Herbanfarmer
In the Brooder
I have a new flock of 6 hens. They're 3 months old right now and only one chicken will let me pick her up. The rest run away squawking. I need to be able to handle them for a couple of reasons, but right now my concern is that we're going on vacation in September and I'll be bringing my chickens to a friend's home while we're gone. She has a lot of chickens, a large enclosed run and barn, and I have to be able to find and catch my chickens to bring them back home.
My previous hens were a lot more cooperative and I brought them to my friend's home and back often, with no problems. Or if we needed to dust them or check them over for injuries, they were not difficult to catch and handle.
Common sense tells me to just continue trying to handle them until they calm down. The one that lets me pick her up will actually climb into my lap and hunker down when I'm sitting on the ground. I've been hand-feeding treats to them, and they have no problem getting close to me when I'm seated on the ground and will even walk over my legs or climb under them. But as soon as I try to touch them, they run away.
I also bought plastic leg bands so I can identify them, and was wondering if anyone else has used them. Two of my chickens already have legs too big for the bands, I'll have to get extra large ones. But I just want to make sure they will not irritate their legs or feet. Or if there's a better alternative. Thanks...
My previous hens were a lot more cooperative and I brought them to my friend's home and back often, with no problems. Or if we needed to dust them or check them over for injuries, they were not difficult to catch and handle.
Common sense tells me to just continue trying to handle them until they calm down. The one that lets me pick her up will actually climb into my lap and hunker down when I'm sitting on the ground. I've been hand-feeding treats to them, and they have no problem getting close to me when I'm seated on the ground and will even walk over my legs or climb under them. But as soon as I try to touch them, they run away.
I also bought plastic leg bands so I can identify them, and was wondering if anyone else has used them. Two of my chickens already have legs too big for the bands, I'll have to get extra large ones. But I just want to make sure they will not irritate their legs or feet. Or if there's a better alternative. Thanks...