okay...I am scared to pick one up.

[Biddylover]

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lol ain't that the truth, other day had one of mine out for my boys to pet and I messed up... once Manny had her feet on my hands she almost crawled up my face. Glad husband was there to help, ugh.

 

[homesteadingcowgirl]

Just go for it--They're all chicken anyway!

 

[Happy Chooks]

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[StupidBird]

If the hens are doing the squat for you, THEN its EASY! I have one "hands off me" BR that is now succumbing to her hormones, much to her disgust. I also find tucking the bird under the arm against the body - like a football - to be comfortable enough for both of us. Let the legs hang down, pin wings between arm and body, head forward. Of course, I try to remember to wear long sleeves, long pants, and glasses...no scars yet!

There actually is a recent post here somewhere about someone getting pecked in the eye and damaging the cornea, and this by just a pet getting too curious.

Don't forget treats! I always bring scratch in the same yellow cup; the stupid birds now just see someone with the treats cup and mob up. Our chickens are strangely mesmerized by orthodontics... all that glitz on the teeth.

 

[Brindlebtch]

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[StupidBird]

AND most important, don't let your child teach them to sit on their shoulder and head as chicks!!!!!!!!!!
Cute as a bit of fluff, not so much so as an 8 pound clawed dinosaur with feathers and an appetite.

 

[cochinfan]

I carry my chickens a lot. I love holding them. Sometimes I struggle to get them picked up without them flapping their wings like crazy in my face. I try to pick them up while holding their wings against their body.

Wing flapping may be more of a problem when I am lifting them off their perch in the morning and taking them out to their pen. I get them up earlier during the week then they would like (lazy birds!)

 

[2DogsFarm]

Good idea to try when they're roosting.
I found out that sleepy chickens are a whole lot easier to pick up.

As for not letting their feet touch you ???
I have one Houdan who has come to expect "limo service" off the roost every morning.
She will perch on my hand and let me carry her over to the door.
No scratching or fussing, but she is the only one who seems to enjoy perching like that - the other 4 get the football Carry & we're all happier that way.

And StupidBird is right - my one Black Star was very standoffish until she started laying. Now she does her Squat and can easily be caught & carried.
Ha! So much for her surly, teenage years!

 

[kassy68]

OMGosh.. You guys are cracking me up.. and probably scaring the heck out of her..

HUN.. stay away from the roos.. they never like to be picked up I've found.. and I'm brand new to chickens this year too.. I have to corner my roo at least once a week or he starts eyeballing me and gets a little cocky.. so I corner him, push him down and then pick him up and MAKE him love me.. LOL also I check him all over.. go through his feathers, rub his ears and comb.. LOL

I fortunately started with 1 yr old untamed hens (yeah right).. from my high school boyfriend .. who I'd not seen in 22 years.. he said " just grab them by the wings" As he was netting them.. I saw one in the nesting box.. LMAO I said hey... what about her... he said "grab her" so I grabbed her around the neck first as I didn't want to be pecked and he said " WINGS" oh.. but she is my barred rock now and has since forgiven my ignorance.. I found at first the best way to get them is to move fast when they squat.. one had over their back to holdem down and the other moving in for the pick up.. LOL

I've not been scratched by a hen yet.. my little pullet toenails are getting sharper though.. but still. Don't be scared.. my worst fear is one was gonna peck my eyes out and theyve yet to try..

Oh.. and trust me, you can't hurt them very easily.. they are tough little birds.. LOL

 

[cochinfan]

My first cochin rooster (God rest his soul - the dirty coyotes!) would get both the broom chasing from me and the pick him up treatment so that he would continue to get the idea that I was the boss! I loved picking him up and cuddling him. He put up with it quite well and it did keep him in line! The broom worked well for that as well!

I do love roosters! Am I crazy?