Jake Harper
Chickens can be surprisingly quick on their feet, with a top speed of 9mph compared to the average human's 8.6mph. This means that catching one with your hands is no easy feat. If you're not in a hurry, you can wait until nightfall when chickens are roosting, as they will be calmer and less likely to resist. If you need to catch a chicken during the day, you can try luring it with treats, such as mealworms, and then gently placing your hands around its body to hold its wings down. Using a net or blanket can also be effective, but you'll need to act quickly once the chicken is trapped. With patience and persistence, it is possible to catch a chicken with your hands without causing harm to yourself or the bird.
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What You'll Learn
Lure chickens with treats
Luring chickens with treats is a great way to catch them without causing them (or yourself!) any stress. Chickens can run at 9mph, compared to the average human's 8.6mph, so outsmarting them with treats is a good tactic.
First, train your chickens to come to the coop when you call them. You can do this by offering treats when they follow you to the coop. They will soon learn to associate your call with treats and always follow you to the coop. Make sure you use a special call for when you plan on giving them treats, so they learn the routine.
When a chicken escapes, try enticing it near the coop with a special treat. Mealworms are a perfect treat for luring a chicken back into the coop. Open the coop door, toss in a handful of mealworms, and stand back. If you're lucky, the chicken will return without any further fuss.
If you need to catch a chicken during the day, you can still lure it with treats. Try using mealworms or chicken scratch. While the chicken is pecking away at the treats, approach slowly and from behind, then gently place your hands around its body to hold its wings down.
If you need to catch a chicken that is perched somewhere high, you can use a bar or a piece of wood to entice it to step onto. Bring the bar up behind the chicken and lift it slightly—the chicken will naturally step onto the bar, and you can then lower it down.
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Catch them at night when they're roosting
Catching chickens at night when they are roosting is a simple and stress-free method. Chickens are calmer and less alert at night, making them easier to catch. Here is a step-by-step guide to catching chickens with your hands when they are roosting:
Firstly, ensure you are prepared with the right equipment. Wear gloves or other protection to shield yourself from any aggressive chickens. Leather work gloves or socks are recommended for protection against spurs and pecking. You may also want to bring a flashlight to help you see, but keep it pointed towards the ground to avoid waking the chickens.
Once you are ready, approach the roosting chickens quietly and slowly. Chickens have poor night vision, so you want to avoid making any sudden movements or noises that might startle them. If you are in a coop, be especially cautious to avoid shining the light directly at the chickens, as this could cause them to stir.
When you are close enough, gently lift the chicken you want off the roost. Place your hands over its wings to prevent it from flapping and disturbing the other chickens. You can then place the chicken in a travel cage or box if needed. If you are simply checking on the chickens, you can return the chicken to its spot after you are done.
If you are dealing with an escaped chicken, you can find where it is roosting and catch it there. Escaped chickens often return to the coop at dusk, so you can usually find them nearby, looking for a way back in. Catching them at their roost is much easier than chasing them, as they are calmer and less likely to resist.
Remember, chickens are smarter than they are often given credit for, so always treat them with care and respect. Avoid grabbing them by the wings or neck, and never flip them upside down, as this can be harmful or even dangerous to the bird. With gentle and quiet handling, catching chickens at night when they are roosting can be an effective and peaceful method.
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Approach slowly and with care
When approaching a chicken, it is important to do so slowly and with caution. You want to ensure that you do not startle the bird, as this may cause it to run away or become agitated. Move towards the chicken in a slow and relaxed manner. Keep your body low, crouching down to their level, and avoid making any sudden movements that might be perceived as threatening.
Maintain a calm and gentle presence. Speak in a soft, soothing tone to reassure the chicken and help keep it relaxed. It is beneficial to talk to the bird as you approach; your voice can be comforting and help to distract the chicken from any potential fears or worries it may have.
Keep your hands visible and ensure you are not hiding them behind your back or in your pockets. This helps the chicken to see that you are not hiding any food or treats and that your hands are not in a position to grab or cause harm.
Be mindful of your body language. Ensure that your posture is relaxed and open. Avoid standing too tall or looming over the chicken, as this can be intimidating. Keep your shoulders relaxed and your arms loose by your sides.
Take slow, deliberate steps towards the chicken, ensuring that you are not cornering or trapping it. Chickens are more likely to feel threatened if they feel they cannot escape, so be mindful of their flight zones. The flight zone is an area surrounding the bird where any movement will cause it to move away. By respecting this zone and moving into it slowly, you are less likely to trigger the bird's natural flight response.
By approaching slowly and with care, you are giving the chicken time to become accustomed to your presence and reducing the risk of causing undue stress or panic.
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Use a net or blanket
Using a net or blanket is a good option if you need to catch a chicken during the day and are too afraid to use your hands. This method can be tricky, so it may be helpful to have another person assist you. Begin by luring the chicken with treats or by shooing it into a corner. You can use mealworms or chicken scratch as bait to entice the chicken.
Once the chicken is in a confined space or corner, you can attempt to place a net over it or throw a blanket on top of it. Nets can be particularly useful if the chicken is in a high place, such as a tree branch or crossbeam, that you want it to move away from. Nets can also be used as a motivational tool to encourage the chicken to move in a certain direction without actually catching it.
After the chicken is "trapped," you must act quickly to grab it securely. When grabbing the chicken, avoid reaching for its neck, wing, or leg. Instead, try to place your hands gently on either side of its body or use one hand to gently cup its wings to prevent flapping while using the other hand to hold it close to you.
If you are using a blanket, you can hold an end in each hand and place the middle over the chicken's head. This technique is especially useful for checking broody hens for eggs under their wings before carefully lifting them out. Remember that chickens are faster and more agile than humans, so it is important to approach them slowly and calmly to avoid causing unnecessary stress or injury to the bird.
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Grab the chicken by the legs
Catching a chicken can be a tricky task. Chickens can run at 9mph, whereas the average human can only manage 8.6 mph. This means that outrunning them is not a viable option.
One way to catch a chicken is to grab it by the legs. This method is especially useful when removing the chicken from a cage. The chicken will usually be at the back of the cage, trying to move away from you. Grabbing the chicken by the legs allows you to manoeuvre the bird without injuring its wings as you bring it through the cage door. Once you have grabbed the chicken's legs, use your other hand to keep its wings down, or push it into a sitting position. Then, use both hands to hold the body and keep the wings down while removing the chicken from the cage.
If you are trying to catch a chicken that is not in a cage, you can try cornering it first. Move slowly towards the chicken and get it into an area with only one or two ways out. Once it is cornered, you can try to scoop it up in one motion. If you are trying to catch a chicken that is perched somewhere high, you can use a bar to help you. Bring the bar up behind the chicken and lift it slightly—the chicken will naturally step onto the bar, and you can then lower it down.
It is important to remember that chickens are prey animals and may be stressed by the experience of being caught. If you are regularly handling your chickens, they are more likely to come to you when you need to catch them. However, if you need to catch a chicken that is not used to being handled, it may be easier to do so at night when it has gone to roost. Roosting chickens are extremely calm and won't resist when you try to grab them.
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Frequently asked questions
If the chicken is tame, gently cup your hands over its wings so it can't flap and remove it from its perch. If it's untamed, try luring it with treats, then slowly approach it from behind and place your hands around its body to hold its wings down.
The easiest way to catch a chicken is to wait until night time when it is roosting. Roosting chickens are extremely calm and won't resist when you try to grab them.
Chasing chickens can be stressful for both the chicken and the catcher. It is best to avoid grabbing at the chicken's neck, wing, or leg. Instead, try to place your hands gently on either side of its body.
