Becoming "friends" with my 5 girls? How to be able to handle my girls?

[rosemarythyme]

I'm starting to wonder when the last 2 will start laying as I have had all the girls since the first week of April, 21 weeks. Henrietta the Americauna, was at least a week older than the other 4 whom were all new hatchlings.

They'll lay when they're ready. Since you have a mix of breeds it makes even more sense that you'd see a difference in development rates and onset of laying.

 

[chrisbohman]

They'll lay when they're ready. Since you have a mix of breeds it makes even more sense that you'd see a difference in development rates and onset of laying.

I get that, I would have figured that after 20+ weeks, they all should be laying. I guess I'll need to research when the specific breeds normally begin laying.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I get that, I would have figured that after 20+ weeks, they all should be laying. I guess I'll need to research when the specific breeds normally begin laying.

Some breeds (and some individuals) can take longer. 24 weeks, 30 weeks, etc. isn't unheard of. We're also slowly sliding towards fall, so the shortening day length may delay onset of laying, though generally with birds coming to POL in fall versus winter you shouldn't see a "not until next year" type of delay.

 

[chrisbohman]

Some breeds (and some individuals) can take longer. 24 weeks, 30 weeks, etc. isn't unheard of. We're also slowly sliding towards fall, so the shortening day length may delay onset of laying, though generally with birds coming to POL in fall versus winter you shouldn't see a "not until next year" type of delay.

Makes sense. Here in Rochester NY, it is light by 6:30am, and it stays light until about 8:15. So I still have over 13 hours of sunlight (weather permitting).

 

[chrisbohman]

If I shake a bag of treats, my chickens come running and most will eat out of my hand. I think food is definitely one of the best ways to win them over.

Yes Jener8or, they do come running over to me, any time I am near or entering their run area. 4 of the 5 will eat out of my hand. The most timid (Fredi) even runs from food or treats I toss on the ground near her. (Sigh!)
- Chris

 

[chrisbohman]

While MOST days I am getting 2 or 3 eggs, these girls occasionally confuse me. One week ago, I had 2 regular eggs, as well as a third 'egg' with NO calcium shell, ONLY the inner membrane. And when I 'opened' it, I saw that it was in fact an egg, and assuming I did not nick the yolk, when breaking the membrane, it was a double yolker. Which I get one or to of every week!?!?
- Chris

 

[Themellowyellows]

Hi, I am new to the site, as well as being new to raising chickens. I have had my 5 girls since Early April of this year. A Sapphire Gem (Lynn), an Americauna (Henrietta), an Easter Egger (Princess), and two Lavender Orpingtons (Fredi & Ricky).
While I did not handle all of them on a daily basis from "day one", I have handled all the birds, but they have yet to really warm up to me.

I have been interacting with the girls every day:
1 Letting them out of their coop, 2 bringing them food, water and treats, 3 talking and interacting with them, 4 cleaning their coop, 5 and securing them in the coop on a nightly basis.
** Their first coop had no roosts, so frequently at least 4 of them would sit atop the roof peak of the coop. For a short time, the only way I was initially able to 'put them to bed' was to pick them up off the roof and set them into the coop. After about the beginning of June, when I would come out to 'put them to bed' they may allow me to pet them, but would all hop down off the roof and after a couple of times being followed around the coop, would eventually enter the coop on their own.

To date 8/27, while all 5 of them follow me around to see what I am going to do, none of them are comfortable with coming up to me and allowing me to pick them up. Lynn some of the time will allow me to pet her, and rarely will allow me to hold her. Henrietta and Princess on rare occasions will allow me to pet them, and 'may' if I am lucky allow me to pick them up. Neither Fredi or Ricky allow me to touch them, and only Ricky will come over and take food from my hand. Fredi, who is definitely the lowest bird on the pecking order is scared to take food from me, or even to go up to the trays of treats if any of the other birds are within 10 feet.

I recently got a book "How too speak chicken" so I am trying to coo, cluck, and speak back to them in sounds that they should understand such as "greetings" as well as "good night". But so far no changes.
Is there any trick to being able to handle the girls? As I know that there are things that I will need to do to check on the health of the birds, by holding and physically examining them.

Thanks - Chris

Just keep doing what your doing, they will get used to you eventually. Curious, how do you say "good night" to your chickens?

 

[Altairsky]

Chickens who like to be held are extremely rare but I might have found a way to boost the chance.
First, you need to incubate the eggs and have a brooder in a busy room of your house, so they can see you all the time.
Also, brooder must be up on a table or something, never on the floor, so the chicks are at your level. Chicks always fear what comes from above so never approach them from above.
Then in my case, I had 2 chicks that were developing slower than the others.
So for a week, I took both of them out of the brooder, put them in my lap, and fed them boiled egg.
These 2 birds (a female and a boy) both became extremely tame and would allow me to pick them up. The pullet flies to me when called. (cockerel was rehomed, also never a good idea to train roosters to fly at your face).

 

[chrisbohman]

Just keep doing what your doing, they will get used to you eventually. Curious, how do you say "good night" to your chickens?

When I go out to "tuck them in" at night, I talk to them in English, saying Goodnight and then each of their names (Lynn, Henrietta, Ricky, Fredi, and Princess). I will also say "doh, doh, doh" at least 5 times as well, as per a book I have "How to speak Chicken", this is how chickens say good night to each other.
- Chris

 

[chrisbohman]

Chickens who like to be held are extremely rare but I might have found a way to boost the chance.
First, you need to incubate the eggs and have a brooder in a busy room of your house, so they can see you all the time.
Also, brooder must be up on a table or something, never on the floor, so the chicks are at your level. Chicks always fear what comes from above so never approach them from above.
Then in my case, I had 2 chicks that were developing slower than the others.
So for a week, I took both of them out of the brooder, put them in my lap, and fed them boiled egg.
These 2 birds (a female and a boy) both became extremely tame and would allow me to pick them up. The pullet flies to me when called. (cockerel was rehomed, also never a good idea to train roosters to fly at your face).

Hi Altairsky,
I didn't, nor do I plan to get chicks from the egg. If and when I need too add to my flock, I will purchase baby 'peeps'. This year, when we had them in a container in the house, they were in a clear tote that was at floor level, due mostly to not having anywhere that we could place this ~2'x4' container. They immediately bonded with our 20# dog. The idea of hand feeding the chicks and placing them on my (our) laps, I am sure would elevate their trust with us as well.
As I have stated in this thread, 4 of the 5 will eat food, treats, scratch grains from my hand. Some more gently that others. I have to remind them no, don't eat daddy's fingers.
I don't think I would want to train any chicken boy or girl to fly AT my face, but I clearly understand your point.
- Chris