Chickens are terrified of me and don't look so good. Help!!

[Patinas]

The only thing I know is to spend time with them and earn their trust. I generally spend a lot of time with my birds while in the brooder, but I had one batch that I neglected and paid for it dearly. However, with the help of the other birds and patience they finally came around and will now greet me rather than run--but it took weeks, if not months to get there. And lots of treats. I have no idea how to deal with a bird that has never had a solid ration... All I can think of is keep trying.

I agree, it can take months for them to warm up to you. My flock of 20 is now 5 months old and only recently have the ones that have always been very skittish of me started actually following me around and wanting to hang out near me. I had written them off as nervous hens but I was wrong.

I would go with the suggestion to try giving them crumble vs. pellets. You can buy it in smaller bags to give it a try before buying a big bag.

I'm also a believer that animals will not purposely starve themselves unless there is something seriously wrong with them and they simply can't eat. Keep trying various treats on them. Try some veggies like broccoli or my hens favorite, chopped up cherry tomatoes. Mine aren't very enthusiastic about meal worms.

Maybe they were just completely traumatized by the move and just don't yet feel safe enough to be exposed while eating? I don't know...but just keep trying to offer them various feed and treats and don't give up! I would also suggest you just let them be other than feeding them. I gave up trying to befriend my nervous ones because I realized, trying too hard to get near them was only reinforcing their fear of me. When I ignored them they started to come around.

Maybe try keeping them confined to the coop only until they start eating regularly? Maybe confinement in a smaller space will help them feel safer?

I do believe in the end, your patience will win them over!

 

[smoore7489]

https://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/


This article answered a lot of my questions with fermented feed. I believe @lazygardener sent this to me when starting to feed fermented. I am a huge advocate for it! So many benefits!! Good luck

 

[Katie M.]

Welcome to BYC!!
They'll warm up to you. Maybe they won't be lap chickens, but they will get to know you.
BTW, many many BYC people say their birds don't like pellets. Try wetting them and make a mash to the consistency of mashed potatoes....
Good luck.

THANK YOU. I don't know how I didn't remember this! I tried wetting the pellets and mashing them just a little and they devoured it! My old hen would only eat pellets that way until she got used to them. They already seem a little more comfortable around me, I guess something in their bellies made them feel much better.

 

[Katie M.]

https://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/


This article answered a lot of my questions with fermented feed. I believe @lazygardener sent this to me when starting to feed fermented. I am a huge advocate for it! So many benefits!! Good luck

I will be trying this, thank you for all your replies!!

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Mix the pellets with water, make a mash. My chickens think its special when its wet.

Good luck

Gary

Edited, oops I see someone already chimed in with this advice, glad it is working.

 

[Katie M.]

I agree, it can take months for them to warm up to you. My flock of 20 is now 5 months old and only recently have the ones that have always been very skittish of me started actually following me around and wanting to hang out near me. I had written them off as nervous hens but I was wrong.

I would go with the suggestion to try giving them crumble vs. pellets. You can buy it in smaller bags to give it a try before buying a big bag.

I'm also a believer that animals will not purposely starve themselves unless there is something seriously wrong with them and they simply can't eat. Keep trying various treats on them. Try some veggies like broccoli or my hens favorite, chopped up cherry tomatoes. Mine aren't very enthusiastic about meal worms.

Maybe they were just completely traumatized by the move and just don't yet feel safe enough to be exposed while eating? I don't know...but just keep trying to offer them various feed and treats and don't give up! I would also suggest you just let them be other than feeding them. I gave up trying to befriend my nervous ones because I realized, trying too hard to get near them was only reinforcing their fear of me. When I ignored them they started to come around.

Maybe try keeping them confined to the coop only until they start eating regularly? Maybe confinement in a smaller space will help them feel safer?

I do believe in the end, your patience will win them over!

I typically just sit at the end of their coop with them and eventually they start to relax. The poor polish one is still so anxious and I know it's because she can't see well due to her beautiful puff of feathers. However the dutch bantam seems curious. I guess we'll see!

 

[apryl29]

I agree w/ everyone else. I got my babies back in March and there's a few that are super skittish and won't let me near them, getting them back in the coup is a real treat. Then I have others that have no problem w/ letting me pet or pick them up. You mention you feed them pellets, is it possible the previous owners only fed them crumble or even mash? I've noticed w/ my girls, if I sit on the ground, they're more likely to come up to me, but may still move away when I reach out for them. I assume I'm less intimidating when I'm on the ground. When they're free ranging I'll sprinkle some feed on the ground and sit with them, or will sit and feed them clover through their fence. When I was building a space for my cockerel one of my ladies would come and sit with me while I was on the ground, but would take off when I stood up. This has helped w/ most of the birds.

 

[andreanar]

I was going to suggest soaking their food into a mash, so I agree with trying that!