Do chickens get friendlier?

[bigstack]

I had 2 roo's that would never come near me. Then they began getting picked on by the flock. Don't know why, they all just decided they didn't like them any more! So after I became their savior..... well now they love me! run to me! love to be held and carried around the pen! LOL But seriously, they will warm up!

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

[operator16]

for my girls.... crack = live meal worms


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[andythescot]

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My girls' crack is corn on the cob...

But I am having the SAME exact experience as you.. Got 'em in the spring, handled 'em, and now they are only coming around to eat out of my hands when I have corn on the cob or crumbles.... Well.. mine might be a taaad friendlier.. :%Pr

 

[jwchicklady]

I call it the rebellious teenage stage. Mine did the same thing around that age, but they are all friendly now at 14 months old and have been friendly since laying eggs.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think just sitting with mine helped. Just head down with a cup of coffee (or coke) and sit quietly and watch them. Always call them and shake the treat can. But then just sit a bit and watch them. They will calm down. mk

 

[Tala]

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Well I prefer to think that they go through a rebellious teenager stage. All of my animals seem to, cats especially, but after they get over it they become friendlier.

It's true that my hens became friendlier after they started laying...

 

[Qi Chicken]

In my limited experience you absolutely have to SIT with them. I put on old sweats and sit on the floor of the coop and they all wander over. I usually have several on my legs and two in my arms. They are the best stress relief ever. I think all therapists should require their patients to have 2 chickens each. Mine are 11 weeks now. Some of them, the welsummers in particular are not all that friendly. But the EEs are great, also the BR and the australorps aren't bad. I bring treats every once in awhile, make them work for it!

I agree with the previous poster, I sit with them in the am with some coffee or in the evening with a beer. It's very fun.

 

[savingdogs]

I got mine as chicks last year and handled them alot and they were skittish as young pullets so I was rather miffed. However with time they have changed. Perhaps others have already given you the answers as to why time changes them. But mine all fall along breed lines as far as personality.

Buff Orpingtons: Most docile and friendly as pullets. Now they follow all us "treat bringers" around like puppies, but never want to be picked up. Love to be hand fed. If I need to handle them, they do fine.

Rhode Island Reds: More bold and aggressive as pullets. I was afraid they were roos! Now, they are the first to come over to check me out if I "sit" with them (I do that, too), but they are more likely to peck at me and annoy me, seeing if my toenail polish or shoe laces or whatever is on my clothing is food. They do NOT like being handled and freak out and cause a fuss if you do. We have one that is a funny little nut, I think she is half bantam, and she will let me pet her and is our friendliest bird.

Russian Orloffs: Have always been extremely skittish, but will follow me around from a distance. Calm if caught and handled, perhaps because they FLY and I've had to catch and handle them frequently. Very difficult to catch however and I usually have to "herd" them like a collie!

I do think the fact that we brought the food over and over (and our feeder runs out daily) makes them love us and there is nothing personal about it. They do not like strangers however.

 

[Doodle_Doo]

i've had five clutches of chicks..always half bought half hatched in the bator
and i let my hens raise them once they reach three weeks old.. my rooster takes them
out during feeding and sits next to me..clucks so they come near eat and get pretty use
to me..never had a crazy chick or a scardy one..not even the new pheasants get scared
and they are suppose to be really "chicken" lol..but i guess cause i have big help from
the man of the coop..

 

[Peep_Show]

Hatched out some Black Stars from New Jersey and the henletts had 'tude! They weren't handled much, if at all, and I'm sure my DH entering the brooder room doing his best Godzilla imitation didn't help matters any. At a month old if I stuck my hand in the brooder box a couple would outright attack it and the rest would flee. Worked with carrying around a couple and got to the point that when I stuck my hand in the brooder, they'd rush up to it and look all indignant and aggressive, but the pecking and attacks stopped.

Took the henletts to my sister last weekend and her kids have given up TV and video games to spend time with the chickens. (Wow. Who knew?) They've had them a couple of days and today my sister wondered where her 15 y.o. son was only to find him sitting in the coop with all five birds sitting quietly in his lap.

Go figger....