Anyone here train chickens?

[TinyBirds]

I am resurrecting this old thread. My husband is working in MD and saw on you tube a chicken playing a xylophone. So he went to store and bought one and can't wait to come home and practice.

Any luck on this? We saw the video too, so cool! Our hens are free range right now so probably cant get them to try it, but i have some 8 week olds that might enjoy it.

 

[Lisa Wood]

I trained chickens tricks for the first time ever. "Here Chook Chooks!!!" has been around in our place for a while. Instant response. Also, a year ago, Laynee, an Americana, got to know her name. Cool, eh? I don't use a clicker.

In five days, (about 45 mins total) six chickens got to know these tricks well.

1. Peck the Green Circle. Hen pecks green circle, not purple, white or blue. Within 3 minutes, Sierra knew it. Then, the other 5 fallowed. Check!

2. Peck the King. Cards. Hen learns to peck the king, not Queen, or Jack, nor Joker. April learned it first, then Sierra, then Mrs. White, an older chicken. Learned in five minutes. Check!

3. What Hand is It In? Hen has to peck one of my hands. Each hand is folded with fingers facing up. If she pecks the hand with food in it, open both hands, to show that one hand has food and the other does not. Trick learned instantly! Check!

4. Choose a Card. The hands already know to pick the king, so that's what they doing newest trick. Hen has to peck King only. So, I show them about six cards fanned out. They still pick the king, but if I put another face card in, what would happen? It took a while to get the idea, but they still pick the king. They used to peck Jack or Queen, even the Joker. But after a while, they got the hang of it and picked the king. Check!

5. Kings and Greens. Both green circle and King are in front of the chicken. The chicken has to peck one of each once. If so, they get the treat. Got one hen to do it. Check!

6. Up! Up! The chicken has to jump up and peck the green circle that is in my hand. If they jump and peck the circle, they get a treat. Each time, I raise the circle higher up. The chicken has to jump harder and higher every time to get the treat. That worked well. Miss White got it right away! She and two other hens got idea. Check!

Thats what I taught them so far! Every day I'm training them.



TELL ABOUT YOUR CHICKEN AND TRAINING!!! I WOULD LOVE TO HERE ABOUT THEM!

HEN HEAVEN

Ok. Not sure my dogs or husband learn new behaviors that quick! Do you use clicker or some affirmation word?

 

[Lisa Wood]

So we have the instrument in the run. Everyone gave it a wi de berth day one. Today they are ignoring it more. I stop and play a couple notes when I walk by, and they all stop and listen. So according to zoo trainers, the object must become part of the environment first.

 

[colomoret88]

Very interesting discussion maybe i will try to train them myself... It looks like like an interesting thing
_______________________________ more info

 

[Lisa Wood]

I go evesdrop sometimes at the "house chicken" thread. I've always been very curious about living inside with chickens, especially after I turned a big crate into chick sick bay in the house and just couldn't keep it clean fast enough to keep the smell down.
I wonder if chick diapers require training, and have any chicks ever been trained to use specific place in the house?

 

[lovemy6hens]

Ok. Not sure my dogs or husband learn new behaviors that quick! Do you use clicker or some affirmation word?

@Hen Heaven, what do you use?

For ours, it's all about treats, timing, and being consistent.

 

[Lisa Wood]

@Hen Heaven, what do you use?

For ours, it's all about treats, timing, and being consistent.

It depends. I have used clicker and voice. Either one has to come St right time shaping new behavior telling them they are paid.
I'm just expecting chicks to have attention span like dogs. I can get them to look at me, just then they're gone right away.
I think I have to teach first "look!", Which they know means to look for something. That has to be look at me.

 

[Lisa Wood]

Progress! Out of nine girls three are now making sounds on xylophone. Two chocolate Orpingtons and one Marans. Very encouraging. It seems I am using voice since it's easier to run my mouth than clicker. But I'm sure they don't get yet the word is a bridge to be paid.
I put you up so they're not trying and not getting paid. The stuff I've seen on You Tube they are way way fast touching target and expecting treat.
I think we need to apply to Govt for grant to figure out vocalization meanings. I only know four or five out of 30. My Splash Orpington makes a loud short beep sound that I would love to know what that means. I am kidding. I couldn't be Chicken Researcher. But someone could.

 

[Lisa Wood]

So, it looks like Imma gonna reply to myself. TODAY the whole flock got into hitting the keys, almost. About three did not, six did. The best one, a Choc Orpington, knew every single time to hit a key and get fed. She could have been Liberace's chick. The rest caught on, but did not perform as well. The lead chick kept looking to my hands holding the treats because someone also taight them to beg.
They're not playing "Mary Had A Little Lamb" yet, but well see.

 

[lovemy6hens]

@Lisa Wood, you're doing a great job! Thank you for keeping us updated. Your success rate is remarkable!

I've found some of ours understand one task & are completely uninterested in another. I suppose it makes sense they have different talents.

I'm all for a grant for anyone who wants to do research on behavior, vocalizations, or pretty much anything about backyard flocks. It's an area that's sadly lacking. I wish my background was in a related field. I would volunteer to do the research.

There have been a few studies on vocalizations, so anyone can send me a PM if you'd like the links. I've found posting that sort of thing on this forum hasn't had a positive response.