8 week Easter Egger -- help me stop obsessing!

[SE WA Guy]

I think some chicks just go through a phase. All mine have been flighty for a while then they seem to get over it eventually haha all different breeds. Although others I’ve had have been super friendly from the beginning. but even that one went through a flighty “get away from me” teenage stage

That's what I'm hoping ha ha. And it's not like they're throwing themselves into the fence to get away from me - it's more like they're playing super fast hide and seek. And if I stand in their coop, completely still, they'll come back around and pretend I'm not there. But as soon as I move, they all go round back of the hen house and hide again. They're such characters.

Last week they managed to fly up five feet to perch on top of the hen house I built - THEN they seemed a bit more accepting of me approaching them to help them get back down again. But man alive, as soon as those little feet touched the ground, off they went.

 

[msirene]

@msirene

The one thing that gives me hope is the anecdotal wisdom that EE hens are a bit more flighty, and males are a bit easier going with people approaching them. As it stands now, all my little EE's treat me entering the coop like a fire drill - which kind of makes me feel bad because they've never even been looked at harshly, much less treated in such a way that would make them so skittish. So, here's hoping that I just have flighty hens in the making.

At least my little Barred Rock chicks come right up to the mesh wire to let me pet them. Crazy how different they all are.

My other EE is super flighty, she is the smartest one in the bunch though too -- she was the first one to figure out to go under the brooder/crate door to get back in I was worried about this one because she was always really curious and bold, and the first one to hop up on my hand to come out. They all have unique personalities, for sure!

Now my Blue Rock is totally hyper -- she was the first one to jump up on the waterer, perches, my desk, exercise ball, etc -- and I have heard from lots of people on here & elsewhere that Rocks tend to be extra "active." Our Blue Australorps are like golden retrievers -- super calm and sweet, but not super bright. The EEs are my favorite so far, for sure!

 

[ShrekDawg]

That's what I'm hoping ha ha. And it's not like they're throwing themselves into the fence to get away from me - it's more like they're playing super fast hide and seek. And if I stand in their coop, completely still, they'll come back around and pretend I'm not there. But as soon as I move, they all go round back of the hen house and hide again. They're such characters.

Last week they managed to fly up five feet to perch on top of the hen house I built - THEN they seemed a bit more accepting of me approaching them to help them get back down again. But man alive, as soon as those little feet touched the ground, off they went.

That’s exactly what mine do!!! Hahaha

They’ll all run away and/or bunch together then they’re like “oh wait.... it’s you”

And OMG!!

They sure do love to test out their wings as soon as they get feathers! LOL

Mine were flying out of the brooder or climbing up my arm or stomach to get on top of my shoulder then launching themselves off and back into the brooder or fooor

Now that I’ve been putting them outside for the day they love running/zooming and flying all over the place

 

[SE WA Guy]

My other EE is super flighty, she is the smartest one in the bunch though too -- she was the first one to figure out to go under the brooder/crate door to get back in I was worried about this one because she was always really curious and bold, and the first one to hop up on my hand to come out. They all have unique personalities, for sure!

Now my Blue Rock is totally hyper -- she was the first one to jump up on the waterer, perches, my desk, exercise ball, etc -- and I have heard from lots of people on here & elsewhere that Rocks tend to be extra "active." Our Blue Australorps are like golden retrievers -- super calm and sweet, but not super bright. The EEs are my favorite so far, for sure!

I wholeheartedly concur. I've fallen in love with my EE's. All my dogs have always been mutts - and there's something so charming about a mutt chicken too.

 

[SE WA Guy]

That’s exactly what mine do!!! Hahaha

They’ll all run away and/or bunch together then they’re like “oh wait.... it’s you”

And OMG!!

They sure do love to test out their wings as soon as they get feathers! LOL

Mine were flying out of the brooder or climbing up my arm or stomach to get on top of my shoulder then launching themselves off and back into the brooder or fooor

Now that I’ve been putting them outside for the day they love running/zooming and flying all over the place

I'm really hoping they get to the point where they perch on my shoulders. I don't want to force them.

Growing up, we had Rhode Island Reds. Maybe I just didn't pay attention and I missed it, but these EE's really are their own tribe. They play follow-the-leader like their lives depend on it. I can separate the other BR chicks and they don't seem to mind. But these EE's move as a unit at all times. Very fun to watch.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I'm really hoping they get to the point where they perch on my shoulders. I don't want to force them.

Growing up, we had Rhode Island Reds. Maybe I just didn't pay attention and I missed it, but these EE's really are their own tribe. They play follow-the-leader like their lives depend on it. I can separate the other BR chicks and they don't seem to mind. But these EE's move as a unit at all times. Very fun to watch.

Mine don’t really perch there; more like use me as a launch pad.

Also I try not to let them much cause not much fun when an adult does it.

I also once got pecked in the eye by a curious chicken with my first chickens so ever since then I’m a lot more careful.

I do have some that let me carry them around though or willingly sit in my lap lol

And OMG that’s hysterical and adorable!!!

 

[SE WA Guy]

Mine don’t really perch there; more like use me as a launch pad.

Also I try not to let them much cause not much fun when an adult does it.

I also once got pecked in the eye by a curious chicken with my first chickens so ever since then I’m a lot more careful.

I do have some that let me carry them around though or willingly sit in my lap lol

And OMG that’s hysterical and adorable!!!

Maybe I can't be a human perch - but I would allow myself to be a launch pad lol. Someday...

 

[ShrekDawg]

Maybe I can't be a human perch - but I would allow myself to be a launch pad lol. Someday...

I think I just have adventurous, curious birds.

But I hope yours become interested in your shoulder some day!! Lol

I hold mine to cuddle them sometimes and as soon as they got wings they started crawling up to my shoulder and launching back into the brooder

 

[msirene]

Growing up, we had Rhode Island Reds. Maybe I just didn't pay attention and I missed it, but these EE's really are their own tribe. They play follow-the-leader like their lives depend on it. I can separate the other BR chicks and they don't seem to mind. But these EE's move as a unit at all times. Very fun to watch.

Here are my EEs lording it over my blues (Australorps & a Rock)