[Justin]

OK, so we have 7 hens, they happily come running to me when I go into the run and flock around. One of them, our goldline will take corn from my hand and let me pick her up. The others just run and flap any time I try to pick them up, and I end up chasing them around like something from the Benny Hill show.

Today, while I had the roof off the chicken house, I thought I'd be a bit clever and corner one of them with the roof, boxing it in so I could reach in and pick her up. Chickens can fly and she wasn't having any of that, up and over she went.

So, how do you catch them to get them used to being handled. We'll need to dust them for mites soon and I don't want to overly stress them by running around trying to catch them. My only thought so far was to keep the door closed to the chicken house one morning and simply lift the roof off to get at them one at a time. Not sure if that will work.

Any suggestions?

[Louise Gaunt]

I usually catch mine in the evening once they have settled for the night. They are a bit sleepy, you can take them out one at a time, do,what you need to do, and put them back without too much distress to them or you! First thing in the morning is another option, as you can take them out one at a time and make sure you don't treat the same hen twice! Good luck with getting them used to you.

[bloomer]

Routine handling is done as described at bed time usually.

For urgent need to catch one right now in the day I keep an 18 inch fishing net on a 6ft pole, any chook I want in the pen caught in 10 seconds no hassle...

[Caroline1]

I normally catch them one by one as I open the door in the morning otherwise it is a case of getting them in a corner

[Eve]

Keep on trying to tame them with food, it's the best way, and remember that every time you chase them that will bring their trust in you back down to zero.
Yes, your idea of handling them early morning will work.


Tried giving them maggots yet? They might just jump on your lap for those    (Just make sure they're white maggots, not the dyed ones.)

[Justin]

Thanks very much for the suggestions, I think the morning will be the best option, just set the auto opener not to open automagically for a day and take the top off to get at them.

Cheers,

[devonlad]

In oufr experience its all about the breed. We have a mixed bunch and without fail the hybrid types, warrens, black rocks etc of which we have a majority are easily "tamed" and consequently easy to handle. "Summer" the welsummer has been with us since a chick, knows we are good people who provide feed yet at 5 years old remains totally wild and has to be cornered in the house  every time. Any LS we've had plus some marans have always refused to tame up too.

[chrismahon]

I agree about the breed -some just won't settle regardless of the frequency of handling. We have runs attached to the coops and shut the coop pop-hole then catch them in the run. When treated they are released into the enclosure. It's difficult to work at night I find because of the low light level.


A fishing net scares the life out of them, so although we have one it is never used. I wouldn't advise using one if you are trying to make them friendly. Good chance the scare will stop them laying as well.

[Jukes Mum]

We only ever handle ours at dusk. They are so much calmer then than in the mornings.

[Marches Farmer]

Light breeds are generally very flighty.  Why do you need to dust them for lice?  Do they have them or are you doing it as a precautionary measure? 

[darkbrowneggs]

Head torch after its dark

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Do they run to you for food? I catch them when they're eating, by several methods. You could either grab them when they're feeding in the trough, or you could entice them with a container of food, once they come close enough you could grab them. That is the ways I catch them, to tame them is a different matter entirely. To tame them I stand near them when they're eating, they have to get used to your presence, I also call to them when its dinner time and they come running over. Another thing would be to feed them out of your hand, and don't grab them when trying to tame them, they have to learn to trust you and sudden movements won't help in their taming. I also feed mine grated carrots and stand with them when they eat, so grated veg in the middle of the day will help in the taming. Taming takes time, my Faverolles were only tame when they were almost fully grown and they  only like me feeding them ( starnge how they like one person above everyone else). The main thing is to spend as much time with them, about an hour or two a day and they will trust you and get used to your presence. Hope this helps and all the best.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Also forgot to mention, when you do catch them hold them for about 5-10 mins and talk softly to them and stroke their necks. ( that is 5-10 mins per each hen) try and do that every day and they will soon trust you and become tame.

[Clansman]

Point out the one you need catching 

[Justin]

I've now got all but one of them eating corn from my hands Any movement and they run away but it's a start. For dusting them we'll get them from the coop but take time to hold and stroke each one for a while once that's done. Catching them while they're feeding isn't easy as they tend to run as soon as you reach for them so I'll just keep working on feeding them and having them get used to me being close to them for a while.

Thanks for all the help and advice.

Oh and Clansman, you're a bad person