tweeter_and_the_red_coop
Chirping
- Mar 16, 2025
- 13
- 56
- 76
Hello wise chicken tenders, I am hoping someone can give me some experienced advice on chicken etiquette, from their POV. Please excuse my ignorance, I've owned every animal but chickens - other than a rooster when I was a kid that acted like a puppy and never had any issue with being touched or held.
I have had four 4-month old pullets since 2 days old. I have spent alot of time with them almost every day since getting them but they act as though I have ALOT of nerve if I dare reach out and stroke one, let alone pick them up. However, if something scares them, there is a cloud of chickens flying straight for my face and they land on my neck, chest, arms, squawking and trying to press themselves against me. Then they want full body, heart to heart hugs, and scrabble with each other to get the prized spot. (Like under mama hen wings?)
But, I can hang out with them for 4 hours straight and have one in my lap, reach down to feel that floofy softness, and they react as though I am ridiculously rude. Scold me with utmost sass and huff off offended. Ten minutes later, I walk into their coop at dusk to make sure all in order and they are clamoring over who gets the full body hug, literally en masse.
I am ashamed to admit this is the golden hour to me, hugging a chicken is delightful, but I've also gone to great lengths (many many hours over 2 months) making sure everything is optimal and comfortable for them with a new build coop with 3 screened and HW clothed windows for ventilation, 2 large passive vents, 8 intake and exhaust fans, two 4" wide roosts x 8 feet length, and a timer nightlight just for dusk that I eventually removed because it kept them fussing longer. They also come in and out of the coop all day, napping on the sand floor, so I have ruled out anything stressing them in the coop. They have a 66 sq foot run attached to the coop with box fans and misters, with just short bits of supervised free range because its too hot outside their enclosure right now. And because we live in the woods and sight multiple predators daily.
I also have a coop cam, and after fussing about position for 2-3 minutes after I leave, they sleep like logs all night (I work nightshift and check more than I want to admit).
They really seem like a bird that requires consent to be touched lol but how do I get them used to being picked up and held peacefully during the day if their answer is always "no way, lady!"? Is this just normal behavior for them being a small prey animal, still unsure about the world, and hormonal teenagers? Should I just pick them up and football carry them until they get over it? Trust with a prey animal is tenous, but I lack the experience with chickens to know the line.
I really hesitated to post this because some may consider it goofy but its taking up alot of bandwidth pondering it. When I take on what I consider stewardship of an animal, no matter how small or common, I try my best to do the best I can for them.
Thank you!
I have had four 4-month old pullets since 2 days old. I have spent alot of time with them almost every day since getting them but they act as though I have ALOT of nerve if I dare reach out and stroke one, let alone pick them up. However, if something scares them, there is a cloud of chickens flying straight for my face and they land on my neck, chest, arms, squawking and trying to press themselves against me. Then they want full body, heart to heart hugs, and scrabble with each other to get the prized spot. (Like under mama hen wings?)
But, I can hang out with them for 4 hours straight and have one in my lap, reach down to feel that floofy softness, and they react as though I am ridiculously rude. Scold me with utmost sass and huff off offended. Ten minutes later, I walk into their coop at dusk to make sure all in order and they are clamoring over who gets the full body hug, literally en masse.
I am ashamed to admit this is the golden hour to me, hugging a chicken is delightful, but I've also gone to great lengths (many many hours over 2 months) making sure everything is optimal and comfortable for them with a new build coop with 3 screened and HW clothed windows for ventilation, 2 large passive vents, 8 intake and exhaust fans, two 4" wide roosts x 8 feet length, and a timer nightlight just for dusk that I eventually removed because it kept them fussing longer. They also come in and out of the coop all day, napping on the sand floor, so I have ruled out anything stressing them in the coop. They have a 66 sq foot run attached to the coop with box fans and misters, with just short bits of supervised free range because its too hot outside their enclosure right now. And because we live in the woods and sight multiple predators daily.
I also have a coop cam, and after fussing about position for 2-3 minutes after I leave, they sleep like logs all night (I work nightshift and check more than I want to admit).
They really seem like a bird that requires consent to be touched lol but how do I get them used to being picked up and held peacefully during the day if their answer is always "no way, lady!"? Is this just normal behavior for them being a small prey animal, still unsure about the world, and hormonal teenagers? Should I just pick them up and football carry them until they get over it? Trust with a prey animal is tenous, but I lack the experience with chickens to know the line.
I really hesitated to post this because some may consider it goofy but its taking up alot of bandwidth pondering it. When I take on what I consider stewardship of an animal, no matter how small or common, I try my best to do the best I can for them.
Thank you!
Much of their behavior is due to their age. Think of them as early teenagers. Sometimes they want to be independent, but also sometimes want the security of mom. Chickens also have very individual personalities even when raised together. I have a mixture of affectionate natures in my flock. All can be handled if needed. Some only come near for snacks and don't like to be cuddled at all. Some want to sit by me, but hate sitting on my lap. Some will allow me to pick them up and place them on my lap. My favorite hen, Torchic, demands daily lap time and won't leave me until she gets it
. I'm not sure which came first though - if Torchic is my favorite because she is the most affectionate or if she is the most affectionate because she is my favorite. It may be a little of both. I will note that even Torchic runs from me if she even thinks I want to pick her up for medical treatments like mite inspections.
