When you need to grab one of your birds, follow one of these approaches.

Article & photos by Sue Weaver

Have you ever tried to catch a wary chicken that doesn’t want to be caught? Chickens are fast, agile and single-minded. You’d better have some tricks up your sleeves when you want and need to catch one.

Catch a wayward bird using a net (opposite page) or a hook (below).

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No matter how you catch your chickens, be sure to hold them so they feel secure and you do no harm. That means never holding a bird by its neck, its wings or upside down by its legs.

Many people believe that holding or carrying a chicken by its legs is OK because it’s convenient and it seems to calm them down. However, a chicken’s lungs are right next to the spine and upper ribcage, so held upside down, the weight of its organs presses down on its lungs and some of its air sacs. The bird stays still rather than lopping around because it can’t breathe.

Instead, a good way to handle a chicken is to place one hand over each wing and pick the chicken up. Hold the bird against your body, keeping one hand on the wing farthest from your body. To carry the chicken, tuck it under your arm with your forearm holding the wing against your body and place several fingers between its legs. The chicken can face forward or backward. Be sure to hug it close to your side so it can’t lap or jump down.