On the behaviour of hens

[bunn]

If you were walking somewhere long distance (a several day walk), and for some reason, you needed to take a hen with you, how long do you think you would be able to carry the hen before it would become pecky and wriggly and generally not keen on being carried?  How long do you think it would need to spend pecking and doing hen things before you

Comments

[wellinghall]

How long could I carry a hen, just on its own without any cage etc? A few minutes.

How long would it need to spend pecking etc? A few minutes. But you would have to factor in extra time - possibly a lot of extra time - to pick it up again.

I would make a cage. Or, better, a bag. If my father needs to carry a (few) bird(s) any distance, he puts it (them) in a sack.

The hen could walk (but see above comment about picking it up). Goose drovers would traditionally tar the feet of their geese, then walk them to market.

Another problem about carrying a hen on its own - you will get crapped on.

[bunn]

I don't think you have anything to make a bag from, unfortunately - civilisation has collapsed, and you only have what you are wearing. You could make a basket, that probably would be the easiest option.

[wellinghall]

A basket with a lid would be good.

And you don't have to obtain hens in the name of research. You can obtain them in the name of eggs.

[bunn]

Thank you!

I could, but I'd be a bit concerned that the many predators that share our house might consider them a free lunch. It would need a lot of supervising to start off with!

[wellinghall]

I do understand. I think we coped through a variety of factors; having hens first; having two hens, and only one cat; and Molly being a wimp.

[bunn]

Our cats were mostly OK with the bunnies, but ISTR we didn't have the Bungles then. But it may be that bunnies are a bit more resiliant than chickens.

[adaese]

Also Molly came from a household with Large! Ferocious! chickens, and had known since kittenhood to treat hens with respect.