It’s important to make sure that you hold chickens the correct way and practice the proper handling techniques to avoid potentially injuring them or making them feel stressed. Proper handling not only ensures the safety of your chickens but also helps build trust between you and your flock.
If you are interested in learning the best way to hold and handle your chickens, then this article is perfect for you.
Preparing to Hold Chickens
Understanding the anatomy and behavior of chickens is crucial for their safety and well-being and it’s especially important when caring for hens properly. Chickens have delicate wings composed of thin bones, muscles, and feathers that can easily become damaged by incorrect handling.
Chickens can be more easily startled and stressed by improper handling, which may lead to health problems or even a decline in egg production.
You and your chicken should be comfortable during the handling process, so there is a bit of preparation before you start. You ideally want to wear clothing with long sleeves and gloves to protect yourself from scratches. Their feet can harbor bacteria, making even minor scratches prone to becoming infected.
Most chickens will try to grip onto your arm with their feet to make themselves feel more secure, especially if they are not used to being handled.
Next, you want to ensure that you are feeling calm and confident about holding your chickens. If you’re feeling stressed or panicky about it, then your behavior is likely going to show it. You might not be able to hold them securely and could potentially startle or drop them.
It is normal for chickens to flap their wings and become more vocal during handling which can be startling, although in my experience this behavior usually stops once they start to feel comfortable being held.
And lastly, you want to ensure that you are handling your chickens in a calm and quiet environment. This will make the handling process a lot less stressful for your chicken because they won’t be worried about what’s going on around them. This also includes handling them away from other unfamiliar pets, like dogs or cats.
This image from Meyer Hatchery is perfect for getting a better understanding of your feathered friends and the places I am talking about here.
The Best Way To Handle Chickens in 5 Easy Steps
Here is the best simple 5 step method to handle your chickens. You will find more info on these steps below.
- Step 1: Choose the Right Time
- Step 2: Approach Calmly
- Step 3: Secure Their Body
- Step 4: Support the Wings
- Step 5: Closely Monitor Their Behavior
Step 1: Choose the Right Time
Like us, chickens are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day and sleep at night. Most chickens don’t enjoy being disturbed while they are resting and are more likely to become stressed. Same goes with us really!
They also have poor eyesight in the dark and may startle easier, so it is better to only handle them when they are awake during the day.
However, this doesn’t apply to emergency situations where you might have no other option but to handle them at night, such as to protect them from predators or natural disasters.
I find that the best times to hold chickens are during the early morning or late evening. These are the times when they are much calmer because they are either just beginning to wake up or settling down for the night.
Step 2: Approach Calmly
Always approach your chickens calmly when you want to handle them or when caring for hens. Chasing after them, cornering them, or frantically trying to grab them will only make them fearful of you and associate being handled as a negative experience.
If you want to earn your chicken’s trust and work on building a positive relationship with your flock, you must be calm around them. I usually wait for them to approach me first and then go and pick them up.
If you want to get your chickens’ attention, try luring them to you with food in your hands. Allowing them to come close to you rather than chasing after them is going to help make the handling process a lot less stressful for all involved.
Step 3: Secure Their Body
You should never pick up chickens by their wings, feathers, or legs to avoid injuring them. I obviously didn’t want to do that for a photo here, so here is one I found online. Do not try this at home!
Instead, you want to gently lift your chicken by placing both hands on either side of their body.
Your hands should be supporting the breast and shoulder area, and only slightly covering the wings to prevent them from flapping.
This is one of the most secure ways to hold chickens because you are comfortably supporting their body and wings. Just make sure that you aren’t holding them too tightly, but without compromising on a secure grip to prevent them from escaping.
Step 4: Support the Wings
As I already mentioned, a chicken’s wings are very delicate and must be handled with care. You don’t want to injure their wings by forcibly folding them against your body or twisting them into unnatural positions.
Many chickens will flap their wings in response to being lifted off the ground. Keep that in mind and be ready for it. If you get a fright and drop her, she might not be so willing again next time.
Once you are holding your chicken, place one hand over their wings to gently secure it and prevent it from flapping.
If you are struggling to cover both wings with your hands, try gently holding one of the wings against your body and covering the other wing with your hand while allowing your chicken’s body to rest along your forearm.
I always make sure that their wings are resting in a comfortable position on either side to prevent injuries.
Step 5: Closely Monitor their Behavior
It can take several handling sessions before your chickens become more tolerant of being handled. It’s normal for them to seem uncomfortable at first. You might be too.
I find that some of my chickens enjoy being handled more than others, so it’s important to monitor their behavior and put them down if they show any signs of stress. Rapid breathing, frantically trying to escape, and feather ruffling are common signs to look out for.
Generally, even the calmest chicken can become stressed if they are handled for too long. The sweet spot for my ladies is between 5 to 15 minutes.
Now It's Your Turn to Hold Your Pet Chicken
Proper handling is a crucial part of caring for hens and roosters to ensure their comfort and safety. It’s going to help your flock trust you more and will come in handy for health checks, egg collection, cleaning, and grooming.
By approaching your chickens calmly, supporting their body and wings, and monitoring their behavior, you can make handling a positive experience for both of you. Gentle handling goes a long way in ensuring you hold chickens with care and confidence.
I would love to hear how you get on! Leave me a note in the comments, or send me a picture!
Frequently Asked Questions About Handling Chickens
Q: Is it okay to handle baby chicks?
While it’s tempting to handle baby chicks, it’s best to minimize handling them, especially in the first few weeks. Frequent handling can stress the chicks and increase the risk of injury. However, gentle, brief handling for health checks or moving them to a brooder is fine.
Q: How do I handle a broody hen?
Broody hens can be protective and territorial. If you need to handle a broody hen, approach her calmly and gently.
Avoid startling her or making sudden movements. In these cases, I would suggest wearing gloves to protect your hands from scratches.
If she’s sitting on eggs, carefully lift her off the nest, ensuring she doesn’t injure herself or the eggs.
Q: Can I handle my chickens every day?
While daily handling can help build a bond with your chickens, it’s important to avoid overhandling, especially if they seem stressed. Aim for a balance of interaction and quiet time. Overhandling can lead to fear and anxiety in chickens.
Q: How can I make my chickens less fearful of handling?
To make your chickens more comfortable with handling, start with gentle, positive interactions. Offer treats, talk softly to them, and avoid sudden movements. As they become more accustomed to your presence, you can gradually increase the duration of handling sessions.
Q: What should I do if my chicken is injured?
If your chicken is injured, it’s important to seek veterinary care as soon as possible. However, if the injury is minor, keep an eye on the chicken and see how she goes. For more serious injuries, such as wing damage, immediate veterinary attention is crucial.
