City Boy with a bit of a problem.

[FlintCoop]

My friend and I converted a garage/shed into a coop and built a run out in the back that connects to the shed. We got three hens yesterday. They're full grown Isa Browns. Both of us being from the city were super pumped and also really curious about our new pets. We sat in lawn chairs and watched them for about four hours. At first they were very timid and didn't want anything to do with us, as the evening went on they would get close to us but were still pretty skittish. Nothing too surprising.

Athe end of the evening one flew up at me and was kind of kicking out. I'm not ashamed to say that it freaked me out, haha. Today I came into the hen house and wanted to feed them, they are pecking at each other and they were walking aggresively towards me. They don't want to be near us really and keep pushing each other out of the nests.

I thought that this would be a descently smooth transition. It's day two now. We're keeping them in the hen house to acclimate themselves to their new home. But I thought they'd be friendly in general. Is there anything I can do to A. show my dominance? B. Let them know that we come in peace? ha.

 

[Judy]

I gently peck them back or push them away if they get aggressive. If you want, you can offer some feed, or a treat like sunflower seeds, in your palm, though they might not take it as gently as you'd like (I've never had my skin broken this way.)

 

[moetrout]

Treats! Try scratch, bread, yogurt, dinner scraps,....their not picky usually. I always say mine are stomachs with feet. If you always walk out to them with some kind of treat they will eventually come running to you when they see you. Be the TREAT guy.

 

[dainerra]

TIME! give them time to get used to you. It can take a couple days for chickens to not be afraid of a new food, let alone new people!

 

[devora]

One does not simply walk into a hen house.

Treats, time, and something else that starts w/ T. Tylenlol? No that's not it...

A mere two days, golly, I know humans who can't warm up in two days and we can talk to them. Be patient, they'll come around.

And treats. Give many treats.

 

[Adoravachick]

Treats! EVERY time I go to see my chickens, I bring them treats. I raised them from chicks so everytime they see any member of our family, they get very excited. Keep in mind too, some breeds are naturally more friendly than others. I have 3 EE, 1 RIR, 1 Bantam Cochin, 3 silkies, 2 Buff Orps, 1 D'uccle Mille Fluer. As sweet as my EEs are, good luck getting them to stop and let you stroke them for an extended period of time. They are very active. The others with you hold them and pet them for hours. Seriously, though, treats (especially live mealworms) will make you fast friends. Good luck and be patient, they'll be worth it.

 

[Mrs. K]

call "here chick, chick, chick" when giving food or chicks. Trains them to come to you when you call, which can be handy.

What is/can be intimidating, is the fear of being attacked. The startle factor. You will soon come to understand, that while they might fly by you, they won't really hurt you. Roosters on the other hand, can really hurt you.

But the big thing is don't pressure them, just sit quietly, talk quietly and move quietly around them for a few days.

Also, I would not lock them in the coop. Let them have access to the run/coop. They will be aclamated just fine. Might be a fe days before you get eggs, change is quite hard on chickens.

MrsK