[saintdamian]

Hi all,
i am new to this forum so please go easy.  My family and I have two chickens, Sophia and Tolula -children named them - whom we had as pullets but are now nearly a year and a half old.  Trouble is, they are both so unsocialable.  If we go near them, they flap their wings and run away.  We need to clip their wings but this is proving an impossible task.  We need to pen them into a section of the garden, with their ark, as it now looks like the Somme, in order to prepare raised veg patches etc and we know that they will attempt to fly hence the wing clipping, how can we make them more approachable and friendly?
Saintdamian

[furfeathersandfun]

hi there, my first lot of chickens were pretty unsociable when we got them, but they are creatures of habit and i found if you feed them a little corn at the same time every day from the same coloured pot and call them in the same way they will learn to come to you when you call or carry they pot, they are still a bit tricky to catch mind, but when they are trained it's easier to bring them to a place where you might be able to corner them, good luck regards tracey, hobby

[doganjo]

What I do is leave them hungry for a bit, then throw down some pellets or grain in a close area and while they are eating throw a large bean net over them.  Can't damage them and if you then work you're way in towards them they stop flapping.  Possible might need two or maybe three of you to keep the net pinned down.  Or weight it with something - but mind you don't hit the chickens with it when you throw it over them    

edited this to say that this is if you NEED to catch them fro wing clipping, treatment etc - I wouldn't try to catch mine otherwise.

[Birdie Wife]

Once they've learned that every time you appear, food is there too, they generally start coming over when you are there.  Sit quietly and make no sudden movements, and drop a bit of wheat or corn on the ground.  Try speaking a bit of 'chiken' too - as you scatter the corn, say "tool took took" - it's their call to say they've found food and usually gets them interested.  Once they are feeding at your feet, try offering some corn in your hand - be patient.  Don't try to grab at them or run after them, it will just freak them out and set you back days of work to regain their confidence.Some chickens are naturally flighty and others are more placid - hang in there and most of them will come round.

If you need to clip their wings as a matter of urgency, you could open the coop after dark and take them out gently to do it then.  They'll be much calmer.  Good luck!

[Rosemary]

Absolutely agree with Birdie Wife. Ours aren't terribly sociable ie you can't catch them but they will always come for food.