Chicks becoming dominate or just extra loving

[Chickassan]

Mine saw me pretty much all day everyday for the first month of their life, they lived in a dog playpen in my living room. So from morning coffee to nighttime toddy they saw my ugly mug.I also had to handle everybody alot with the butt cleanings and rounding them all up for outside time they got held alot. Now that they're going on three months they still see me an unhealthy amount.I have to make sure they aren't eating the neighbors flowers, make sure the older chickens haven't decided to see what children taste like.And of course there is bedtime I have to make such four fat chickens get into the tiniest cat carrier imaginable because they are terrified to coop up loose with the bigs.The secret to friendly chickens? Simple! Become their slave.Please don't tell them I wrote this, they'll peck my belly fat.

 

[SonoranChick]

I Love it...I am well on my way to chicken slavedom...

 

[TominWa]

Same thing 5 BOs. Three of them are indifferent, but two think I am wonderful. You learn "that look" they give you just before they want to jump up and cuddle. One would be happy if I picked her up and stuck her in my coat and carried her around all day. I swear if you get a thousand chickens in a pen you would have a thousand different personalities.

 

[TheWickedChicken]

I wish I could just be at home all day and be a chicken mom, but I have school and work. Maybe they'd trust me more. On a bright note, they all came up to say "Hi" when I poked my head in the run this evening after being out all day.

 

[Gamma]

How do you raise friendly chickens? Mine aren't afraid of me and often congregate near me expecting food, but they HATE being picked up. They run when they see my hand reaching for them and scream until I let them go if I manage to catch them. Any way to get them to not freak out when I hold them? I'm going to be clipping their wings when they're older, so I need to be able to hold them for a hot minute. I was also hoping they'd be my pet chickens and not just my breakfast makers.

 

[Gamma]

I have just sat in the run with them. Most of the time they will first climb on my legs, and either settle down or move up closer to me. I just started gently petting them, eventually I was able wrap my arm around the front of them, making them feel a little more secure. My 4th one will go as far as laying down on my legs, but I still can't pet her without her screaming like I'm killing her.maybe if you focus on the dominant hen, the others will fall in line.

 

[TheWickedChicken]

I have just sat in the run with them. Most of the time they will first climb on my legs, and either settle down or move up closer to me. I just started gently petting them, eventually I was able wrap my arm around the front of them, making them feel a little more secure. My 4th one will go as far as laying down on my legs, but I still can't pet her without her screaming like I'm killing her.maybe if you focus on the dominant hen, the others will fall in line.

Mine will peck around my feet when I'm in the run. Other than that they ignore me and get flighty when I try to approach. I think that's just who they are. Oh well, next time I'll get breeder stock.

 

[Chickassan]

For the record my flock is up my butt like I'm stuffed with mealworms most of the time, but the minute I put on my sunhat I'm jack the freaking ripper.Chickens and just weird no matter where you get them. Think that's why I like them kindred spirits and all that.