How to Catch a Chicken Without Running or Hurting Them-The Best Way
How to Catch a Chicken. Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
The easiest way to catch a chicken is to wait until evening when they go to roost. Then you can simply walk up say hello and gently pick up the chicken. If the chicken is the skittish type and not used to being handled they may try to get away. If you turn the lights to dim or off completely you can then quickly pick up the chicken firmly. You can also use a small flashlight in the dark because it won't be able to see you behind the light. It is a good idea to talk to your chicken before attempting to pick them up even during roosting, especially if you have to do it in the dark because it will scare the chicken. If someone grabs a chicken in the dark the birds natural instincts tell it that a predator is grabbing them and the bird may struggle and even scream. If the chicken knows you and you are telling the bird it is you, your chicken will be calmer when it hears your voice. It is best to try to handle your chicken every day if you have a pet chicken or small backyard flock (this makes them much easier to catch during the day as they will come right to you). NEVER EVER use a leg catcher to catch a chicken, duck, turkey or other poultry because you can easily injure the bird. If you absolutely cannot catch your chicken but really need to do it during the day and cannot wait til evening for some reason, it is safer for your chicken to catch them with a landing net rather than a leg catcher. See tips below on other ways to catch your chicken.
How to Catch A Chicken During the Day
There are several ways to catch a chicken during the day. You can usually lure them with treats and if they are tame enough they may let you just pick them up, however if the chicken you are trying to catch is not tame and runs if you reach for them, chasing them is not an option, you could actually cause them to have a heart attack or a respiratory attack not too mention the fact that the bird will be completely stressed and may become untameable in the future. Here are a few ways I have successfully captured wild chickens during the day.
Corner the chicken
Walk near them and guide their direction by outstretching your arms. Get them cornered, stretch your arms out and wiggle your hands on both sides of the bird, as the bird moves away from you try getting them to an area where they can be cornered, then reach in fast and grab the chicken. Wiggling your hands on both sides of the bird makes them go back and forth, they don't know which way to go and need a second to think so they will usually just stop for a second, but you want to get them while they are momentarily confused by your hands.
Train chickens to come to you
Sit down on the ground and offer them treats. If you regularly sit down with your flock and give little treats to the one's that let you touch them, you will develop a bond with them that will make them easier to catch any time. At first, they may seem skittish and you may have to give out a few treats without the touching to get their attention. Next time you come out with treats and sit down, only give treats to the ones that will take them from your hand. The chickens quickly learn that they can get a treat if they take it from your hand. The next day come out, sit down, and show them the treat. By this time at least one of your birds has probably already jumped in your lap. If your birds have been abused, mistreated, or are rescued bDid attery hens this method may take longer but it does work. Training your birds to let you hold them makes it much easier to catch them if you need to.
Catching commercial chickens
In commercial farming a leg catcher is often used but really should not be used-EVER due to the high incidences of injuries during the process of catching them. The best way to catch commercial chickens is too wait until evening at roosting time. If the birds have to be caught during the day and they are in a building, the lights should be dimmed and outdoor lighting covered and then the birds can be picked up or netted without hurting them. Leg catchers can break or injure a chickens leg.
Corner the chicken
Walk near them and guide their direction by outstretching your arms. Get them cornered, stretch your arms out and wiggle your hands on both sides of the bird, as the bird moves away from you try getting them to an area where they can be cornered, then reach in fast and grab the chicken. Wiggling your hands on both sides of the bird makes them go back and forth, they don't know which way to go and need a second to think so they will usually just stop for a second, but you want to get them while they are momentarily confused by your hands.
Train chickens to come to you
Sit down on the ground and offer them treats. If you regularly sit down with your flock and give little treats to the one's that let you touch them, you will develop a bond with them that will make them easier to catch any time. At first, they may seem skittish and you may have to give out a few treats without the touching to get their attention. Next time you come out with treats and sit down, only give treats to the ones that will take them from your hand. The chickens quickly learn that they can get a treat if they take it from your hand. The next day come out, sit down, and show them the treat. By this time at least one of your birds has probably already jumped in your lap. If your birds have been abused, mistreated, or are rescued bDid attery hens this method may take longer but it does work. Training your birds to let you hold them makes it much easier to catch them if you need to.
Catching commercial chickens
In commercial farming a leg catcher is often used but really should not be used-EVER due to the high incidences of injuries during the process of catching them. The best way to catch commercial chickens is too wait until evening at roosting time. If the birds have to be caught during the day and they are in a building, the lights should be dimmed and outdoor lighting covered and then the birds can be picked up or netted without hurting them. Leg catchers can break or injure a chickens leg.
