are young teens or you have gloves on or are unconcerned with getting hurt you can just reach one hand under the net and grab them any old way. If they are small, grabbing by the "shoulders" or right where the wing meets the body works well, with a thumb under one wing and your hand over their back. I have big hands and can lift many of my birds this way, which was showed to me by a state poultry official during testing. The above method should only really be needed with the strongest/biggest spurred "dangerous" birds. I have mostly needed my net for guineas!

This is the net I have. https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/...NoQksCQUMGyeX7tGf3m8qB_CS03hni7RoCDaMQAvD_BwE

Hope this helps!

That definitely helps! I'm going to get one of those ... the frustration saved is more than worth that price!!!

 

[Folly's place]

i have two nets; a smaller net with a four or five foot handle for in the coop, and a long handled big net for outside. Both are from fishing supplies at a sporting goods store.
Mary