Hen saddle help

[tnmommy]

I bought all of my girls hen saddles, one of them REALLY seems to be the rooster's favorite. Any pointers on putting them on the hens solo, or is this a two person job? I've read that holding them with the head pointed down buys temporary hypnosis?

 

[Judy]

Laying them on their back is supposed to hypnotise them.

Mine aren't that easy to handle. I just picked them up one by one off the roost after dark when they are ccalm, sat down with a hen in my lap, and put them on. A helper is handy, though I don't think I ever had one. I do have a light I can turn on in my coop, though.

 

[aart]

Laying them on their back is supposed to hypnotise them.

Mine aren't that easy to handle. I just picked them up one by one off the roost after dark when they are ccalm, sat down with a hen in my lap, and put them on. A helper is handy, though I don't think I ever had one. I do have a light I can turn on in my coop, though.

Do you wait until well after sunset? Does the light in the coop 'wake them up' and make them less easy to handle?
Are your hens 'handleable' during the day?

 

[tnmommy]

I'm going to try it later this evening. I don't have a light inside the coop other than a heat lamp, but I have a large flourescent light I can take with me. I'll start with the worst off...

 

[Judy]

Quote: Yes.
Eventually; it seems to help if you stay calm and quiet, and use a small bulb (40W or so.)
No. I can calm them down after I catch them and get them in my lap -- but they have to be caught; I don't have any "lap chickens" at all right now. They know my voice, and will come to me for treats -- but not all the way up to me.