While I have not mastered taming untamed adult chickens I am absolutely great at taming baby chicks,I also happen to be good with turkey poults too but this is mainly for chicks as poults are Unfourtently not the brightest and fall into my tricks way easier then chickens.
I started raising chickens years ago but last year (2018),Family ended up moving and we rid of all the birds we owned.Over 20 or so chickens plus ducks,turkeys,and geese.But,we decided to move back to the farm and our starting farming again, starting at smaller numbers we only got sixteen chickens, and 4 ducklings.I mainly keep chickens for two purposes ,eggs and pets.Whilist chickens don’t come friendly,it’s usually up to us to make them trust us.Some people could careless while others absolutely hate the fact that every time they even look in their chicks directions they go running like wild birds.
I’ve managed to find a few steps to successfully turn my chickens into actual pets instead of just livestock.
When I first get days old chicks I usually start picking them up and hand feeding, of course before this I give them atleast a day or two to adjust, then go straight into taming.
I first find a treat that catches their eye and easy accessible.My birds first treats usually is bread, unfortunately I generally forget about mealworms and etc, I suggest rather using something else escpecially if you don’t have that many chicks in a bunch and not to feed bread in big offerings,it is just a fattner for the birds just as it is for humans.I don’t feed big amounts but will use a wider amount in winter as it is a fatty food and they could use extra fat,but never too much.Bread happens to be form what I see, one of poultry’s favorite treats.I typically start using this and throwing it on the ground and getting them to peck at it.Over a day of doing this they adventually learn the look and taste of the treat making it easier to hand feed.Once they get relatively good at spotting bread,I hold it in my hand.Making them run and and eat and climb onto my hands getting them even more comfortable.My chicks are about five days old and now coke running when my hand enters the brooder.Once I get them adjusted to my hands and understanding where feed is provided from,I then start the mother then call.Usually I do this when offering treats and or playing with the chicks.I provide a dirt box and will peck around the dirt box area calling “Here chic chick” or making mother hen calling sounds, have done this for years.Chicks should not run when hand has entered cage, should come running rather then run.
Once the chicks have gotten this far I’ll start holding them more and bringing them up to my face to look me in my eyes, making various callings with my mouth.I often will take two at a time so their not nervous about where their flock mates are.I often will sit them in my lap and hover over them as a mothe then does and they will often coddle underneath me and begin falling asleep, mind you while doing this I’m also using my voice.
Basically do this for weeks until the chicks have grown to big, mind you these methods are done every so often as you can .Once I start taking the birds outside I usually can have them following behind me in minutes, even when provided with a broody hen I’ve had chicks rather follow me then the hen.Holding the birds every so often is pretty important, as well as continuing with the lap sitting, once you do this so many times the birds will come running to sit in your lap to rest.As the birds age I typically just pet and pick them up and occasionally sit outside and talk with them, just keeping them familiar with routine, and often will hand feed.
That’s basically what I do,and it’s worked for most birds anyways ,mind you some chicks are just naturally flighty and stand-offish,no matter what you do, they’ll always feel a certain way.
Hope this helps as I’ve seen lots of people stress over untamed chicks.
