When raising chicken, it is important to learn how to properly handle them for the safety of the birds and yourself.
When removing the bird from a cage, open the cage while positioning your body in front of the cage door. Most birds will move away from you but once you notice the bird‘s tendencies, go with the bird, reach over the bird‘s back and gently grab the bird‘s shoulder and wings in a closed manner. Direct the bird towards the door wih your hand and once the bird is near the door, slide your hand under the bird and hold its legs between your fingers. Always remove the bird‘s head first.
Other practices
When handing the chicken to someone else, first hold the bird facing you, about afoot away and open your free hand into a U shape and place it under the hen‘s breast. Slowly turn the bird across your chest and away from your body with the hand controlling the bird‘s breast. The person receiving the bird should slide their hand, palm up between the bird‘s breast and the hand holding the bird.
Once the person receiving the bird has control of the bird‘s legs, you can release your hold of the bird.
To exchange the hand used to hold the chicken, With the bird facing you, run your unused hand palm up between the bird‘s breast and the hand currently holding the bird. Using the same hands positioning, secure the bird‘s legs and the hock joints and once you feel you have control of the bird, release the other hand.
