Confused by chick behavior

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

On the positive side, chickens who aren't lap chickens are much better at keeping themselves safe. It keeps them aware.
I cannot get mine to follow me with food. It feels like I have better chances getting them to follow me through just walking and talking. I do time when I give out treats and food, so maybe they are so scheduled that they don't expect extras outside of that time? They literally refuse/don't recognize treats outside of set times.

 

[LaurenRitz]

On the positive side, chickens who aren't lap chickens are much better at keeping themselves safe. It keeps them aware.
I cannot get mine to follow me with food. It feels like I have better chances getting them to follow me through just walking and talking. I do time when I give out treats and food, so maybe they are so scheduled that they don't expect extras outside of that time? They literally refuse/don't recognize treats outside of set times.

Or they've adjusted their schedules to accommodate your habits. I notice with my own birds that if I go out outside of "normal" feeding time they're mostly indifferent. They have learned that they're not getting fed except at certain times.

I still get an escort of curious birds, but they're not running after me.

 

[Project Blue]

On the positive side, chickens who aren't lap chickens are much better at keeping themselves safe. It keeps them aware.
I cannot get mine to follow me with food. It feels like I have better chances getting them to follow me through just walking and talking. I do time when I give out treats and food, so maybe they are so scheduled that they don't expect extras outside of that time? They literally refuse/don't recognize treats outside of set times.

I keep hoppers filled with regular feed and they get treats and cleaning when I have time which is highly irregular. What treats are you giving? I never met a chicken that refused mealworms or corn on the cob. Maybe I could go on a schedule and save money, or at least stop being mobbed in a feeding frenzy. I did watch more carefully when they mob me and noticed the Wyndottes stay on the fringes. The RIR's are looking more and more suspicious as the ring leaders even though I still have a group I separated out that still swarms.

 

[Rillowen]

I would blame the RIR also, they always seem to hate people. As a kid we had a mixed flock and it was always the small RIR that were grumpy and standoffish. The others (whites, barred rock, even a few specialties) were all various levels of friendly, but the RIR were like "Mean girls" in hen form! Today My chickens (mostly free range) all fly/run as fast as they can to tangled around my feet as soon as I open a door in the hopes of snacks! (We have barred rocks, buff orphington, and dorking) That said touching is a no-no, its a mild panick if i touch, except the alpha rooster whom I handled a ton right after we got him to make sure he wouldn't get aggressive. If I do actually pick them up they calm pretty quickly, and I havnt been pecked by any if the new ones. I dont have alot of time for handling though, and they are still pretty young I feel like they have the capacity to be "lap chickens" (especially some) I just can't donate the time. That said we had a single mature RIR in the beginning of this year (someone donated so we could have an adult in establing our new flock in new hime) who was a total BUTT, we named her "biddy" because she was grumpy to everyone, including the rooster, but especially hated people. She would peck everyone, and hated me with a passion. She died (I think from old age) when the chicks were still in the brooder, but I could well imagine their behavior would be different if she hadn't.

 

[Project Blue]

I would blame the RIR also, they always seem to hate people. As a kid we had a mixed flock and it was always the small RIR that were grumpy and standoffish. The others (whites, barred rock, even a few specialties) were all various levels of friendly, but the RIR were like "Mean girls" in hen form! Today My chickens (mostly free range) all fly/run as fast as they can to tangled around my feet as soon as I open a door in the hopes of snacks! (We have barred rocks, buff orphington, and dorking) That said touching is a no-no, its a mild panick if i touch, except the alpha rooster whom I handled a ton right after we got him to make sure he wouldn't get aggressive. If I do actually pick them up they calm pretty quickly, and I havnt been pecked by any if the new ones. I dont have alot of time for handling though, and they are still pretty young I feel like they have the capacity to be "lap chickens" (especially some) I just can't donate the time. That said we had a single mature RIR in the beginning of this year (someone donated so we could have an adult in establing our new flock in new hime) who was a total BUTT, we named her "biddy" because she was grumpy to everyone, including the rooster, but especially hated people. She would peck everyone, and hated me with a passion. She died (I think from old age) when the chicks were still in the brooder, but I could well imagine their behavior would be different if she hadn't.

Maybe Biddy was just old and grumpy. I used to have Dorkings. They are kinda an under appreciated chicken. They seem especially calm and friendly. I have not seen them for sale in Alabama ever.