getting the chooks used to being handled

from one clueless rambler to another, I'm sure someone will give you some lovely advice soon but my experience was that my kids used to grab them all the time so they soon got used to it whether they liked it or not!!!

I personally found that getting them to feed out of my hand was one way but then it got out of hand as they'd jump all over me anytime I sat down in the garden!  I do like to sit on the kitchen step and watch them come and sit and sun bath next to me.  So I think the first thing is to be around them a lot.

And the other thing is to hold them securely, otherwise they just flap and then the more they flap the more they work themselves in to a flap 

So bribery is the way forward? Cool - just like the kids 

Yep kids, chooks, dogs, cats and men all take well to food bribery to do what you want them to 

Ha, I like it!

Mine have got to the point where they can't leave me alone and yes a little handful of treats did help!

Browny comes ad sits on my knee snuggle when I sit in the garden! Margret took a little longer but even she comes for a stroke and will let me pick her up!!

litle at a time but very regularly... don't leave too big a gap between attempts or orget how nice it is really!

hi bruced, well I'm new to this as well although my chooks are a bit older than yours, I find just spending time with them and talking to them (quietly so the neighbours don't call for the men in white coats  ) they will come up and and are quite nosy, when I'm in the greenhouse they like to come in and see me, this is usually the easiest time to pick them up as it's a confined space  I hold them firm and talk to them.

Many thanks for all the helpful tips. I do talk to them so thanks Sue for the reminder to keep the voice down 

My neighbours already think I've lost the plot so talking to the chooks makes no difference. I regularly stand outside discussing matters with the cats, chooks and rabbits