A companion

[Lmjc]

I have 3 rhode island reds, they are like 2-3 weeks old, I want them to be a companion when they become adults, I don't want them to peck me, I want to be able to pet and hold them whenever without them trying to run away. Is there any way to do this? please inform me, this is one of my dreams .... They will live outside in a coop but I still want everything I said, the holding, petting, and non pecking and whatnot xD

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Handling them A LOT, also sitting with them in the coop if space allows for it. This is what I did with my first batch and am now doing with my second batch. Also when they are 4-6 weeks old and start liking treats, they will see you as a treat provider. When I go out with raisins, I have 2 that regularly jump up onto my lap when feeding treats. All of them let me pick them up and pet or inspect them, which I do at least once a week. They follow me around the yard just like my dog does.

 

[Lmjc]

So I should just pet and pick up and hold them a lot, and when they get bigger feed them treats? Oh and can you name a lot of treats that they really love? Because I feed my rooster bread and he seems to like it as a treat... But I want to know what you feed yours

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

So I should just pet and pick up and hold them a lot, and when they get bigger feed them treats? Oh and can you name a lot of treats that they really love? Because I feed my rooster bread and he seems to like it as a treat... But I want to know what you feed yours

If you have a roo, then make sure you inspect the girls weekly. I found a skin tear in one of my girls from my cockerel's claws tearing it during a mate, found it a day or two later as it was already healing. She is much better now, 2 weeks later, still have my cockerel in "jail". I give them the following as treats
raisins, pancakes, bread, scratch grains, fruit(non-citrus), vegies(no potatoes unless peeled and cooked). I get 2lbs of raisins every other week from the bulk foods at the store, they really love those.

 

[Lmjc]

Thank you so all I have to do it pick them up and pet them and treat them, sounds easy enough lol my roo is a butt to my younger brother I'm guessing because he's small, and because I'm the dominate roo of my flock.. I also think my roo is on edge sometimes because he was the only 1 out of 4 of my flock of previous chickens that survived a dog attack, I'd love to make my roo nice too but I almost feel as if it's to late he doesn't buck up to me or anything but I'd like him to be a companion also, but I think picking him up is kind of a death wish for me

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

I won my cockerel over with treats. I got him when he was 16 weeks old. He wouldn't come near me. When I would hand feed my girls I would throw treats on the ground near him. After 3 week of doing this daily he started taking treats from my hand. He won't take it in an open palm, I have to hold it in my fingers, but I am ok with it.

 

[aaabirdman]

Welcome to Byc

 

[jbirds2012]

 

[Fur & Feathers]

So I should just pet and pick up and hold them a lot, and when they get bigger feed them treats? Oh and can you name a lot of treats that they really love? Because I feed my rooster bread and he seems to like it as a treat... But I want to know what you feed yours

hi Lmjc,
try digging for worms as well or buy some dried meal worms,in the colder days/nights they also go absolutely bonkers for warm porridge [no sugar added just made with water],mine like theirs mixed with dried meal worms,some sultanas and grass that has been cut up with scissors into little bits.
several chucks of mine are mad for wriggly earth worms,and our seven year old exbat seems to have a homing device for slugs as she will find them anywhere and destroy them in one,some people make it a habit to feed their chickens slugs but slugs have got live parasites living in them which can tecnicaly pass onto the chicken.

with bread,make sure to soak it in water first because dried bread expands and causes an impaction in the crop which can be life threatening.


this is a great page to bookmark by the way-
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens
the chicken treat chart,pretty much every common thing found is reviewed on it as ok or not.

 

[Lmjc]

Oh my god!! I haven't been watering the bread!! and I've fed him a good bit of bread but he seems okay, what should I do!!??