5-year observation

[Bald Bee Man]

I would like to share some interesting observations in the five years I've had chickens. The very first flock of chickens were very friendly and would constantly come up and get under my feet. Then I integrated the second flock to the first and some of the second flock never became friendly some were always a little skittish. So by the time the third flock come around the first flock was completely gone. What I was finding out was those chickens that were skittish when I would introduce a new flock I was unable to get as many friendly. My feeling was that the skittish chickens were transferring their personality into the new flock so the entire new flock would never become as friendly.
So this time when it was time to get more chickens I got rid of my entire flock and got all new. Right off the bat I could tell it seemed to be working they were all curious and if I would sit out with them they would come up to me we're talking 26 hens. They still in general were a little shy but I'd only had them for a matter of days they were 18 weeks old. Something I had noticed in the five years of having chickens. That was when they introduce themselves to another chicken they peck around the eyes and the beak. So on day 5 or 6 I'm sitting out with this new flock of 26 hens and I get the bright idea to pick them up and with my index finger start pecking around the beak and by the eyes immediately they started pecking my cheek I had to put my glasses on because they were starting to peck near my eyes.
They were doing with me what I have observed them doing with other hens during introduction . I ended up doing this to all 26 chickens that day and the very next day when I walked out it was absolutely unbelievable.
They all came running up to me totally under my feet and they let me pet them without any problem.
It has been that way every since.
Do I think pecking them around the eyes and introducing myself like they introduce themselves is what did it? I do but I would love to have two flocks from the same supplier and do it with one flock and not the other and see what happens. But I have a hard time thinking that this was just a coincidence.

 

[DiYMama540]

Very interesting observation! Thanks for sharing!

Do you also feel this is somewhat related to their pecking order, or just an introduction?

You may have unknowingly introduced yourself as the top hen!
Glad you had on glasses, that could have gone sour quickly!

 

[BlueBaby]

X 2 I find that an interesting observation.

 

[Bald Bee Man]

Very interesting observation! Thanks for sharing!

Do you also feel this is somewhat related to their pecking order, or just an introduction?

You may have unknowingly introduced yourself as the top hen!
Glad you had on glasses, that could have gone sour quickly!

I'm sure it is with the pecking order also. I have mostly watched this when my old hens are separated by a fence and the new ones walk up. Through the fence you see the pecking, I find it very interesting because from my standpoint looks like they're getting along then one
Takes a nasty hard Peck at the other one and the other one is already starting to back up so they are sensing something before I am.
What's more interesting after that nasty peck. One might walk away other times they go right back to Gentle pecking around the eyes and the beak

 

[WindyLookout]

I would like to share some interesting observations in the five years I've had chickens. The very first flock of chickens were very friendly and would constantly come up and get under my feet. Then I integrated the second flock to the first and some of the second flock never became friendly some were always a little skittish. So by the time the third flock come around the first flock was completely gone. What I was finding out was those chickens that were skittish when I would introduce a new flock I was unable to get as many friendly. My feeling was that the skittish chickens were transferring their personality into the new flock so the entire new flock would never become as friendly.
So this time when it was time to get more chickens I got rid of my entire flock and got all new. Right off the bat I could tell it seemed to be working they were all curious and if I would sit out with them they would come up to me we're talking 26 hens. They still in general were a little shy but I'd only had them for a matter of days they were 18 weeks old. Something I had noticed in the five years of having chickens. That was when they introduce themselves to another chicken they peck around the eyes and the beak. So on day 5 or 6 I'm sitting out with this new flock of 26 hens and I get the bright idea to pick them up and with my index finger start pecking around the beak and by the eyes immediately they started pecking my cheek I had to put my glasses on because they were starting to peck near my eyes.
They were doing with me what I have observed them doing with other hens during introduction . I ended up doing this to all 26 chickens that day and the very next day when I walked out it was absolutely unbelievable.
They all came running up to me totally under my feet and they let me pet them without any problem.
It has been that way every since.
Do I think pecking them around the eyes and introducing myself like they introduce themselves is what did it? I do but I would love to have two flocks from the same supplier and do it with one flock and not the other and see what happens. But I have a hard time thinking that this was just a coincidence.

Love your behavioural observations. Will be keeping track of your post.

 

[aart]

Without any existing chickens, you have a totally different environment.
Curious too if you spent more time with all new birds than when you added birds?

 

[Bald Bee Man]

Without any existing chickens, you have a totally different environment.
Curious too if you spent more time with all new birds than when you added birds?

Without any existing chickens, you have a totally different environment.
Curious too if you spent more time with all new birds than when you added birds?

You are 100% correct with the totally different environment with a brand new flock.
Yes I would spend time with the new Blended flock but since they were blended with the existing chickens I can never form an attachment Like I could have they were totally new.
I look at chickens like kids on a playground, when one finds something they all come running to see what it is. When one plays with something they I'll come running to do the same thing. So in this case it's the other way around if you had one skittish chicken and you Blended the new flock with that one chicken the new flock is going to take off running if the skittish one does because they assume there's a reason.