Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Mother of Chaos]

If you have the choice, maybe better to give treats and not pick them up

When they know you better, a light tapping on their beak (like you're a friend cleaning food off their beak), a bum-bum fluffing, or a light crop rub may be appreciated. Depends on the bird, but most of ours love those things.

Congratulations on your new friends!!! That's so exciting.

Well, this was my dilemma :

(I won this round!)

 

[Shadrach]

One and a half hours today. It felt less but the weather people say it was 11C at it's warmest.
Henry is off colour again. He was in the coop when I got there. I carried him out to join the hens for a bit. He stayed out but as soon as I had finished cleaning the coop out he came in to roost. Crop not full and he just looks tired.

 

[Perris]

Henry is off colour again

My oldest, Maria, is too. I think the oldies are really feeling it with the seemingly endless cold and the wet; she was herself again earlier this week when we had some sunshine, but was self-isolating by the front door again yesterday in the cold drizzle. I wouldn't be surprised if this summer is her last. She just seems to have lost her mojo, and to have had enough.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Well, this was my dilemma :

View attachment 4067239
(I won this round!)

They're so cute at that age.

This is why we invented the Starla-vator around here. Put your forearm/back of your hand against their belly, and have them step up.

The late, very great Miss Starla on the right, on top of the coop at dusk:

Since yours just met you, you may have work to do before they'll see stepping up as any better than being picked up. But as tame as our Speckled Ladies are, they still greatly prefer the Starla-vator to being held.

If you can sneak a raisin into your hand when you do pick one up, and they aren't to freaked out to eat it, that's another way to make being held less traumatizing.

Hope you're feeling better and basking in chicken energy.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Sending warm, sunny thoughts to Henry and Maria.

 

[RoyalChick]

They're so cute at that age.

This is why we invented the Starla-vator around here. Put your forearm/back of your hand against their belly, and have them step up.

The late, very great Miss Starla on the right, on top of the coop at dusk:

View attachment 4067498

Since yours just met you, you may have work to do before they'll see stepping up as any better than being picked up. But as tame as our Speckled Ladies are, they still greatly prefer the Starla-vator to being held.

If you can sneak a raisin into your hand when you do pick one up, and they aren't to freaked out to eat it, that's another way to make being held less traumatizing.

Hope you're feeling better and basking in chicken energy.

Shad taught me that if you push your arm against the back of their legs they will often step back onto your arm. Works well to take them off the roost for a health check at night. No panic no fuss.
I recommend wearing a jacket with sleeves because they can dig their nails into your forearm if you move around and they need to keep balance.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Hang in there, Henry and Maria!

Better weather is on its way.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Thanks for all the hen-handling tips! I don’t plan to turn them into lap chickens (that’s their decision if they want to), but safe non-scary handling is important.

I will try them out as soon as the girls stop looking at me as if I have a hockey mask and chain saw. Although they’ve gotten very comfortable with us as we putter around the run. Especially the Barred Rock, who briefly perched on my foot this morning.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Meanwhile, it’s already 59° (15° C) this morning, while there’s a patch of snow still in one of yesterday’s pics. You gotta love March, I guess!

Oops, I need more pics for tax. brb

 

[Mother of Chaos]

They're so cute at that age.

This is why we invented the Starla-vator around here. Put your forearm/back of your hand against their belly, and have them step up.

The late, very great Miss Starla on the right, on top of the coop at dusk:

View attachment 4067498

Since yours just met you, you may have work to do before they'll see stepping up as any better than being picked up. But as tame as our Speckled Ladies are, they still greatly prefer the Starla-vator to being held.

If you can sneak a raisin into your hand when you do pick one up, and they aren't to freaked out to eat it, that's another way to make being held less traumatizing.

Hope you're feeling better and basking in chicken energy.

They are so lovely! Swedish Flower hens or something else?