How did your flock annoy you today?

[redinator]

I assumed my friend with multiple cats would know to drop the chicken if they get feisty, I assumed wrong! Some chickens need to have your hands over the wings and some others will airplane and enjoy the ride. I also have one that panics as soon as I start lowering her even an inch. I tend to hold her to my body because she doesn't struggle like that, or if she has muddy feet I use my chin as she faces me to keep her from flapping.

I noticed this with some of mine too. The more skittish ones panic less when I carry them on my arm with my hand on their chest to stabilize them. If I try to hold them against my chest or tucked under my arm they panic.

 

[GApeachmama]

One of our hens doesn't mind being picked up or carried but she hates being put down. I'm always careful to make sure a hen has her legs under her and is steady on her feet before I release her. I'm very gentle and don't dig in my fingers or press on their crops or anything like that. For some reason this one hen just doesn't trust me and when she thinks I'm going to put her down she starts flapping and flailing around with her legs and invariably scratches me if I'm wearing short sleeves.

The cashier at the store yesterday saw the scratches on my arms and asked me if I had a cat. The puzzled expression on her face when I said, "No, chickens," was hilarious.

That happened to me at the doctor’s office. That man asked me if I was a self-injurious person. I too replied,” Nope. It was my chicken.” He was dumbfounded. And quite frankly so was I. Bright spot is I got to harass yet another person talking about my ladies.

 

[GApeachmama]

So eggs yet. But! They turn 6 mo next week and somebody other than my 19 week old EE twins sat in the box. It was a larger chicken who moved around the bedding on the nesting pad. Usually the twins just sit on top of the bedding and take a poop until I chase them out of the box.

 

[ChickenChick46]

So eggs yet. But! They turn 6 mo next week and somebody other than my 19 week old EE twins sat in the box. It was a larger chicken who moved around the bedding on the nesting pad. Usually the twins just sit on top of the bedding and take a poop until I chase them out of the box.

Maybe soon!

 

[GApeachmama]

Maybe soon!

 

[redinator]

So eggs yet. But! They turn 6 mo next week and somebody other than my 19 week old EE twins sat in the box. It was a larger chicken who moved around the bedding on the nesting pad. Usually the twins just sit on top of the bedding and take a poop until I chase them out of the box.

Have you tried fake eggs in the nestbox?

 

[GApeachmama]

Have you tried fake eggs in the nestbox?

Yup. Funny enough whoever went in box did not sit on the eggs.

 

[redinator]

Yup. Funny enough whoever went in box did not sit on the eggs.

I had a small chicken hut (actually a dog house, but ya know) that they all used for laying.

Now that I have more layers I set up an 8-bay nest box in the larger of my two runs. I thought it'd be a nightmare getting them to switch, but apparently they liked the upgrade. Of course they all want the same cubby, but chickens will chicken, lol

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

I assumed my friend with multiple cats would know to drop the chicken if they get feisty, I assumed wrong! Some chickens need to have your hands over the wings and some others will airplane and enjoy the ride. I also have one that panics as soon as I start lowering her even an inch. I tend to hold her to my body because she doesn't struggle like that, or if she has muddy feet I use my chin as she faces me to keep her from flapping.

Some of my pullets had gone broody. One especially was on auto-peck if you got near enough to her in her nest.
Somehow I was able to eventually handle them to get them out of the box with no pecks.
I actually had to distract/ block some with an object for a while (usually my phone. The case side, camera out of the way. In case their peck did damage)
Easier if you start at her side instead of the front.

Hand at the side, go under, find a foot. Let the toes wrap around your hand/fingers. Support body and lift out of box. (Don't have thumb on top the shanks, between legs and body. Causes discomfort whether she's trying to sit or stand)
If you have a big hand and a small bird, you can do this one handed. If not, repeat with other hand on other side.

Then comes the flapping.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

A group of young chicks (5 weeks old) decided to play hide and seek today. I even tossed around treats to entice them out of hiding. Nothing!

I checked under, behind and on top of everything I could think of . . . after 45 minutes of me crawling around in the dirt and grass the little devils just reappeared. I still don't know where they hid.

Ahh, you may have either a chicken portal, or some of those parallel dimension birds I've been hearing about.