Where did they come from???

[WVduckchick]

If I grab one will it wake up and cause a ruckus thus waking the others and I end up with a bad reenactment of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds?

They will sorta wake up, and could try to get away from you. Maybe even try to nip at you, but nothing horrible. Try to grab from behind, football-hike style, then tuck under one arm, or directly into a crate/box. Be sure to secure both wings!!

I would grab the rooster first, because he will likely put up the most defense. If you get him successfully, the girls will be easy.

You might want to wear a disguise, in case you don't get them on the first try, they will still like you the next day.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

How to Catch Chickens | The Scoop from the Coop
scoopfromthecoop.nutrenaworld.com/how-to-catch-chickens/

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

There's a simple trick to catching roosting chickens. Make sure it's dark. Grasp around the body (including wings) as best you can, and hold firmly. Slide her into the box and move to next hen.

The biggest issue is keeping her wings from flapping. Flapping feathers feel like miniature, stinging whips, and a hen that can flap is going to make a lot more noise than a hen that can't. It really helps if you have big hands and strong thumbs.

That's a nice young flock--I'd pay eleven dollars apiece for the hens at auction. You've got yourself a bargain.

Stinging whips, eh? Duly noted! lol **Thinks to self** grab the welding gloves.
Big hands and strong thumbs...*sigh*...not blessed with chicken-grabbing features. lol

 

[Taylorbrood]

there is another thread on here of someone who lost their entire flock, but I think they have only been gone a week or so, would be awesome if it wound up being her flock

 

[21hens-incharge]

There is a rooster? I am not so sure about that...

Does the suspected rooster crow?

I blew up each pic but did not see any male feathering.....

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Go get your chickens...you've taken to them, and been feeding them, and made a coop too!

If they had been taken care of, they would have returned to where they came from. I had a hen that kept appearing here at my house week after week. I returned her to the neighbor that owned her. After she was almost killed escaping from night time predators, I just went over to him and asked if he would sell her to me. He agreed she was my hen, because she picked me to live with!

She has been such a sweet little hen, and has never left our property.

So, you go and collect your chickens. Place a dish towel over them, at night, to keep them calm as you pick them up quietly. They won't be able to flap their wings with the towel wrapped over them. Have a cage or box in the car ready for them to be transported to their new life.

Then, BYC members will be here to help you with any questions or concerns, as you learn about your new chickens.

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

There is a rooster? I am not so sure about that...

Does the suspected rooster crow?

I blew up each pic but did not see any male feathering.....

Oh??? King is a Queen? lol Looked like a rooster...but what the heck does a bookkeeper know about chickens? Is it a hen?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Stinging whips, eh? Duly noted! lol **Thinks to self** grab the welding gloves.
Big hands and strong thumbs...*sigh*...not blessed with chicken-grabbing features. lol

Nah, you don't need welding gloves. Actually, those wings are laser-guided at your face. Don't ask me why.

I'm blessed with hands that fit into size large gloves (thanks, Dad) But you should be fine. By comb and feather growth, those girls are probably about eighteen weeks and weigh a couple of pounds apeice. You just need to be bold enough to hold on if they start to struggle.

Number one problem of first-time chicken catchers is that they're scared of hurting (or being hurt by) the chicken. Get a good grip and hold on. And if you have trouble, follow the advice of @WVduckchick and tuck them under your arm.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Sure looks like a girl to me.
I think you have one each of different breeds.
It looks to me like King is closer to laying age then the others. That would be why the comb is so red.

Actually.... Bashful, Beauty and Mocha could be golden comets......maybe but I am not 100% sure.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Welcome from New Orleans, please keep us up to date on how things go with the capture! As you have already seen, there are lots of friendly and informed people on this site. Which makes it a great place to get questions answered and it's also fun!!