Afraid I'll be afraid

[keljonma]

Quote:
Our Delaware hen, Frances, is very chatty, sometimes a bully to the other hens if food is involved, and very friendly to her humans. But Frances LOUDLY complains when we have the nerve to come outside without a treat for the flock (her specifically).

She lays a beautiful extra large brown egg with brown speckles. Hopefully, you'll have the same luck with your Delaware.

I was thinking.... you should be afraid that you'll want more chicks than you have room for - they're VERY addictive.

 

[Momma_Cluck]

If you want to "De-Program" yourself from the fear of the black ones, get a Austrlorp or Silkie!
Get em from a hatchery if you must (we do not live where picking em out is an option--most folksdon't unfortunately...but we're trying to change that!!)
and raise them by hand in the house if you can..that way you are allwyas around them-- and who could be afraid of a 2 day old ball of fluff??
As it feathers out and changes, it'll be so attached to you that the thought of the color will be a thing of the past...

if not-- maybe you were attacked by a blackbird/crow as a child and don't remember?

 

[LilBizzy]

I know how you feel! I'll try to keep it short, but my daughter brought home grown chickens 10 years ago. We were new to chickens, and predators got them. So, she replaced them with brand new babies. I took care of them . They lived in my living room. Aww, they were cute and fuzzy. They moved outside, and at some point, I decided I did NOT like chickens. I swore they would get this evil look in their eyes and come running at me. I also believed they sharpened their beaks in anticipation. Yes, I was afraid of them.
Then I went and got married, and DH saw the unused chicken coop and decided on filling it. Again, I took care of them, they lived in my living room for 6 weeks. I handled them. Once they got big, I remembered I do NOT like chickens.. and avoided them at all costs. And yes, I was still a little afraid of them.
Fast forward 4 years, and that very same lovely daughter brought me 4 1month old sexlinks. Every day, I went out there and sat with them, and held them and let them jump on me.( which I did NOT like).
DH decided he wanted BABY chicks, and came home with 12 RIR's. I didnt hold them as much. It was hard trying to find time for all of them.
Now, the Big Girls are 5 months old, and they are the sweetest birds. I have no problem having them run to me. I'm not afraid they will peck me.( and sometimes they do). The "babies" are 3 months old. Im not scared of them, but the roosters (4 of them) are getting SO BIG, and I admit they make me nervous. I still do NOT like chickens.. But the "big girls" are cool... and the babies are cute
The only difference between the 2 sets is I did handle the big girls alot for the first month. I handled them when they were bigger, so I conquered my fear. The little ones I handled as babies, but not so much as they got older. I'd highly recommend getting a small number to start, and just hang out with them and hold them every day, even for a few minutes. And keep doing it till they are full grown. Because if you get yourself used to them, there's nothing to be afraid of. My little ones dont like to be handled, but they sure all come running when they see me. And instead of fear, I have laughter.. because theres nothing like the sight of 11 chickens with their funny looking run coming at ya.

The Red sex links are very beautiful colored birds. I dont know if it's the breed, or the handling, but honestly they are very sweet birds. Very friendly. They even go hang out with my neighbors

 

[Anny]

Perhaps you should visit some one you know who has chickens or find some one on here with chickens and ask if you can come over for "play date" to be sure you really like them and are not scared of them.

 

[MiniDriver]

My girls have come to see me as the Treatie Lady. It's so cute to see them come running, begging for bread.

However, when I sit down for a nice sandwich in the garden, they believe they are entitled to a share, if not the whole sandwich.

They perch beside me on the glider, and, more intimidatingly, right beside my head on the back of the glider. I get a little nervous they'll peck my head when they do that. Because they do peck my feet, legs, arms and hands when demanding their bread.

Last night, Dora tried to perch right on my shoulder as I was trying to eat. I didn't put up with that, and shooed her off. Greedy beeches.

Hen bites don't really hurt. They've grabbed my fingers when reaching for tidbits of bread.

Pecks don't hurt much. Beaks feel kinda like fingernails, so it feels kinda like somebody with long fingernails poking you.