do I have to handle them to have nice chickens?

[ranchhand]

<<<<< Read my title! I am allergic to the feathers and dander, not the chicken itself. Makes me itch like crazy, and sneeze.

My chickens all come running, follow me around and let me pick them up- if I HAVE to. The only time I have to is for periodic health checks and/or medication.

I had a hen many years ago who wanted to be a lap chicken- a BO, of course. But she got too interested in shiny things like eyeballs, so I decided not to cuddle them anymore. They don't peck out of meaness usually, they are curious- as in, can I eat that?

 

[Davaroo]

The answer to your question, "Do I have to handle them to make them tame?" Probably.

It is doubtful whether you will tame all of them, completely, however. Even if you do succeed, they will still poop on you.
It's a mixed blessing.

 

[cmom]

I don't really handle my birds. They will let me pick them up and I will if I want to check them over for any reason.

 

[pc chicken]

I am sorry for your family's allergies. I am new at chickens to and now have around 45 chickens and ducks and I have handled them all from the first time I got them. They all now think of me and my family as part of the group. I like to read outside and they gather around and sit on or around us. The only ones that act more aggressive with the others and do not like to be held or act more social are the ones that I got from my uncle, that got them from someone else, and so on; that I don't know how they were treated when they were young.

 

[Davaroo]

All right let me come clean - my previous comments were meant to be middle of the road nice.

The truth is, even if you do handle them, they are still chickens. They may at times seem to "bond" with you, but birds and people, well..., they are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
I don't think we ever truly connect with them. It's we who think so; the chicken itself seems to care less.

They are inquisitive and may come around to see what you are up to, but chickens will be as tame as any of their kind will, in my experience. There are only a few things you can do about it.
Sitting around in the chicken yard while they walk on your head, as some do, may make you feel appreciated, but that doesn't mean they are "tame" - it means they don't see you as a threat at that moment.
Leap up from your seat, shouting and waving your arms, and they will scatter as if Cerberus himself was on their tail.

The real trick to having 'tame' chickens is to select breeds that are less high strung and to be tame yourself. It's a trade off, of sorts.
The less fuss and bother you make around them, the more they reflect that. Keep your movements slow and deliberate, talk in low smooth tones and generally be mellow - and you will go a long way to making "tame" chickens.
Also, the more docile the breed, the more this has it's desired effect.
Flighty Leghorns are more likely to shun you and act like you are trying to kill them than, say, a Brahma or Australorp.

So, do you need to handle them? Not really. So if you have allergies dont fret; they wont mind if you don't mess with them. They'll be perfectly happy to have you bring the feed and water and just generally "be around them." Sometimes you may need to examine one and so pick it up, but they can be caught up readily without being 'tame' to the touch. Wear gloves and a mask you are protected.

But do keep this in mind: No matter how mellow you are and how calm you keep them, they will still poop on you if given the chance. Again, it's a trade off.

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
Hmm, I've had a couple of friends like that....

Ed

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Hmm, I've had a couple of friends like that....

Ed

I know, huh?

 

[trueblueshowgirl]

Does anyone find some chickens are just born more friendly than others? I've definetely noticed that with my Silkies and Showgirls. Some are super sweet- you can pick them up and hug them all day. And others act completely terrified - like I'm one of the aliens that Sealsandwich was talking about.

I had a trio I had to raise in the house this winter- I basically raised them like pets. Well, they're outside with the others, now (thanks goodness!) One is SO friendly and comes running when he hears my voice- and another has never wanted anything to do with me and beats a hasty retreat whenever I go in the coop. I almost never even see her.

They must be like other animals- dogs, cats, and horses are like that- some are just friendlier by virtue of their personality.

 

[chicken_china_mom]

Me personally, I handle my chickens daily. I have handled them since the first moment they arrived from the hatchery, and even the ones I get elsewhere. I believe that they are smart enough to form a bond with people. I have birds that, when they were still in the brooder, they were very standoffish. They didn't want to be touched in any way and would actually bite when we went to put in fresh food and water. However, I moved them out to the coop last week and low and behold, guess who thinks I am now their best buddy ever? I chose the breeds that I initially got for temperment and size, with the exception of my SLW's. I saw a picture of them in a brochure at TSC, thought they were lovely, so I ordered some with my Silkies and Cochins. I got all those birds from Cackle Hatchery. When I go out to the coop my birds don't care if I come with food, or without. They are so happy to see me that they all come running. I bring a chair out and I sit with them and they come up to have their necks rubbed and to get petted. I handle mine primarily to keep them used to getting handled, but also because a majority of them will shown over the next few years in 4-H by my kids. I rub combs, massage wattles, pet them, check their vent areas, etc, get them used to it. Most of my birds love to be handled. The only ones I have that prefer to be left alone are my Silkies, and for the most part I do leave them alone, however I do pick them up from time to time to check the growth of their combs and see how well their feathers are looking, etc. And they tolerate it. Right now I have bantam Cochins, Silkies, SLW's, EE's, one Sebright, an OEGB, a d'Uccle, 3 Amber Sexlinks, a Silkie mix, a standard sized Turken, a GLW, a Jersey Giant, and I am waiting on an order of bantam BO's from Ideal Hatchery, and for some bantam Turken eggs to hatch. I love all my birds. Heck, I love all my PETS! If an animal is smart enough to learn their name, they are smart enough to show affection, albeit THEIR kind of affection. I have 2 roo boys, one is a Barred Cochin, the other a Splash Cochin. Their names are Buddy and Abner, respectively. Buddy follows me around and talks to me in a soft cooing voice. He loves to be held and stroked. Then there is Abner who loves to sit on my shoulder or sit cradled in the crook of my arm like a baby. He doesn't like to go down on the ground when "Mommy" is in the coop. I bring my chair in there and sit with them and my daughter was laughing and making a joke yesterday afternoon because I was sitting on my chair and I had 9 birds on or around me on the chair, and she was saying "Let's see if we can make a world record for the most chickens to sit on mom!" It was cute. I didn't get pooped on (now THAT'S a miracle!) and I didn't pick any of them up. They all came up of their own free will. And when I got up, Abner refused to get down. I guess he thought he was coming in the house with me. I forced him to get down and go back with the rest of the flock, but he just pouted at the door after I stepped out and locked it. He did that again tonight too. I know they have feelings. I'm not saying you can't just have them and not handle them. I mean, how can they miss something they never had, right? But I want all my birds, roos especially, to know that I lead the flock, NOT them. And let me say, my 9 year old primarily does the feeding and watering, but it isn't her they come running to, it's me. I talk softly to them, I tell them how beautiful they are, I pet them and love them, and they respond to that. After she sits down in her chair and relaxes, then they come to her. One of our Sexlink pullets, Omelet, has determined that my daughter is an excellent source of attention when mommy is covered in other birds, and she will fly up onto her lap and stick her neck out so my daughter can rub it, lol. She stretches out and takes naps while my daughter rubs her, and if she stops rubbing her, Omelet will peck at her hand to remind her to keep rubbing. It's funny. I know opinions are mixed on this topic, but I couldn't imagine owning a pet that I couldn't have some sort of interaction with. I even had my goldfish trained when I was a teenager. (Yes, that IS possible, they are smart fish!) Even if all I can do is talk to them, I believe that animals are therapeutic and can bring a lot into our lives. And even chickens do their part in that. I love chickens. They are great animals to own.

***And I forgot to add, I am allergic to dogs, cats, cockatiel dander, and chickens too. I take allergy medicine or I am miserable. But it's a happy misery...

 

[Uppity Peon]

chicken_china_mom it's fun to hear about your chickens bonding with you. I too feel that my chickens are quite capable of bonding with a human. I have a 3 that will fly up to my arms if I sit quietly in their presence. And not just when I bring bread crumbs. There are also other ones that, although they don't fly into my arms are perfectly willing to let me slip my fingers under them and lift them up. They then sit comfortably and seem to enjoy the warmth of my hand. Other members of the flock however are stand-offish and avoid me unless I am handing out treats. That's OK with me. They will probably be good foragers and avoiders of danger.

I have RIRs which seem more wild and cautious, as well as Amaricaunas and Wyandottes, some of whom seek attention from me.

They all amuse me.