Handling my Hens

[Middleburg Farm]

so I am new"ish" to all things chickens and roosters and one of my biggest challenges is picking them up / catching them when I need to dust for mites, put petroleum jelly on their legs and generally inspect them. Suggestions welcomed.

 

[techbsmith]

I tend to do best with most of mine while they are roosting at night. Once they settle in and roost, it's much easier to just pick them up, and do inspections.

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

Practice makes perfect....? I used to not be able to do it. It's easier when you first start out (newbie status) do do it in coop where they really don't have too much space to wiggle away from you. Stay gentle, remain calm, don't get frazzled (they pick up on that. Also they seem to know when us humans are scheming or up to something). If you make calming cluck and coo noises they may learn to come to you when you do that. Oh, and just like with kids, a good bribery gets you a long ways! Have fun wranglin'!

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

Yes, night is better and much easier. The more they get used to being held the better your chances of daytime cuddles

 

[Middleburg Farm]

Thanks everyone. Will give it a go tonight.
Any tips on what products to use for dusting? Not a lot available in South Africa for private chicken farmers. Someone suggested food grade DE

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

DE should do the trick. But it does need to be reapplied weekly(ish)

 

[aart]

Thanks everyone. Will give it a go tonight.
Any tips on what products to use for dusting? Not a lot available in South Africa for private chicken farmers. Someone suggested food grade DE

Welcome to BYC!
Adding your location to your profile is most helpful.


DE will not kill mites.
Do they have mites,
or just trying to be preventative?
I would not treat for mites or scaly leg mites unless you actually have them.
DE might help prevent them, but if you have mite on your birds and in your coop, don't mess around, get some permethrin. Can be found as poultry and/or garden dust.
Maybe @Pork Pie Ken can help, he lives in Central(?) Africa.

 

[Pork Pie]

I have used domestic pyrethrum based insecticide liquid sprays before - the kind that one would use for plants etc.

 

[Middleburg Farm]

Being preventative. I have dewormed and dusted them. Someone also suggested planting more Rosemary and Lavender plants around the garden as these are natural repellants. Preventative measures being taken

 

[MatthewsHomestead]

How are they responding to being handled?