Am I the only one that can't catch my chickens to pick them up?

[allieloveschickens]

My chickens Do Not like to be held! I can't catch them either, but they will run up to me for treats. I got them when they were already a few weeks old, so I think I missed the window. My last flock I raised from a week old, and they would squat for me, and let me pet and hold them- I wish my new girls would do the same!

 

[Lisa202]

Thanks for all the replies!

I raised these chickens in a brooder box, but I think the mistake I made was that I made the brooder box very big and tall so catching them, when they were little, was very hard. They would freak out so much, that I didn't do it a lot because I didn't want to stress them. So maybe if I had pick them all up more, they wouldn't be so skittish.

When I got my 4 baby silkies, I learned from the first time and made their brooder box much smaller so that I was able to pick them up easily. I can pick up my now 20 week old silkies, but I wonder if it's just because they are that much more friendlier to begin with?

I just want to have that relationship that I keep reading about where you guys can go out to the run and they sit on your lap.

I'm going to try the "chair in the run" advice and see if they'll jump on my lap. Maybe I'll put some treats on my head

 

[crazy4spurs]

My girls (Cuckoo Marans) are 22 weeks old now and I raised them from day old chicks. I know some people don't have the time to do this, but I go out at least once a day and sit in the run with them. They are gradually warming up and I can actually pick up some of them now.

 

[heatherkh]

My Australorps are very friendly and I can pet, catch, hold them without too much effort. I adopted them from a local farm where I volunteer, so I think they view humans pretty positively. And it's a fairly mellow breed as well. Our Auracana and White Leghorns that we got from our neighbor won't let me get near them. The approach me when I come to the coop because they assume I have something good for them to investigate, but if I try to approach one they run screaming in the opposite direction. The rooster just hangs there, but he's huge and I really don't want to mess with him.

 

[CarolJ]

I have seven that are 27 weeks old, and they won't let me touch them except for brief stokes when they squat for me - but I got them when they were 17 weeks old. I have new chicks arriving September 7th, and I intend to hold and pet them every single day so they'll be accustomed to it when they are grown. I really don't know what I would do if one of my older ones needed treatment for anything now that required I catch them. Doubt I could do it!

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
You can always do like my Grandma did. (and me too)

 

[chickathon]

I have two golden sebrights and they won't let me pet them either. They are active and skittish. They will accept treats. But seem to respond better to my daughter who actually got one to jump up on her lap. Maybe because she is smaller and less threatening?

 

[Lisa202]

Quote:
I just wait until they are up on the roost at night to pick them up if I need to treat a wound or anything like that. I actually went in there last night and was petting Mister. He eventually got up and moved away from me, but at least I got in a couple a pets.

 

[joskt0204]

I have four that are 22 weeks, and two are friendlier, and two are more standoffish. The Black Australorpe and the Dominique are all really quick to come running whenever I head outside. My Speckled Sussex is the cutest pullet, but she keeps her distance most of the time. Our Americauna is friendly some days and more wary others, but once you reach for her, she lets you pick her up pretty easily. I sit on the ground and feed them out of my hand, and that's good enough for me. Once they are settled for the night, you can hold them all you want. It's like they are in a trance.