Befriending your chickens

[chicklips]

Treats are the way to a chickens heart, I used to sit in the run with my chickens day after day after day. One day after they were done eating their grapes they all come over to me and jumped on my leg. They were literally fighting over who was going to roost on my leg. It was so funny (a little scary too, at first I thought they were going to attack me for more treats.) Just be patient.

 

[Keri78]

I've had my hens since they were day old chicks and we have spent loads of time with them on a daily basis(especially my four yr. old son!!! kids are great at taming chickens...they have nothing better to do so they can dedicate endless days to "playing with the chickens" as my son says!

Anyway, we always came to them with treats and as soon as they hear us or see a door open they come running!(so cute!)

Our buff Orps have let us snuggle them and carry them around the most. I noticed a HUGE change once they started laying eggs this Dec!!! They suddenly would squat down everytime you reach to pet them. They seem to enjoy being carried around to. My giant cochin hens are friendly and come running like sumo wrestlers across the yard!!! for treats...they tolerate the affection for now but I'm waiting to see once they start to lay eggs if they too will become more docile....I'm just trying to say be patient...it will happen but for us it has been 9 mths. since we got them and caring for them everday. I would let them come to you and soon they will be very comfortable with you! However, I agree though that a towel or blanket wrapped around them and then carrying them around petting them offerring treats...that will speed up the process...I did this with my cochin roo. Well, good luck and congrats!!! on your new pretty girls!!! Blessings, Keri

 

[Billyj]

To tell you the truth, I do not know how old they are. I know they are old enough to lay because the day I got them, the hen laid an egg. I don't know when she will do it again. They do not lay like a regular chicken from what I understand. I got them this past Sunday, so who knows when I will get another one. I am sure the move is not going to help. I wish I knew how old they were. Just that they are old enough to lay. I will try the treets. I am not necessarily wanting them to come running to me when I do go over to them, (it would be nice though) I just don't want them to freak out everytime I do get close. I will try to put pics up this afternoon.


Ok surprise to me I got another egg from my little Wanda.

 

[sparkles2307]

DH and I both work full time an hour from home. I am not able to devote much time on weekdays to bonding with my chooks. but on the weekends I sit in the pen and talk quietly and all but the Aussies usually come up after a while and visit. Just give them time and be still and quiet till they decide to trust you.

 

[SpeckledPullet]

I agree with the treats idea.

I just brought home 4 hens two weeks ago. None of them were wild, but not thrilled with me being close. Everytime I feed them, I made sure to stay close to them while they ate. By day 3, I had them eating out of my hand. Mind you, I did NOT try to touch them. I let them come to me to eat out of my hand and I stayed very still. After a week, I could slowly reach out and pet them while they ate. It has been two weeks and now I can slowly reach down and pick them up (when need be) to put them into their coop. They come running when they see me because they know I bring goodies and food. They still prefer to NOT be picked up, but they are tame enough that I can do it. Only one of the 4 hens will tolerate me petting her without some sort of food offering. Hope that helps.

 

[chocolate m'scovy]

Red&Yellow :

Yes to everybody elses answers, but also do NOT just start, right off the bat, petting them. They do spazz for that. Start by touching them gently, and so they can't really feel it, like fingers on their breasts while you feed them. Just take it slow, they'll warm up with patience. Oh, and no sudden moves!

Quite right. Take it easy! Win their confidence before you win their "love."
Billyj, remember that birds know no such word as "moderation "! Some birds don't want to be petted, but will still gang up in the chaotic throng of birds that chases us when we're down at the coop giving them a late breakfast! Don't worry, birds aren't *usually* carnivores!

 

[Noble Rooster]

Agree with everything above! Spending quiet time with them just observing, giving treats, talking and basically being non-threatening will help them trust you. On petting and being held, different individuals have different preferences at different times. My favorite girl was a snuggler when she was little, then when she hit teenage-dom up through about a month ago, she always had something else to do than be held (though she was very friendly, would follow me around, and always explain how she was such a good chicken and needed some more treats!). Over the past month, however, she has become a snuggler again and asks to be picked up and petted. You'll see what your girls prefer very quickly. Good luck and enjoy them!!

 

[loveofthechicks]

It's easier than you think. I have 14 chicken myself and after my 5th chicken I finally figure out how to befriend my chickens. You have to leave them alone for a couple of day, still feed them and water them. After awhile they stop being so frighten. If you trust your chickens, which you should, you can let them out of their pen in the morning. Feed them from the door, then after awhile anytime you open the door, they will come running to. Then they trust you.