Is is always necessary to hold a chicken correctly? No, but every chickens keeper should be aware of the proper method and use it during exams and bathing. Not only can handling a bird improperly stress the chickens unnecessarily, it can endanger their lives by restricting their abilitily to inflate their ais sacs to breathe. Holding a chicken correctly allows you to examine a chicken easily, keeps them calm and securely supported by their keel, and has the added benefit of keeping the working end of the bird away from you, greatly reducing the chance of getting pooped on.
- Place your dominant hand on your chicken’s back to secure its wings.
- Place your other hand beneath your chicken to secure its legs.
- Lift your chicken gently off the ground.
- Hold your chicken against your body to keep it safe.
- Pet and talk softly to your chicken to keep it calm.
- Inspect your chicken's feathers for parasites.
- Place your chicken directly on the ground to release it.
- Give your chicken a treat as you place it back on the ground.