Chicken Harness Training Diary

[robinwhiskers]

Day 4 ( training session 1) It's only about 36 degrees out this morning (YIKES!) but I didn't want to miss a session with Jagger. It's the same thing, she let me put it on, take it off, and was patient while I did so. She got to eat out of my hand and eat corn from the ground with the rest of the flock during the whole process. Maybe the harness helped warm her up, I don't know. I plan on doing 2 more sessions today and get her used to the feel of the leash. Fingers crossed!

 

[robinwhiskers]

Day 4 (training session 2) I snapped the leash on Jagger's harness. At first I think the harness was on the wrong way so it was a little odd, but I adjusted it. She did some of her normal pacing, but after trying to slip the head part of the harness a few times, she ate out of my hand. It's been oh so cold, and because we'll be doing one more session for the day this evening, I decided to keep this session short. Afterwards, she sat on my lap voluntarily for a while which she never does and let me pet her. Maybe she thought I was still removing the harness from her, or maybe I kept her warm, but it's nice to have a rare moment like that.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

I tried using a harness once. It was way too big even for my biggest girl. :/

 

[robinwhiskers]

Jagger has an extra small dog harness I found at TSC and it fits her well. Cat harnesses, or maybe even rabbit harnesses could work too I suppose.

 

[robinwhiskers]

Day 4 (training session 3) Jagger is doing AWESOME standing still for me when I put the harness and leash on her! She tried to back out of it a couple times due to the leash, but it's going very well. She's able to calm herself and eat out of my hand at any given time , even though she is generally distracted with it on. Tomorrow it will get to 62 degrees out, so we'll have one last session and then if that goes well I'll take her out of the coop to see how she does! This is so exciting!

 

[Kiki]

I am excited for you.

 

[robinwhiskers]

It will certainly be fun! I never wanted to carry on with it when she was younger because there were a bunch of dogs running loose where we live, but now there aren't so it's ideal timing.

 

[robinwhiskers]

Day 5 (session 1) This is technically our last session! Jagger tried to back out a couple times but is doing fabulous for the most part. I'll be taking her out of the coop (she's never left the coop) this afternoon to see what she does, with the harness and leash on of course. I'll keep you all updated!

 

[Kiki]

Day 5 (session 1) This is technically our last session! Jagger tried to back out a couple times but is doing fabulous for the most part. I'll be taking her out of the coop (she's never left the coop) this afternoon to see what she does, with the harness and leash on of course. I'll keep you all updated!

Did I miss something?
Was this only going to be a 5 day training?

 

[robinwhiskers]

I didn't have a set goal of how many days it would take, but Jagger seemed ready.