Handling chickens tips

[TheLadiesStepMomma]

Hello,
While my neighbors are out of the country I am looking after their 5 older chickens. When I went to close them up tonight something had crashed through their coop gate and there were feathers all over. They were shaken up, but not were missing or had any obvious injuries.

I’d like to give them a closer look for injuries tomorrow but I’ve never actually handled them before. Any tips or things I should know??

Appreciate your help!

 

[DobieLover]

I’d like to give them a closer look for injuries tomorrow but I’ve never actually handled them before. Any tips or things I should know??

Appreciate your help!

Do it at night. Wear a headlamp so both your hands are free and retrieve them off the roost. They are much easier to handle at night. It will be much easier if you have a helper.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Check in their "creases." Under wings, where legs join the body, and the vent area, under the tail. Part the feathers. Chickens bruise green but tomorrow may be too soon to see bruising so check them again the next day. Watch for limping or droopy wings. Watch for chickens just sitting around, huddled and looking miserable, not eating, drinking, scratching the ground or grooming. Watch for chickens with hunched-up backs and tails pointing at the ground, these are signs of chickens in pain. Good luck, hopefully everybody is fine.

Is the gate secure?

 

[TheLadiesStepMomma]

Do it at night. Wear a headlamp so both your hands are free and retrieve them off the roost. They are much easier to handle at night. It will be much easier if you have a helper.

Thank you!

 

[TheLadiesStepMomma]

Check in their "creases." Under wings, where legs join the body, and the vent area, under the tail. Part the feathers. Chickens bruise green but tomorrow may be too soon to see bruising so check them again the next day. Watch for limping or droopy wings. Watch for chickens just sitting around, huddled and looking miserable, not eating, drinking, scratching the ground or grooming. Watch for chickens with hunched-up backs and tails pointing at the ground, these are signs of chickens in pain. Good luck, hopefully everybody is fine.

Is the gate secure?

Thank you!
The gate was secure, but something (we suspect neighboring dog) literally squashed the gate from the top down. I made and attached a new gate yesterday.

 

[NatJ]

Check in their "creases." Under wings, where legs join the body, and the vent area, under the tail. Part the feathers. Chickens bruise green but tomorrow may be too soon to see bruising so check them again the next day. Watch for limping or droopy wings. Watch for chickens just sitting around, huddled and looking miserable, not eating, drinking, scratching the ground or grooming. Watch for chickens with hunched-up backs and tails pointing at the ground, these are signs of chickens in pain. Good luck, hopefully everybody is fine.

And if you find something that seems odd, compare with several of the other chickens before worrying. If all the chickens have it, it is probably normal. This works on people and other kinds of animals too: see if several healthy individuals have the same feature you are wondering about.

 

[TheLadiesStepMomma]

And if you find something that seems odd, compare with several of the other chickens before worrying. If all the chickens have it, it is probably normal. This works on people and other kinds of animals too: see if several healthy individuals have the same feature you are wondering about.

Thank you