- Jun 9, 2014
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Hi BYC,
Total newbie question, but how trainable are chickens? I have six 5-week-old Buff Orpingtons who mob me whenever I have food or treats. Every other time I'm with them they are calm and docile. They like being picked up and for the most part have stopped pecking me (a few very gentle thumps to the beak got that message across). But if they think I have food it's like they lose their minds and become this tornado of squawking, flapping, pecking monsters. They have food available 24/7, and they're plump little things so they're obviously eating well and aren't getting too hungry. Can I train them to be calmer about food? Is that even possible? (and how??)
That might be a stupid question, so feel free to laugh. I ask because 1) I'm totally new to birds, and 2) I've managed to teach them to come when I whistle, so I'm wondering if it's possible to teach them other behaviors.
Thanks!
Total newbie question, but how trainable are chickens? I have six 5-week-old Buff Orpingtons who mob me whenever I have food or treats. Every other time I'm with them they are calm and docile. They like being picked up and for the most part have stopped pecking me (a few very gentle thumps to the beak got that message across). But if they think I have food it's like they lose their minds and become this tornado of squawking, flapping, pecking monsters. They have food available 24/7, and they're plump little things so they're obviously eating well and aren't getting too hungry. Can I train them to be calmer about food? Is that even possible? (and how??)
That might be a stupid question, so feel free to laugh. I ask because 1) I'm totally new to birds, and 2) I've managed to teach them to come when I whistle, so I'm wondering if it's possible to teach them other behaviors.
Thanks!