Can i get my chickens to enjoy being held?

[penelopebianchi]

the secret, in my 22 years of experience, to taming chickens is mealworms! I get mealworms from Grubco.com......(I used to buy them at the pet store for `100 times the price......(I am not kidding)....and the chickens love them! My granddaughter taught them to eat those worms out of her hand.when she was 4! Then you can pick them up.......I started by calling them....."chick chick chicks"! and shaking the bag of mealworms. That was 22 years ago! Still have the same kind of chickens......(Mille fleur bantams) and we have had them all these years!

We have 6 "baby chicks" hatched about a month ago.....(I need my granddaughter here to tame them! Now she is 12 and "busy"!! Fabulous for her!)

They are so delightful! That same granddaughter helped me apply for a National Wildlife Federation "Certified Backyard habitat"! The best!

There is an online questionnaire ; and you fill it out and send pictures! No herbicides, no pesticides, providing food and cover for animals and birds......it is the best thing ever!

A wonderful thing to do with a grandchild!!! When we received our certificate; we presented it to her first grade class along with pictures!
She said....."Granny and I won first prize!!"

I was thrilled it felt like that to her!

She taught her classmates that day......You can have a "habitat garden" that is also beautiful!!

One of my friend's daughters sold " fresh eggs" just like a "lemonade stand"...and at the top of the table....with a sign....."THE HEN" sat there to prove they were , indeed "fresh eggs" 'Samantha 's hen loved to sit in her lap and cuddle!

Not exactly like cats and dogs......but these breeds of chickens (not like the ones at the market) have all their instincts..can be tamed to trust and love human beings!

what a fun and delightful hobby!

 

[mrdruids]

awww thats cool! can you post pictures of your habitat garden thing on here? id love to see it!

so ive been kinda petting poppycock my black star on her belly and wings, she moves around like she thinks im trying to scoot her away

should i go for the gold and try to pick her up? and if so whats the best way? i know they dont like things above them so scoop from the belly?

wow thanks for the grubco.com recommendation theyre really cheap, i just bought 50 for $5.00 from petsmart

ill never do that again

thanks!

 

[7L Farm]

This thread made me think about my rescued chicken. Here she is hiding in the woods fear of the flock attacking her. I was basically her best freind besides my roo. She use to jump in my lap ride around the farm with me in my golf cart. This went on for a long time well untill the flock finally excepted her. She now won't even let me touch her she is still my favorite & comes to me for treats but thats it. O well I'm just glad she has a home.

 

[chickenpredatorkiller]

I've always started fairly early with my birds, but perhaps it would still work with older birds....

I start with feeding treats by hand... then I start holding the treats over my lap, so they have to actually jump on my lap to get the treat. It works most easily with the birds at the top of the pecking order, the lower birds tend to be more scared, and take longer to warm up. I'll work with them after the more dominant birds have been put away. Put your roosters away too, and work with them separately.

The net is probably not the best tool to use to "seduce" them. Just try to pick treats that are irresistible like meal worms. Reel them in with those, and don't expect them to jump in your lap the first day. It might take a couple weeks.

But the best things in life don't come easy, right??

hahhah I wouldn't dare try that. My chickens feet are as dirty as.... well, you know

what they step in

 

[MassivelyScrambled]

Two replies...

I dont know that you need to lay down for them, but sitting or kneeling certainly works. Do what's best for you... but poo on the blanket is a possibility. LOL

I generally pick my hens up under the breats between both leg from the front while simultaneously placing my other hand firmly over their back to keep their wings from flapping. They will sqwak a lot when you first start picking them up, but should calm down pretty quickly. Once they get used to it they hardly make a fuss. My frizzle cochin I can pet and pick up at will with hardly a peep. Keep food nearby to feed while holding and they will think being held is not all bad. Also if they don't calm down after a handful of seconds, it might be best to put them back down gently. When you decide to pick them up BE Decisive!

That's it for now...here's a picture of "Elle " from tongiht....

 

[ECBW]

My birds' temperaments change with age. They wanted attention as chicks, ran away as pullets, coming back as adults.

Just remember they will poop anywhere, anytime. I have to shoo them away so I am not in my lounge chair surrounded by land mines.

 

[mrdruids]

Quote:

my black star and leghorn have been settin down massive steamy piles, or maybe they just seem really big compared to the bantams but we're hosing off the deck every other couple days since we got them

 

[goldtopper]

Mine were friendly as 10-14 week olds, then got skiddish. Once they started doing the egg squat and laying, picking them up is a piece of cake. That's a great time to tame them down.

 

[HenCrazyMom]

Quote:

Also treats are wonderful at getting them used to being petted/picked up. And yes mine love raisins also. I have one Black Jersey Giant hen that will come running across the yard when she sees the container. She just knocks everybody out of the way to get to the front.

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This cracks me up!!!

Just be patient and keep trying. It will happen.

 

[whoacowboy]

My young BO is so scared...it doesn't help she's on the bottom of the totem pole. But I've noticed by giving her a little extra attention (even when the others are going crazy for treats) she has really started to warm up...Eats out of my hand now and actually looks at me a lot. Before she just bolted around the yard, not interested in treats. The trust is there in some breeds, just takes time. But I agree, I've got a leghorn named Wanda and there's no helping that crazy thing.