Chicken Keeping Basics - How To Pick Up A Chicken

Picking up a chicken is a basic skill that all backyard chicken keepers should have. Terry demonstrates a technique that is both easy for you and comfortable for your chicken.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• hencam
• little
• pond
• farm
• terry
• golson
• chicken
• keeping
• hen
• pick
• up
• hold
• catch
• lice

[LazyMooMoo]

I thought you put one hand on their back to hold their wings, and one hand under the tummy and then pick them up?

[thehencam]

@LazyMooMoo My birds are too big to handle them that way. You can do that for bantams.

[hensrus]

My two wellsummer bantams keep getting scared and flapping when I try to pick them up. what should I do?

[thehencam]

@hensrus Spend more time sitting quietly on a low stool in their pen. Toss treats occasionally. When you do go to pick them up, be quick and sure. Chickens don't like people hovering over them, or hands patting their sides. Hold firmly yet gently to prevent flapping.

[kcanti1]

Hi there, thanks for the video, books do no justice to how on earth to pick them up so this was really helpful, in honour of how helpful I found this video I named one of my Light Sussex henss Twinkydink, lemme tell you that ones got attitude. Oh by the way do they mind being stroked, mine dont seem to mind once they relise im just stroking them, and once ive started they dont want me to stop lol. Thanks again for the vid

[thehencam]

@kcanti1 You're very welcome and I'm so pleased that there's another Twinkydink now out there. Mine has been a long-lived, good hen.

[LazyMooMoo]

I tried it with my Sussex Star chicken named Snowy and I think she liked it when I stroked her! Thankyou for the vid! xx

[hensrus]

Thank you! I have recently got some warren hens they love to eat from your hand and be picked up! I found this video very informative as well.

[thehencam]

Chicken lice don't give a whit for humans - no worries about them getting and staying on you. For advice about lice, go to my blog at HenCam. Check the archives and FAQ. Lots of info there.

[learnsomethingful]

What would you do if you found lice and will they get on humans?