All our Bantams EXCEPT the Sebrights have always been exceptionally friendly and lovey-- Old English, Mille FLuer D'Uccle, Silkies.... Boys and Girls.....
And ALMOST all my Egg-gals are friendly EXCEPT the Wyandottes, Australorps, and Aracaunas.. they are skittish, hard to catch and are terrified while held-- EVEN THOUGH they were raised right along with the others!
As For our Barred Rocks and Partridge Rocks-- NONE of ours are "affectionate" or "Friendly"... they'll eat out of your hand, and come when called... but try catching/holding em!
Of course, they were 6 weeks old when we got them, and they had very little human contact with the original owners.
We have Buff Rocks, California Whites, Turkens & Production Reds that are the friendliest bunch (besides my OE Roo's!)
PolishPrincess...That picture is wonderful. He sure has a "look", doesn't he? My three Wyandottes do tend to run from me, even though I raised them from 2-day-olds.
When they squat is when I can catch them. Otherwise, it takes a treat to get them close to me. My fourth hen, a Barred Rock, which I rescued from a fellow who let all the other hens peck her bald (literally), is the friendliest hen. Of course I bring her treats like cucumber, etc., because I want to gain her trust and love, but she actually sat on my lap the other day. She has been quaranteed from the other Wyandottes, so she just might be lonely. I want her to get to know me before I place her with the other hens. Then I'll watch the flock closely so that she doesn't get pecked from these hens.
I had hens either be affectionate and or just plain snobby.. But it depends on the situation they are in. One of my recent laying flocks have no roo. But I coo to them and they seem to see me as the male of the flock. When they were younger they were either nice or skittish. But as they make the year they have grown really mellow and definately affectionate. But there is one that stands out and she is spoiled!! When she gets picked on she will often get outside time by herself and she will follow me around as I shuffle leaves and search for bugs. Plus she gets table scraps and a piece of my sandwich if I have lunch outside. She is spoiled!!
I incubated a batch of EE's and they are skittish. They were brooded in the house, handled and given treats as they grew up. As soon as they got in the pen and could run around, they don't want to come near me. My australorp,mille, and Marans that I got from the feedstore, total opposite so you never know. I woulda thought the EE's woulda been the most friendly but I guess they don't remember who their momma was? hehehee
My seabright is a pest for attention along with one of my andalusians (Gwen). I have to hold Gwen the whole time I'm out with the girls, while the others take turns. If I bend over to pet anyone else, Gwen jumps up on my back.
Dashie picks an attitude with everyone. The sad thing is that when he was a chick, he was seriously one of my favorites. I gave him all the love and treats in the world, isn't that supposed to be the way to a chicken's heart?
As for his 'look', well, let's say on his good days he doesn't growl at me. It's really funny, I KNOW when he is going to strike because he will give me that spiteful look of his. I went to pick him up the other day and I cradled him in my arms. He gave me-no joking here-the DIRTIEST look ever! Then he bit down on my flesh so hard, it broke the skin. Now I have a pretty little bruise on my hand. :-D
And he attacked Dad yesterday, so he is officially in hot water. I don't want to get rid of him, though. He's too pretty to be someone's dinner. I made a commitment to keep everyone if there was a way. There is a way, just not a practical one.
I mean, who'd want to eat this pretty boy?
Somewhere in my heart, (very deep) I DO love him. He was the first chick I ever hatched. I just don't know why he's such a demonic creature. It's my luck. I have three roos and all are aggressive.