Jake Harper
Chickens are faster than humans, more agile, and can fit into smaller spaces, making them difficult to catch when they escape. However, there are several tricks that can make catching a chicken easier. For example, using treats to lure them into a coop or pen, or even catching them by hand in low light conditions. Another option is to use tools such as a long fishing net or a pole with a hook to catch the chicken without having to get too close.
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What You'll Learn
Use a fishing net to catch the chicken
Using a fishing net to catch a loose chicken can be an effective method, but it may be traumatic for the bird. It is also worth noting that once a chicken has been caught with a net, it will remember this and will be harder to catch in the future.
When using a fishing net, it is best to try and ''corral' the chicken into a contained area, such as a run or a coop, where it is easier to snare the bird. It is also possible to drop the net over the chicken, but this may result in some gentle detangling being required afterward. A fishing net with a long handle can be useful for this method, giving you a longer arm span.
If you are using a net, it is still important to remain calm and unhurried. The chicken will pick up on your anxiety and become more unsettled and reluctant to come to you. It is also important to be gentle with the chicken once it has been caught. Covering the chicken with a blanket can help to calm it down.
If you are using a fishing net to catch a chicken, it is best to reserve this method for emergencies or when other methods, such as luring the chicken with treats, have failed. This is because using a net can be stressful for the bird, and it is always preferable to build a trusting relationship with your chickens.
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Entice the chicken with treats
Chickens are omnivores, meaning they eat plants and meat. They tend to avoid foods that are harmful to them, but some are healthier than others. Dark leafy greens such as lettuce, kale, turnip greens, and chard can result in darker, richer yolks. Other vegetables such as beets, broccoli, carrots, swiss chard, squash, pumpkins, and cucumbers are also healthy options. Herbs like lavender, mint, oregano, parsley, cilantro, thyme, and basil are good too. Perennials including daylilies, hostas, daisies, roses, coneflowers, and ferns are also safe for chickens to eat.
Fruits such as watermelon, strawberries, blueberries, grapes, and tomatoes are healthy snacks for chickens when fed in moderation. You can also give chickens peanut butter, raw oats, and yogurt.
Chicken treats should not exceed 2 tablespoons per day. To prevent nutrient dilution, provide complete feed for at least 90% of the bird's diet. The remaining 10% can be filled with treats, table scraps, or scratch grains.
You can also use treats to teach your chickens tricks. Tricks provide mental stimulation for your chickens and can be entertaining. You can use treats to teach your chickens to spin in a circle, jump through a hoop, flap their wings on command, high-five, wave hello, play dead, follow the leader, play fetch, and more.
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Approach the chicken slowly from behind
When trying to catch a loose chicken, it is best to approach it slowly from behind. Chasing a chicken will only make it afraid of you. Instead, walk slowly towards it with your arms out at your sides or with a stick or a rake, and herd it calmly towards where you want it to go. If you need to catch and pick it up, herd it slowly into a corner.
When approaching a chicken, make small, slow, deliberate movements so as not to alert it. If you move quickly, you risk disturbing the chicken and scaring it into running away. Be as quiet as possible and avoid making sudden movements. If you are in a coop with other chickens, do not shine a light directly at them, as this may wake or startle them. Instead, point the light towards the ground.
Once you are hovering over the chicken, place both hands over its wings so it cannot flap its wings and gently remove it from the perch. Then, bend down and gently scoop up the chicken, keeping your hands or arms over its wings so it cannot flap out of your hands. You can also grab the chicken by the back and tail and gently scoop it up from underneath.
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Use a long pole with a hook to catch the chicken by its leg
If you need to catch a loose chicken, one method is to use a long pole with a hook at the end. This technique can be used to catch a chicken by its leg or neck, but it is important to exercise caution when snagging a chicken's leg, as their hollow bones can be injured by the hook.
To use this method, cut a piece of heavy wire about four feet long. Bend one end of the wire into a loop for a handle and the other end into a hook. The width of the hook at the closed end should be about the width of a little finger or a chicken leg, opening wider at the mouth. Then, slowly and quietly walk within striking distance of the chicken, hook its leg, and, in one motion, pull the chicken toward you. Keep tension on the leg with the hook and grab the leg with your free hand.
While this method can be effective, it may take practice to master. Chickens are fast and agile, and they will remember the pole or hook and will learn to avoid it. Therefore, this method should be used sparingly and is not a good long-term solution. It may also induce stress in both the chickens and the catcher.
Before attempting to catch a loose chicken, it is important to consider the chicken's behaviour. Poultry are genetically programmed to move away from any perceived threat and will do their best to avoid putting themselves in a position of vulnerability. If your flock is nervous or becomes frightened of you, they will be much harder to catch. Building trust with your chickens through regular handling and treats can make them more likely to come to you when they are loose.
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Corral the chicken with multiple people
If you have multiple people helping you catch a loose chicken, you can try to corral it. This method is less traumatic for the chicken than some other methods, and is more effective than trying to catch the chicken by yourself.
First, try to herd the chicken into a pen or other confined space, such as a corner. If you can get the chicken into a contained area, you can then use a net to catch it. Be careful not to entangle the chicken's wings, spurs, or any other body part in the net, as this can injure the bird. Once the chicken is in the net, cover it with a blanket to keep it calm.
If you don't have a net, you can try to corner the chicken with multiple people and slowly close in on it. One person can block or divert the chicken while another person catches it. Move slowly and use steady movements to avoid panicking the chicken.
If you are trying to catch the chicken at night, you can use a red headlamp to locate it without scaring it. Gently place a container over the chicken and carefully close the box flaps underneath it. Then, slowly turn the box over and carry the chicken to where you want to take it. The darkness of the box will calm the chicken and protect you from pecking or spurring.
If you are trying to catch a chicken that has escaped from your coop, you can try to lure it back into the coop with treats. Throw the treats into the coop or another enclosed area to entice the chicken to go where you want it to.
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Frequently asked questions
It is a waste of time and energy to chase a loose chicken. Instead, try luring it back into its coop with treats. If that doesn't work, you may have to physically catch it. It is best to have multiple people helping you. You can also use tools like a fishing net or a long pole with a hook on one end.
Approach the chicken slowly from behind. If you move too quickly, you will risk disturbing the chicken and scaring it into running away. Once you are close enough, gently scoop up the chicken.
You can try to build trust with the chicken by handling chicks frequently when they are young. Hold them, give them attention and treats, and then gently set them on the ground. You can also try luring the chicken with treats and then approaching it slowly from behind.
It is often easier to catch chickens at night when they are roosting and less mobile. You can also try using a red headlamp to catch chickens at night.
