To Catch a Chicken

[BigBlueHen53]

I have one of these but some chickens just easily get their leg out of it, I gave up and went with a large long handled net.

I knew an old farm gal who could snag chickens with one of these. Must take a lot of practice. I couldn't do it to save my life.

 

[trudyg]

Like I said, I'm going to keep working on getting them to let me pick them up. I already do the 'in the dark' thing with very low light, but the roo crows all night long anyway and he raises a ruckus at the least little thing. They all come close for treats, but none will let me even put my hand over them to stroke, much less pick up. I assume we'll get there in time. As for the roo, with scaly leg mites, I think I may just butcher him this fall when the young cockerels mature. I have 2 and 1 pullet, 9 weeks old. Roo is the daddy and is a very good rooster for the girls but I'm thinking, if I can get one of the young ones to come to me easily, then I'll get rid of the elder and keep the younger. The bigs still chase off the young ones, so I need to let the bigs out of the pen so I can work with the littles. I have several problems in doing all of this--I work full time, my DH is disabled and needs care before I leave in the morning and once I get home in the evening, and I have vision issues as well as autism spectrum issues (mainly with noises and flapping, just gets me rattled, so I take longer that usual to do anything since I have to wait for everything to be calm before I proceed). Add my age to that and I'm doing good to keep chickens at all. Although I'm seriously thinking to give them up.

 

[aart]

They all come close for treats, but none will let me even put my hand over them to stroke, much less pick up.

Gotta move quickly, pin those wings with both hands, not wait for them to 'let' you.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Like I said, I'm going to keep working on getting them to let me pick them up. I already do the 'in the dark' thing with very low light, but the roo crows all night long anyway and he raises a ruckus at the least little thing. They all come close for treats, but none will let me even put my hand over them to stroke, much less pick up. I assume we'll get there in time. As for the roo, with scaly leg mites, I think I may just butcher him this fall when the young cockerels mature. I have 2 and 1 pullet, 9 weeks old. Roo is the daddy and is a very good rooster for the girls but I'm thinking, if I can get one of the young ones to come to me easily, then I'll get rid of the elder and keep the younger. The bigs still chase off the young ones, so I need to let the bigs out of the pen so I can work with the littles. I have several problems in doing all of this--I work full time, my DH is disabled and needs care before I leave in the morning and once I get home in the evening, and I have vision issues as well as autism spectrum issues (mainly with noises and flapping, just gets me rattled, so I take longer that usual to do anything since I have to wait for everything to be calm before I proceed). Add my age to that and I'm doing good to keep chickens at all. Although I'm seriously thinking to give them up.

You're doing great! Seriously, with all that going on, you are indeed amazing to have chickens at all. I think you can do this, though. Maybe getting rid of the noisy, flapping rooster would increase your chances of success, since he triggers autism issues with you. Maybe you can rehome him or he might make good soup? I truly believe if you eliminate the most distracting factors, you can enjoy having chickens and they can be therapeutic for you and your DH.

Your husband is blessed to have you. I wish you both well.

 

[Stiletto]

You're doing great! Seriously, with all that going on, you are indeed amazing to have chickens at all. I think you can do this, though. Maybe getting rid of the noisy, flapping rooster would increase your chances of success, since he triggers autism issues with you. Maybe you can rehome him or he might make good soup? I truly believe if you eliminate the most distracting factors, you can enjoy having chickens and they can be therapeutic for you and your DH.

Your husband is blessed to have you. I wish you both well.

x2

 

[CindyinSD]

You may want to consider going “hens only,” considering all you’re dealing with. Of my mature hens, the Columbian Wyandottes are the most docile, but I’ve heard Speckled Sussex are very special with regard to friendliness.

With my CWs (and to a lesser degree my Buff Orpingtons and Black Australorps) I spread my hand over their backs then bend down closer, keeping my hand directly over their back. I place my hand on their back and give them a little scratch like you would a dog. They squat as they would do for a rooster. I wrap my hands around their bodies, making sure to enclose their folded wings, and pick them up. I hold them like one holds a baby or a small dog/cat. If you want to be able to do this reliably, you need to keep them in practice. Do the procedure up to the scratching part whenever you’re with them and not rushed. They will squat for you as you walk by once they’re used to it. Give them a little scratch as a reward.

This might not work as well with a rooster around—I’ll find out soon, as I have a few little cockerels growing out. If they lift their tail feathers when you scratch them, make sure none of the other hens peck at their cloaca. I cover them with my hand if they do that, to hide it. The little bit of exposed pink skin attracts the other birds.

I also have Silver-laced Black Wyandottes who will squat though not as readily, and Dominiques who won’t do it at all. I can only easily catch them by snatching them from the roost. BTW, none of my hens were willing to be picked up as babies and only became friendlier as they matured.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

By the way, @trudyg ... my DH and the 12-grandson we are raising (not related, it's a God thing!) are also "on the spectrum" ... and I will tell you this. I spell it AWE-tistic! Both struggle a bit with the scoial graces, but both are so incredibly, stinkin' SMART they blow me away. They see the world in ways different from how I see it, and while it puzzles, baffles and challenges me at times, when I finally "get" it, it's like ... WOW. So hang in there, Girl. You got this. We're here for you!

 

[trudyg]

I really like the idea of having chicks. since Bertha just hatched 3 9 weeks ago, I'm still hopeful, so I"ll keep my roo for the fertilizing eggs. He's such a good boy for the girls, so I think his progeny will also be good. I may not treat the scaly leg mites but butcher him and keep one of the cockerels instead. Don't know yet. So, I want a rooster.

As to the hens, Scar will hop on my leg and Scar and Jewel will hop pretty close to get a raisin, but they're the only ones who will get close enough for that. Several of the others will crowd around but not right up to me like those 2, and then yet others will not get close at all. Those I make sure to get treats to, hoping to get them less flighty. They're just not as aggressive as these 2. The roo will come close to grab treats, then give them to a hen. The 3 9 week old ones don't come close at all because they get chased away. I can tell from the poop piles, tho, that they are spread out on the roost at night among the big, no longer hunkering down on the ladder.

 

[buffyfluffy17]

Snatching them right off the roost is the way to go for me. In my experiences, none of the other chickens have freaked out, they just clucked a little. If you have a rooster, or an aggressive hen (I have one named Snappy), they may try to peck you if your hand gets too close to them. Overall, I think catching them at night is the easiest method.
P.S. A headlight, not a hanheld flashlight, is what you want to keep your hands free to apply medicine or handle the birds.

 

[m1chelle1]

Has anyone ever used a large net of some sort to catch chickens in daylight? Was thinking about it the other day, but not sure if it would injure the birds, etc. Would love to hear from someone who has tried this before. thanks!!