[chickenlicken]

Hi, Have read that it is good to handle your chickens a lot but we are finding it really hard to get hold of them in the first place!!! Our little Sussex Star is very inquisitive and will happily eat from the hand but the others - Bluebelle, Speckled Star, Gold Star, Black Star and much more wary and make a dash for it if we try to pick them up.

Our run has a top opening section about 4 x 3ft but the rest is enclosed so quite hard to 'make the grab'!

We are thinking of letting them into the garden later but really worried we won't be able to get them back in their run??

Any advice!!!

Regards

Tracey

[agingchick]

Hi they will be easier to handle when they start laying
 Mealie worms are good for getting them back into their run, mine will do any thing for them.
Diane

[chickenlady]

Ours have been handled loads and now they are laying,the minute you make a grab for them they squat anyway! my 2 little ones though are more tricky! :blink: i do find the best way is to move really slowly and gently move them to a corner then grab  :blink: you only get one chance though   once i have caught them i give them a cuddle and give them something yummy to eat so they are more willing to come to me. They are simple creatures and the way to their heart is through their stomachs   (just like my hubby   )

[chickenlicken]

great thank you both, have managed to give one a cuddle this morning but worry I will stress them out keep grabbing so gave up after a couple of attempts, perhaps less stressful if I take them out of the house instead of the run?

Did you find your went back into their run without too much of a problem? 

Tracey

[chickenlady]

i found once they are used to where they live, even if they run from you they will see their run as safety! and head that way  :happy: where abouts in hertfordshire are you chickenlicken? I grew up in Stevenage  infact all our family still live that way

[Foxy]

when handling birds hold them so that their feet are held firmly in one hand. I hold them with my palm up and the feet held between my fingers firmly. Their bottom is away from my body and my free hand I use to smooth the feathers, this stops them flapping as they naturally try and find a foot hold with their feet.
I will try and take a photo if it helps later!

[chickenlicken]

Great thank you all.
We are in Hemel Hempstead about 20-25 miles from Stevenage, small world!!

My husband has the week off this week so between us we successfully managed to clip the girls wings and are hoping to open the run this afternoon if would stop raining!! The children are very excited!

Thanks for all your responses
Tracey

[chasechicken]

That sounds like a good way to hold them Foxy - if you can get a photo that would be good, although I can sort of visualise it.

Mine are sometimes happy to be held, other times they flap, then I worry they'll get hurt so let them down.

So far they have won all of the battles.....

[Jane-M]

Absolutely Foxy - I found out by accident that if they have a firm footing they are much happier and stop flapping. and it is remarkably pleasant holding cool little hen feet.

[wadz81]

Our girls will always go to bed on their own anyway, and know the sound of a rattling tin a mile away. We have started moving the run a little so they can come out (excited about a bit of fresh grass!)and as soon as you put your hand over them they sit down

[smiler43]

Foxy try and get that pic please

[chickenlady]

Great thank you all.
We are in Hemel Hempstead about 20-25 miles from Stevenage, small world!!

My husband has the week off this week so between us we successfully managed to clip the girls wings and are hoping to open the run this afternoon if would stop raining!! The children are very excited!

Thanks for all your responses
Tracey

It is a small world! i used to work for the Watford Observer newspaper group and Hemel was part of my patch! used to love the magic roundabout in rush hour!  NOT

[chickenlady]

Have we seen piccies of your girlies yet???  piccies is the law 

[nnbreeder]

About the easiest way to get the girls friendly is to just take a small chair and go out and sit in the run with a few treats. Once they discover that the treats are coming from a container in your lap guess where they will be.

[Rubellite]

Mine are sometimes happy to be held, other times they flap, then I worry they'll get hurt so let them down.

So far they have won all of the battles.....

..............and boy, doesn't it hurt if they flap and catch you on the ear!!