Bold Chicken: Will it become a problem?

[FeatherLace]

I am absolutely hopeless when it comes to rehoming. I have only ever rehomed one rooster. He pecked me. We eventually sent him back to where he came from, because they promised he'd be used for breeding, and not eaten.
Unfortunately, I also cannot stop hatching chicks.
So usually I am left with more boys than I know what to do with. Somehow I only have 2 at the moment.
I'd never be able to send a chicken off unless he/she got a good home, and even then. I just get so attached to them.
Your chickens are beautiful.

Thank you, I really like my chickens too. I only chose them for looks haha.

I'm the same with rehomimg. I hate having the mentality that "no home they go to will be better than this home", but these days there's no way to tell. I'd rather be safe and keep them then let them go to a home thats going to use them as practice for their dogs or something.. ya know? Right now I only have two roos as well, that Lakenvelder and a little Rosecomb Bantam (he's my most handsome!), so im secretly hoping the Orloffs are pullets lol

 

[The Happster]

I literally choose the ugliest chickens if I buy them. Which is why I am glad I can hatch at home now. I feel sorry for the ugly ones.
I feel like getting some cool chickens like Polish with those cool hairstyles or Silkies.
I have seven buff Orpingtons at the moment, one Light Sussex and another I have no idea what she is. Most of my chickens are pretty ugly . My roosters are handsome though. If I do say so myself.

 

[FeatherLace]

I literally choose the ugliest chickens if I buy them. Which is why I am glad I can hatch at home now. I feel sorry for the ugly ones.
I feel like getting some cool chickens like Polish with those cool hairstyles or Silkies.
I have seven buff Orpingtons at the moment, one Light Sussex and another I have no idea what she is. Most of my chickens are pretty ugly . My roosters are handsome though. If I do say so myself.

Lol! Its not really the prettiness I go for, but more of a mixture of uniqueness! I have my pretty gold laced cochin bantams which are so chubby and fluffy, my black old English game bantam that is so tiny and adorable!, my black rosecomb bantam that always stands so proud, 4 solid black ayam cemanis, and my orloffs and lakenvelders that had those unique patterns! The orloffs I thought were cool because of their super poor necks!

I'm not into the normal looking chickens like RIR and such, but the bad thing about that is there aren't enough people to give me information on the rarer breeds in my flock, such as is the case right now!

 

[CalBickieMomma]

My girls are ALWAYS pecking at me for snacks, and this seems like normal behavior for chickens that were paid attention to a lot as they were raised (mine always get lots of handling).

Several of my girls will jump up to sit on my lap now. If you aren’t comfortable with their comfort level of you, it might be a problem (but I don’t know how you’d fix that because I’ve never tried. I’m one of those chicken people who don’t mind having her chickens all over her ).

 

[Folly's place]

About this pecking and close contact behavior; These chicks are being rude, and should be taught to respect your space instead of mobbing you! Wander around out there without food, and wear shoes or boots and jeans, and have them move out of your way. If one pecks you, peck back, fast and hard enough to be irritating, as 'peckpeckpeck' so that bird moves away instead. A hen would do that, or a more dominant bird.
If you only have chicks, and no adults, they aren't learning to respect those adults, and are including you in this, showing no respect for the giant who brings food.
You can invite a bird to land on your arm, but it should only be by invitation!
Mary

 

[FeatherLace]

My girls are ALWAYS pecking at me for snacks, and this seems like normal behavior for chickens that were paid attention to a lot as they were raised (mine always get lots of handling).

Several of my girls will jump up to sit on my lap now. If you aren’t comfortable with their comfort level of you, it might be a problem (but I don’t know how you’d fix that because I’ve never tried. I’m one of those chicken people who don’t mind having her chickens all over her ).

I do enjoy the attention and them not being afraid of me, but the thing is, I'm afraid of birds! I love them, but even the sweet ones are just scary! Those little descendants of dinosaurs... lol

 

[FeatherLace]

About this pecking and close contact behavior; These chicks are being rude, and should be taught to respect your space instead of mobbing you! Wander around out there without food, and wear shoes or boots and jeans, and have them move out of your way. If one pecks you, peck back, fast and hard enough to be irritating, as 'peckpeckpeck' so that bird moves away instead. A hen would do that, or a more dominant bird.
If you only have chicks, and no adults, they aren't learning to respect those adults, and are including you in this, showing no respect for the giant who brings food.
You can invite a bird to land on your arm, but it should only be by invitation!
Mary

Thanks! I dont want to scare them away though, this won't make them hate me? I do enjoy having tame chickens, it makes them much easier to catch if needed and frankly its nice to feel like they are comfortable with me. Will they still be comfortable with me if I peck them back? Also what do you mean by that? Like a pinch or a poke?

 

[Folly's place]

Watch their interactions with each other! They have a social order that develops early, and is fluid, so is being tested by individuals, and dominant birds are deferred to by their flockmates lower in status. Nobody mobs and pecks upper status individuals!
They should be comfortable around you, but they aren't puppies or kittens, they are a prey species, and many chickens have zero interest in being picked up and petted. Some will like being on your lap eating goodies, and some won't. And cockerels especially need to respect your space, and not see you as a rival to be dominated!
That 'peck' would be like a one fingered hit, short and just hard enough to be annoying.
I like friendly hens too, but on my terms! When your birds are adults, do you want several jumping on your head?? It won't be cute then!
Mary

 

[FeatherLace]

Watch their interactions with each other! They have a social order that develops early, and is fluid, so is being tested by individuals, and dominant birds are deferred to by their flockmates lower in status. Nobody mobs and pecks upper status individuals!
They should be comfortable around you, but they aren't puppies or kittens, they are a prey species, and many chickens have zero interest in being picked up and petted. Some will like being on your lap eating goodies, and some won't. And cockerels especially need to respect your space, and not see you as a rival to be dominated!
That 'peck' would be like a one fingered hit, short and just hard enough to be annoying.
I like friendly hens too, but on my terms! When your birds are adults, do you want several jumping on your head?? It won't be cute then!
Mary

Thanks! Yeah I only pick up my chickens if they need to be inspected or moved and I try not to loom over them. The only ones that have ever jumped on me or sat in my lap are those Orloffs! The others have a healthy relationship with me; not super buddy buddy but not afraid either. I just don't want the Orloffs cowering or running from me all the time, but I also don't want them (literally) walking all over me

 

[CalBickieMomma]

I do enjoy the attention and them not being afraid of me, but the thing is, I'm afraid of birds! I love them, but even the sweet ones are just scary! Those little descendants of dinosaurs... lol

Oh no! Fortunately, I have no fear of birds . You could try having snacks to toss away from you on hand. I do this sometimes when I go into the coop/run just to avoid stepping on anyone. I’ll throw a piece of fruit or handful of scratch off to the side and they run for that and I can get away from the horde .