An experiment in chick taming

[Angiebubs]

Angiebubs- I thought the faverolles were very friendly. That's so interesting to hear your experience with them. I do think it depends on the breed of the chickens. I can already tell my California Gray doesn't like to be handled as much as the others. I brought her in with the Buff Orpington yesterday. She just kept peeping and peeping. She let me hold her and fell asleep, but as soon as I moved she would complain and shy away from my touch. Buffy was just fine with hanging out. I'm anxious to see how they are as they get older.

Keltara- I LOVE your pictures! Thank you so much for sharing. You can really see how much your girls enjoy them, and I think that's pretty neat! I'm sure they will grow up to be chicken keepers themselves one day.

Sarah- What kind of chickens do you have?

I just want to clarify-Elsie our Salmon Faverolle is very sweet-its just funny-if she isnt in the mood(like roosting/sleep time) then she will scream. Other times she snuggles right in and likes her muff/beard scratched. I love this breed and its one that I am considering breeding someday.

 

[reddingaz]

I too have been pretty fortunate - I was concerned at first that maybe I wasn't spending enough time w/ them but out of our little flock of 15 I've ended up with 6-7 lap chickens

My Light Brahmas are definitely the friendliest. They'll run to be sure they get lap space
Otherwise it's kind of a bird by bird thing - One of my 3 Barred Rocks enjoys the attention as do 2 or 3 of my Buff O's (maybe more? there are 6 total but I can't quite tell them apart!)

We've also got 3 Ameraucanas & while they'll tolerate being held & they don't seek the attention.

 

[luv2greys]

Congrats to OlivesMama and all of you that have gotten your chicks to be very happy in your presence! My 27 are about 2 weeks old, my 2 RIR's about a week older. When I reach down into the brooder to change the water, fill the feeder, sift the sand-etc, they all run to the other side of the brooder and peep in protest. If I try to pick one up they of course run away. I know there are some that I haven't handled at all--it is hard to keep track with so many. They will come and eat out of my hand when I put finely chopped greens or mashed up boiled egg in my hand and lay it down on the floor of the brooder. When I pick one up the others huddle in the corner. I am afraid if I try in one session to pick all of them up one at a time they will be so freaked out by the end will I have done any good? Any other suggestions? I talk softly and move very slowly whenever I am around them. I want them to be happy in people's presence when they are older, so want to make sure I do all the right things now.

 

[Angiebubs]

I think that having yoour hands in their area regulary, pickign them up as much as possible, getting used to seeing you and being touched or handled. Of course they will be nervous of you at first-big scary monster but within minutes they will want to snuggle under your chin or be held. Aftter a week or two of handling they will fight over who gets on your hand first when you reach in there. It is more difficult when you have that many, but I think getting them to eat treats out of your hand is a good start. I actually kept my recent additions to 4 this time in order to handle them more. Last batch I ended up with 7 and it was more difficult to handle each daily

 

[luv2greys]

I think that having yoour hands in their area regulary, pickign them up as much as possible, getting used to seeing you and being touched or handled. Of course they will be nervous of you at first-big scary monster but within minutes they will want to snuggle under your chin or be held. Aftter a week or two of handling they will fight over who gets on your hand first when you reach in there. It is more difficult when you have that many, but I think getting them to eat treats out of your hand is a good start. I actually kept my recent additions to 4 this time in order to handle them more. Last batch I ended up with 7 and it was more difficult to handle each daily

Thanks Angie! I appreciate the input. My little flock is very mixed so it is easy to tell who is who so I can make sure I am doling out the attention to all of them. I was trying not to push myself on them to this point but now that they are older they need to get used to me picking them up on a regular basis. Besides as cute as they are it's hard to keep my hands off!

 

[lazy gardener]

Congrats to OlivesMama and all of you that have gotten your chicks to be very happy in your presence! My 27 are about 2 weeks old, my 2 RIR's about a week older. When I reach down into the brooder to change the water, fill the feeder, sift the sand-etc, they all run to the other side of the brooder and peep in protest. If I try to pick one up they of course run away. I know there are some that I haven't handled at all--it is hard to keep track with so many. They will come and eat out of my hand when I put finely chopped greens or mashed up boiled egg in my hand and lay it down on the floor of the brooder. When I pick one up the others huddle in the corner. I am afraid if I try in one session to pick all of them up one at a time they will be so freaked out by the end will I have done any good? Any other suggestions? I talk softly and move very slowly whenever I am around them. I want them to be happy in people's presence when they are older, so want to make sure I do all the right things now.

you might try finding the one in the group who is least timid in your presence, and lavish all of your affection/attention on that one. Give it special treats always in association of being in contact with you, even if it's only to pick the treat out of your palm. As that one gets used to your touch, and anticipates good things associated with your touch, the others will follow suit.

 

[BoPeep6]

Last month i got 6 three day old chicks from my local feed store. Three Buff orpingtons and three White Leghorns. The Buff orps are extremely friendly and love to be handled (including the rooster) the white leghorns on the other hand tolerate being handled but obviously dont enjoy it. Then early this month i got 6 rir crosses that freak out when you get any where near them. I did find out today though that once you do pick them up they dont mind being handled and they love to run around the room. My goal is to get to the point where they come to me when i am near.

 

[Keltara]

Last month i got 6 three day old chicks from my local feed store. Three Buff orpingtons and three White Leghorns. The Buff orps are extremely friendly and love to be handled (including the rooster) the white leghorns on the other hand tolerate being handled but obviously dont enjoy it. Then early this month i got 6 rir crosses that freak out when you get any where near them. I did find out today though that once you do pick them up they dont mind being handled and they love to run around the room. My goal is to get to the point where they come to me when i am near.

That is typical for Buff Orpingtons. They are extremely people oriented chickens. They LOVE kids and make wonderful family pets. They are pretty smart and will come to know their names too! They are quickly going to become your favorites. May I suggest that you tag them so you will remember who is who? We use colored zip ties. Their feet grow fast, so make sure you change them out when necessary. I used a little pair of wire snips. It was easy peasy and this way, we always knew who was who! They still wear them today, and they are full grown now. Here's a photo of mine when they were newborns with their colored zip tie bracelets.

Kelly

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Our Country Chronicles

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We now have 6 Buff Orpingtons and they are all so beautiful and each girl has a unique personality.

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[OlivesMama]

I am determined to make Nugget, my Sultan comfortable around me. He/she peeps and peeps when I come out to the garage, but still hides under Olive. I have to pick Nugget up and put him/her on top of the brooder when I let everyone out. Nugget will tolerate being held and pet, but shakes when in my lap. I've noticed if I just hold Nugget, there is no shaking. As soon as I start to pet him/her, the shaking starts. I'm just going to start holding and not petting instead. Nugget will take treats from my hand, so I'll work with that. Poor baby is just so shy! When I scatter meal worms in the brooder, Nugget is always the last one to peck at them and the BRs usually gobble them all up. Nugget is almost too docile to be around the BRs. Henrietta is quickly becoming my favorite! She hops up to my lap every time I let them out now. She's so sweet! She just sits there and looks up at me all sleepy-eyed!

The big girls are finally ready to be moved to the coop today. I have them in a 3 room brooder that's pretty big. I've had to expand it as they've grown! The babies are in a smaller brooder that's only 1 bin. They are getting too big for it, so it will work perfectly to shift everyone. I plan to handle the younger chicks more once the older ones are outside. They will be even more spoiled!

 

[luv2greys]

you might try finding the one in the group who is least timid in your presence, and lavish all of your affection/attention on that one. Give it special treats always in association of being in contact with you, even if it's only to pick the treat out of your palm. As that one gets used to your touch, and anticipates good things associated with your touch, the others will follow suit.

Thanks and I will try that! I am giving them different treats a couple of times a day so I am hoping that they will associate my hovering over their brooder as a good thing! About half of them swarm all over my hand to get the goodies, the others seem to try to snatch the goodies out of the others beaks or get pieces off the brooder floor. I am really surprised that my 2 turkens don't seem more friendly--neither has taken anything out of my hand.

Oh and BTW--some seriously adorable pics in this thread!!!