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

[flymamma]

How sad ! Poor chickie's with no mamma lovin'. The most gentle chicken I have had so far that LOVED to be held and stroked and was so great with my kids ... turned out to be a ROO , a barred rock . So when Barbara went Bart we had to send him away ... my kids were sad . I only have one red star that is skittish and hates to be held .. the rest will jump up on my lap when they are wandering the yard . Just get behind them and put you fingers under their chest and thumbs securely on the wings , then tuck them in close to your chest and pet them ... they love it !It may take yours some time to get used to the contact , but they will get used to it !

 

[Ladyhawke1]

Quote:
As I instruct young children who have never held a small animal or bird, DO NOT hold the animal/bird so tight that they cannot expand their rib cage to breathe.

Some people are not aware enough to understand this concept of life. So sometimes a very small animals just passes out, suffocates or seem to “drop dead” to the uninitiated.

Scratch? I would scratch, claw, bite and peck too if I could not breathe.

 

[Ladyhawke1]

Quote:
And yes earrings! Owwww!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
As I instruct young children who have never held a small animal or bird, DO NOT hold the animal/bird so tight that they cannot expand their rib cage to breathe.

Some people are not aware enough to understand this concept of life. So sometimes a very small animals just passes out, suffocates or seem to “drop dead” to the uninitiated.

Scratch? I would scratch, claw, bite and peck too if I could not breathe.

Yes......................NO BEAR HUGS FOR CHICKENS.

Kids I can understand not realizing this, but I wouldn't think that would be a problem with an adult. But I guess, ya never know.

 

[BroomFarm]

Try to picture the way a running back holds a football, tucked up under one arm (around both wings) and your hand underneath the bird.

If you're afraid of them, they'll sense that and it will make them nervous. Have a stern talk with yourself before you pick one up:

"This is JUST a chicken...not a vicious animal. It won't hurt me even if it's a little scared. I CAN handle a chicken properly so that the bird is not freaked out and neither am I!"

Oh yeah, can I

?

 

[Atlchick]

And sometimes they do peck. Just say 'ouch' and keep going. Sometimes you get scratched with a toe-nail - just say 'ouch' and put peroxide on it later. Just jump right in - some of mine really like to have their wattles scratched, some like their wings rubbed, some barely tolerate me, so I just give more mealworms to the ones that let me love on them!

 

[Ladyhawke1]

I have friends that have never had a pet in their whole life. I have known people whose parents kept the dog in the backyard and no one ever explored a relationship with the animal. You might as well be introducing a Martian to them.

Yes, some people are afraid of animals. Some of this makes sense under certain conditions.

There is the “fear” biting and….. ho yes, I love it when I hear the macho…I just kick the !@#&*($#@! out of them and then they “respect” me. No they do not respect you…they just stay away from you. AS probably some of your fellow humans do.

I physically get sick when I hear that someone has “kicked” a chicken. That takes a “real” man to do that. I need coffee.

 

[Metanoia]

Don't chase them or loom over them, just do it!
Hand over each wing, pick it up then holding one wing and under the breast hold it against your body so your other hand is free to pat.

Mine also like soothing noises. If they are a bit prone to wanting to flap down I make a "shhh shhh" noise and they like it... or I quietly say "chookchookchook" to just the one I'm holding.

Love how someone called it the "football carry". lol

 

[cap1717]

Quote:
One of my girls LOVES to perch on my arm or hand. . . seems like an "arm" in the coop is her invitation to perch. . . she's been doing this from about 2 weeks of age, and I find it delightful. The others can be picked up (with protest, of course) but do not seem to mind sitting in my lap as I pet and tickle them. . . they all love to have the top of their heads rubbed. I do, of course "work" at this, I want them all to be docile when being handled, and I "touch" each of them every day, the more they protest, the more time I spend with them. I also take treats to them several times daily, so now they all come running when I emerge from the back door. . . makes a chicken momma feel "loved". . . .

 

[CallyB57]

Well...here is how I made friends with my birds and was able to gain their trust. I sat on the ground with a bag of raw peanuts (Not salted, of course), and I cracked and shelled them one at a time and fed them from my hands. Pretty soon I had cheekens stepping all over me. I was able to hug them up close a few times. After several days of that, they really had no fear of me. All cheekens are different. Some might never really like being held, and then there is the one that will fly up onto your lap as soon as you sit down in a lawn chair. I have one little 6 wk old DBrahma that will hang around my feet and fly onto my lap consistently. Also, if she gets stressed in any way (you know that chirping call they make when in distress) she will head straight for me as if to say - Mommy, I can't find my friends! So I pick her up and off we go searching under then henhouse and in the sand pan etc. Anyway, try goodies - even rice and chopped apples or cooked oatmeal with a little applesauce in it will really get them. Peanuts are just neater and easier to feed from your hand. Unsalted sunflower kernels or even scratch grains would probably do just as well. Don't be scared...just pick 'em up and don't let their wings flap around and don't hold them too tightly. Most of them are okay with that.