How can I get my chickens to like me again??

Date sort Score sort
Like most other qualities, friendliness varies among individuals. Both of my easter eggers like to snuggle, but my australorp usually attacks me (although she still likes to sit on my legs if I'm sitting on the ground). The australorp doesn't bite anyone but me.
 
Last edited:
Margy1 said:
New development................ When I pick up one of the babies, Peckers who is the top of the pecking chain, will peck the one I just held. Only once or twice, doesn't seem to hurt the one that is being pecked. But will do it everytime....any ideas?
Click to expand...

Jealousy. Green eyed monster. plain and simple.Hens are just like toddlers who will scream and hit brothers or sisters if they think they should be getting the attention. That's all that it is. It's not intended to hurt, just to put the cuddled hen back in it's place, letting it know it's NOT the favourite.

My bets gets horribly jealous when I hod either of my other girls and comes over and gets right in my face looking for attention and won't behave until I put the other hen down and lift her for a cuddle too. Its really funny as usually she doesn't even want to cuddle, but she just cant see past one of the others getting what she thinks is preferential treatment.

I think you should try something similar, just give the top hen a wee bit more affection, it may seem strange as she's already top of the tree, but it might well calm her down to think that she is favourite girl and she'll leave the others alone a little.
 
Chickens are so interesting. After watching my flock develop their habits and personality traits over their first year, I am start to wonder if there is a need for Poultry Psychologists.
cool.png


(I was a Psych major in college.)
 
darina said:
Chickens are so interesting. After watching my flock develop their habits and personality traits over their first year, I am start to wonder if there is a need for Poultry Psychologists.
cool.png


(I was a Psych major in college.)
Click to expand...

Lol!

I feel exactly the same way. Who knew that chickens were such interesting and complex creatures. I'll never get bored with watching them.
love.gif
 
I have done a lot of research about getting the hens to like people but right now mine are chicks. I hand them and bring them outside and even play with their beaks. Even since I have got them they seem to like people less and less. Will they simply grow up too quick and not want to be handled anymore?
 
Margy1 said:
When we got our chickens (EE) when they were a week old, we played with them, loved on them, gave them treats. They loved us, would let us walk around holding them and eat out of our hands.

Now they are about 21 weeks old and will not let us touch them. They have a big pen and a big coop. Every once in awhile I can pick one up, but she gets so scared! We go out everyday and spend time with them, I have tried to get them to eat from my hands, they wont. They barely come near us, yesterday they came over and started picking off the little "hitchhikers" from the grass that were stuck to my slippers. I have read posts about going out and sitting with them, bringing them treats, talking to them getting them used to my voice, and then eventually trying to get them to eat out of my hands, I have tried all that and they are still so scared! We have another chicken its a free range and she will let us touch her and pick her up and love on her.

How can we make them like us again???
Click to expand...

Mine hate me when I try to grab them, but once I pick them up they relax. Learn the proper way to hold them if you don't know it. Talk calmly to them. Walk away from the other chickens with one or two, or else they will just be anxious to join their squawking buddies. They will get used to you again once they begin to associate you with safety. I once saved a rooster from a dog, and that guy loved me forever. They establish associations. I had a friend whose kids would throw things at the chickens, or even in trying to be nice, would pick them up incorrectly and drop them... so naturally they hated all people.
 
Hi have u tried bring a stool in the chicken run and sitting there talking to them and letting them come to u and checking u out. And if u get them used to a sound when u are about to give them treats they will remember it and every time u make that soung they will come to u ( for my chicken it either the squeak of the run door or me shaking the food tub
 

Similar threads

G
    • Like
How to make a friendly hen?
Replies
3
Views
794
AntiqueB
AntiqueB
A
My chickens like to eat... my fingernails?
Replies
5
Views
287
Atlas The Chicken Tender
A
chickennugget6
    • Like
Does my chicken dislike us?
Replies
2
Views
516
Callender Girl
Callender Girl
C
Putting a chicken back in the flock
Replies
1
Views
174
Lacy Duckwing
Lacy Duckwing
South Dakota Guy
    • Love
    • Like
Something you saw a chicken do that made you stop and say, WHAT The Hell?
2 3 4
Replies
32
Views
2K
MamaPoult
MamaPoult

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom