Chicken Connections

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Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.

Forcing chickens to be "cuddled" is not a pleasant experience for the birds. They are prey animals. You are a predator. I will try to avoid anything that stresses my birds so they are only picked up when necessary and that is always after dark.

If you want to interact with them, sit still in a chair or on the ground and just hang out with them. They will eventually get curious and want to "explore" you. They will often jump in your lap and sit on you for warmth. You can feed them tiny treats when in your lap as a reward for coming up. You can try to stroke their chest feathers. Some will let you. Some will let you stroke their heads and backs. Most shy away from this as that is a predator move to get a death grip on them.

I get most of my enjoyment with chickens by simply watching them be chickens.
 
Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow

As stated above, food is a huge motivator. Sit with them on the floor or ground a lot so you are in their level, (a chair is fine too) once they recognize you are the bringer of food not out to harm them, eventually they will trust you more. Keep sitting quietly with them daily, a few months from now they should be more trusting. Most chickens don't like to be held or have their feet leave the ground however picking them up and getting used to being carried makes them less stressed if you do need to move them or perform any medical procedures. Best wishes with your flock!
 

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