Trouble handling mama raised chicks

[Folly's place]

If you can remember who's calmest when handled at night, start with that one, and save the hysterical ones for last. OR, see if starting with the worst makes it better. I just go down the row, and then we have fun with a net getting the birds roosting on the rafters down, so it's never all that peaceful...
I just have lower expectations! Handling is traumatic for many, but sometimes necessary.
Mary

 

[aart]

We just do it a little after dark when they have had time to settle on the roost. And once I get one in my arms, I don't really handle her or do anything with her until she settles back down and is calm. That way she is not screaming and flapping and getting the others all agitated. I do what I need to do quickly and calmly and then set her back down on the roost and let her get settled before I pick up another one. Just take your time and be peaceful.

Good advice, but I wait until it's really dark, or others might start wandering around off the roosts.

 

[Beaglegal]

If you can remember who's calmest when handled at night, start with that one, and save the hysterical ones for last. OR, see if starting with the worst makes it better. I just go down the row, and then we have fun with a net getting the birds roosting on the rafters down, so it's never all that peaceful...
I just have lower expectations! Handling is traumatic for many, but sometimes necessary.
Mary

This might be the key, lower expectations. I just remembered when I culled my extra cockerels I wanted every part of the process to be peaceful to prove to myself their lives and deaths were better than a factory, and I was disappointed with myself that it wasn’t. But really they still were. And so are the hens life.

 

[Beaglegal]

Good advice, but I wait until it's really dark, or others might start wandering around off the roosts.

Yes, I thought I might not be waiting long enough, especially in the summer it’s hard to stay up that late.

 

[Folly's place]

In summer we are out there at 11pm, not a lot earlier.
Mary

 

[centrarchid]

This is becoming increasingly clear that op's frustration makes for erratic / impatient approach to handling birds. Time to relax and possibly spend time with chickens when you are not handling or otherwise working with them.

 

[GrayChickens]

My goal is to be better able to handle my chickens to check their health, medicate them or even cull them when the time comes.

I have some mama raised chickens and some ones I brooded myself (approx same age). Despite the fact that I rarely handled the non mama raised chicks and that I purchased them at a week + old, they are much easier to handle now than the mama raised chickens. The mama raised chickens freak out when I handle them despite being given treats (which they won’t eat) and the others are calm, despite not being given treats.

I have tried handling them off the roost at night because I heard it was easier, but they still freak out.

Is this just how it is with mama raised chicks?

Move your chicks inside and spend most of your time with them. Hold them even though it seems they don't like it. The more you hold them the more they wI'll get used to u.

 

[Folly's place]

When I do hold mine, almost all of them do relax once that short initial escape attempt fails. I do have a couple of hens who keep screeching though. Either being lucky, or exceptionally vigilant, they have been among my survivors through last year's exceptional predator attacks.
Mary

 

[Matilda Belle]

Broody raised chicks seem to be much more wild than incubator hatched. I have a two broody-hatched that are 7-8 months old now and they still scream when I try to hold them. They've mellowed out a bit since they were younger, but they are undeniably different than the others.

Another difference I notice with broody hatched is they seem like they are smarter and faster learners especially when it comes to going into the coop at night. Incubator hatched chicks I have to put inside the coop for weeks. Broody hatched have the advantage of having a mother to teach them things.

 

[Beaglegal]

This is becoming increasingly clear that op's frustration makes for erratic / impatient approach to handling birds. Time to relax and possibly spend time with chickens when you are not handling or otherwise working with them.

You are probably more right then I’d like to admit. I enjoy handling the ones that don’t freak out but I don’t particularly enjoy handling the ones that do.

I had the same problem when I started keeping bees and I just had to grit my teeth and get through it. I’m much more comfortable with it now.