When catching birds, a smooth style of movement is essential as sudden movements will cause the birds to take avoiding action, and then they are almost impossible to catch. Such episodes can result in smothering when the birds run into corners, injury from fleeing, and reduction in egg production.
Older chickens can be caught by grasping the body with both hands over the wings. This prevents flapping which could cause injury to the bird and alarm the other birds in the flock. Firm but responsive handling will be more successful in keeping the bird comfortable, whereas loose holding of the bird may allow it to free one or more limbs with the risk of injury.
The ideal approach is not always possible, and one may have to resort to catching the chicken by the legs. Both legs can be grasped with one hand. The other hand is used to support the bird from below in an upright position. It can then be held with the legs grasped and the body resting on the hand to allow it to be handled for condition scoring, general examination, assessment of laying status, etc.
Showing posts with label poultry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poultry. Show all posts
Handling and restraining of farm animals
Handling, controlling, restraining, transporting, and casting farm animals sometimes causes them distress even when they are being well managed. Three principles should be kept in mind when conducting these procedures to avoid harming the animals or affecting their productivity.
- The stock man should try to minimize any stress experienced by the animals or the workers handling them.
- These procedures should be carried out in such a manner that the animal are not injured.
- These procedures should be carried out in such a way that the workers are not injured.
In order to meet these objectives, the stock man should ensure before starting that proper equipment is available for the procedure and that the equipment is clean and in good working order. He should know how to use the equipment properly, efficiently and quietly. People assisting a procedure should also know the procedure and feel comfortable while performing it. Fear is perhaps the most dangerous emotion when working with livestock, since a frightened person seldom considers the consequences of his actions. His fear may also be communicated to the animals and upset them, thus making handling more difficult.
- The stock man should try to minimize any stress experienced by the animals or the workers handling them.
- These procedures should be carried out in such a manner that the animal are not injured.
- These procedures should be carried out in such a way that the workers are not injured.
In order to meet these objectives, the stock man should ensure before starting that proper equipment is available for the procedure and that the equipment is clean and in good working order. He should know how to use the equipment properly, efficiently and quietly. People assisting a procedure should also know the procedure and feel comfortable while performing it. Fear is perhaps the most dangerous emotion when working with livestock, since a frightened person seldom considers the consequences of his actions. His fear may also be communicated to the animals and upset them, thus making handling more difficult.
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