Chick personality

[Agathe]

A question just out of curiosity...

We've got chicks for the 2nd year in a row. Last year my experience was that the tamest chicks also became the tamest adults. Lots of our chicks loved being held and some hardly even wanted to get down. The same grown birds still love lap time while those who never liked being held can be hard to catch when necessary (though they are still tame). This year none of our chicks seem to love being held, a couple seem to find it okay. I'm just curious if it is the norm that chick personality last into adulthood and not change much? I don't need more "pet" chickens, but would be interesting to know.

 

[azygous]

Your guess is correct. Individual temperaments are in play from the start. Those individual chicks who love to be handled will usually be the adults easiest to handle.

However, not all of it is genetic. Conditioning plays an equal role in taming a chicken, and it can occur even after a chicken reaches maturity. Simply handle and coddle and spoil a chick or adult chicken, and they will be your adoring fan forever.

Disclaimer: This may not apply to cockerels and roosters.