Poultry Handling & Restraint.
Chickens are high stress animals that can experience trauma with only a small amount of human interaction and therefore it is essential to handle chickens correctly in all situations. Stress in chickens can lead to a decrease in egg production, which is important not only for commercial farmers but also for small scale poultry owners.
Catching Chickens:
When catching a chicken from a cage, it is easiest if the chicken is facing toward you. Reach in and gently but firmly grasp the hen around her wings and body. Lift her out of the cage ensuring no feet or feathers get caught on the way out.
Holding/Restraining chickens:
Once the chicken is out of the cage, tuck her head under your arm, holding her wings down with your arm and the side of your body. Your hand should be supporting her from underneath, with her breastbone or keel resting in the palm of your hand. Your fingers should be simultaneously grasping her legs to secure her in case she flaps her wings and tries to escape. This is a good position to use when taking the chicken’s temperature through the cloaca. You can also hold the chicken upside down by the legs. This is an effective method of calming the chicken if she begins to flap around and become stressed. This technique is not harmful in any way to the chicken if performed correctly. Once the chicken is secured, examinations can be made for monitoring health and development. In this position, the feet and wings can be easily examined.
Evaulation of handling ability:
|
Competency level: |
Action required to achieve competency level: |
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Poor |
Makes no attempt to or cannot catch or secure chicken for examination. |
|
Developing |
Catches chicken poorly, does not secure wings, incorrect holding of chicken; ineffective for examination. |
|
Some Skills Observed |
Catches chicken with some difficulty, does not secure feet in securing the chicken, mildly difficult for examination. |
|
Competent |
Catches chicken with little difficulty, Holds chicken correctly but causes some stress. |
|
Highly Competent |
Catches and holds chicken quickly and effectively, no stress to the animal is observed. |
A video guide to the humane restaint of a chicken:
And purely for your entertainment...
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