Trouble handling mama raised chicks

[Beaglegal]

If possible, I handle mine off their roosts at night. Some birds will get 'friendlier' and more relaxed over time, if you sit around out there with food. Others will be skittish forever.
I also feel that at least at times, the calmer birds are more apt to be picked off by predators, not best for them. Being careful pays off as part of a prey species!
Mary

Yes I’ve tried the handling off the roosts. The flighty chickens start to freak out and get the rest riled up. It’s not working for me for some reason

 

[Beaglegal]

All 12 of my year-old hens were purchased as day-olds and hand raised with lots of handling - at least, I tried. The five Brown Leghorns absolutely never took to being handled, never accepted treats, ran and hid, and still freak out whenever we get within about 8 feet of them. I mean they scream and fly. The EEs on the other hand, cluster around my feet whether it's treat time or not, and I have to take care not to step on them or trip over them. I don't pick them up or cuddle any of them but one of them looks as if she'd like me to. As for handling, we do that at night, plucking them off the roost. Always have, and they all tolerate it just fine. All five of the BLs survived from day one. I have only 9 remaining of my original 18 EEs. They didn't all go to predators, but some did. Flightiness may not be endearing, but it is a survival skill.

That is a good point, although I’ve lost some of the mama raised chicks to predators but none of the me-raised chickens.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Yes I’ve tried the handling off the roosts. The flighty chickens start to freak out and get the rest riled up. It’s not working for me for some reason

Do you tuck them under your arm like a football with their wings folded so they can't flap, and keep them in the dark as much as possible? I use a headlamp to keep both hands free and turn my head away from the other chickens to keep the coop as dark as possible. They tend to be very quiet in the dark.

 

[Beaglegal]

Do you tuck them under your arm like a football with their wings folded so they can't flap, and keep them in the dark as much as possible? I use a headlamp to keep both hands free and turn my head away from the other chickens to keep the coop as dark as possible. They tend to be very quiet in the dark.

How late at night do you do it? I have wondered if I don’t stay up late enough. Otherwise yes I clutch them close and with the wings folded and keep light to a minimum. I have the husband hold the flashlight and turn it off quickly.

 

[Beaglegal]

How late at night do you do it? I have wondered if I don’t stay up late enough. Otherwise yes I clutch them close and with the wings folded and keep light to a minimum. I have the husband hold the flashlight and turn it off quickly.

Basically I can grab one of them then the other flighty ones start freaking out

 

[centrarchid]

You may be able to correct by adjusting how you grab them and make use of the light. Have you tried turning off light and slowly placing your hand under one to get it to perch on you?

 

[littledog]

I definitely found that my chickens who were mama-raised took longer to adjust to being handled than the ones bought as hatchery-raised chicks, the ones inherited from our neighbors, who they originally bought as chicks from the farm store, and the one who was dumped at our place as a stray who is the most friendly.
But it didn't take too long for everybody to adjust to being handled, yummy treats out of our hands go a long way.

 

[aart]

I handle mine off their roosts at night.

Yup!

Yes I’ve tried the handling off the roosts. The flighty chickens start to freak out and get the rest riled up. It’s not working for me for some reason

Calm cool and confident......visit frequently after dark, always with calm soothing voice.....handle occasionally and quickly...they and you will get used to it all.
They will get upset but should calm quickly in your hands arms, some never get used to handling. Expectations need to be reasonable.

It's harder to handle broody chicks, just not as convenient as the brooder ones so doesn't happen as frequently. Acclimation takes time and effort.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

How late at night do you do it? I have wondered if I don’t stay up late enough. Otherwise yes I clutch them close and with the wings folded and keep light to a minimum. I have the husband hold the flashlight and turn it off quickly.

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.

 

[Beaglegal]

You may be able to correct by adjusting how you grab them and make use of the light. Have you tried turning off light and slowly placing your hand under one to get it to perch on you?

I have not. Sounds like something I would not be successful at...