advice on stroking hens

[angelat]

hi all,

when i stroke carmen and miranda, they let me but they crouch down. does anyone else's hens do this?? do you think that they are frightened off me? they seem happy to come to me and don't mind me stroking them but always crouch to the floor. my speckledy (carmen) comb is getting redder so maybe eggs one day soon!!!

angela

[JILLY JACKSON]

Hi Angelat,your birds think your the the cockeral.The boss.They must be point of lay or they wouldnt do that.Be carful not to fuss their necks too much as the nerves there are very sensitive and young children have been known to accidentally kill them.(I actually know someone that this happenad to)But hey,your first egg cant be far away!

[terrier]

Mine do exactly the same. If they were frightened, they wouldn't keep coming back to be stroked.

[vicky]

Yes, they're crouching to allow the cockerel to mate! It's quite a useful way to catch them, by gently placing a hand on their back as they keep still!

[Snadger]

It's also a good way of finding out which ones are laying and which ones aren't!

Crouch = POL or laying......
No crouch = not laying and hard to catch!

[Sue]

Hi
When they get to know you better they will come and sit on your knee and will go into a dreamy state if you stroke them gently on their breast, instead of on their backs which as people say makes them go into the submissive mode.
Sue

[Rosie.]

My chickens don't crouch, it's probably because of the battery cages they were in, sucked all of the natural instinct right out of them.
Well i'm sure it will come back....eventually

[frias]

My ex-batts all crouch. I always laugh and say "brace yourself girl!" None off them perch to sleep however which I put down to being in a battery cage. I wish they would as cleaning out would be so much easier.

[Hashette]

Having bought Practical Poultry for the first time this month, the fact that me and the OH were hooting with laughter at some much needed and very sound advice on handling chickens probably means that we have a mental age of 12, but I ask you......

"It's very important to adjust your grip to something the bird will feel comfortable with. To do this, position one hand underneath the bird. Place one or two fingers between the legs, and the remainder on either side so that the legs can be gripped securely...... sometimes a hand placed lightly on the bird's back can provide a useful additional calming measure. Once the bird is settled, move your hand and the bird towards your body."

[Bephlam]

Did you see the bird lying on it's back in the mans hand?? It was bizzarre looking - the wee thing was looking at him like he was a nut!

[Flummery]

Did you see the bird lying on it's back in the mans hand?? It was bizzarre looking - the wee thing was looking at him like he was a nut!

I thought it was laughing! I couldn't decide if it was enjoying the joke of showing us how relaxed it was - or just laughing at him!

[Hilary B]

Not sure about chickens (especially as you don't want them to fly) but the Hawk Conservancy absolutely will not allow anyone to stroke the birds there. The traces of sweat etc on your hands are not good for feathers, and most birds don't really enjoy being stroked on their backs/wings. Gently stroking with fingertips (between feathers) on the breast is enjoyed by most once tame enough to realise it is 'meant friendly'. Some of them may decide that stroking is 'worth it for the food'<g>