How to Trap Baby Chickens

Baby chickens require careful looking after. Maintaining the correct incubation, feeding, watering and providing a suitable environment for their growth are considerations you need to make. Whether you are a farmer with a flock of chicks or if you have just bought a chick as a pet, if your chick escapes don't run around like a headless chicken trying to catch it. Follow some simple steps to avoid it coming to harm and restore it to its best environment for care.

Things You'll Need

  • Net attached to a long rod or wooden stick
  • Plastic tub filled with grain
  • A willing friend to assist
  • Barrier such as a large sheet of cardboard
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Instructions

  1. Try Different Techniques

    • 1

      Before running after the chick, assess the area in which it is loose. Do you need to erect a barrier to stop it from escaping further out of the farmhouse or front door of your house, for example? If so, get a flattened cardboard box and place it vertically in the gap to prevent the baby chick from escaping further.

    • 2

      Ask yourself if there are dangers present. Is there a fire or any sharp objects that the baby chick may collide with and cause itself injury? If so remove them to avoid injury to the chick.

    • 3

      If the area is secure, try approaching the baby chick and catching it manually. If it is less than 21 days old, it may be too small to runaway from you and you can simply scoop it beneath it's body and return it to it's home.

    • 4

      If the baby chick still escapes, try cornering it with a friend. This way you will not need any further equipment and will minimise the time needed to catch the baby chicken. You can use a flattened piece of cardboard to edge it into a corner. Or each person moves towards a corner of the area the baby chick has escaped, encouraging the chick to back into the corner. You can then scoop it up manually and return it to its home.

    • 5

      If the baby chick is still too quick or outdoors, you can try using a net to catch it. You may have a basic net in the house such as a net for catching fish which will give your arm an extension to reach the chick. However if you don't have one you can easily make one using a piece of wood, such as that of a sweeping brush. Attach a net to the end of the artificial arm to form a bag to catch the baby chick. Approach the baby chick slowly to avoid startling it and then quickly place the net over it's head. Be careful not to hit the chick.

    • 6

      Another method to catch it is to feed it. Get a plastic tub filed with grain. Shake the tub to try to grab the attention of the baby chick. Place some grain on the ground. When it pecks at the grain, you can firmly snoop up the baby chick while it is distracted.

    • 7

      Once your baby chick is caught make sure it is now secure. Consider building a new chicken coop that is more secure. Backyard Chickens provides over 450 different coop designs to ensure your chickens are kept safe.