Carrying and Holding Chickens and Chicks [Part 1]

Carring chickens by the legs with the heads hanging down is ok for birds you are taking to slaughter, but dont do it with prised layers or pet birds.  You can dislocate there legs or otherwise hurt them.  Instead, tuck the bird under one arm with your other hand hold both feet, or cradle the bird in your arms with wings under an arm.  A firm squeeze and soothing talk soon calms most birds.  The head can face forward or back, whichever works best for you.

If you need to restrain a bird for treatment and dont have anybody yo help you, you may need to tie the bird's legs together and lay it on a table, while restraining the wings with one hand or loosely wrapping the bird in a towel to restrain the wings.  Some people learn to hold the chicken with there knees while seated, with the feet up and the head facing away from them.