Do "lap chickens" really exist?

[BantyChooks]

Yes, they do exist! My old english game bantam hen will come over to me and fall asleep on my lap, or generally get underfoot when I am working in the run. In the winter, she will stalk me until I warm up her feet, and then she will run off to do her normal chicken stuff. Recently, she went broody, and she allows me to pick up her chicks and her too.

 

[mizz9]

Has anyone had non-lap chickens that were able to train into lap chickens?

We have 3 girls that were already 5 weeks old when we got them. I don't think they had much human handling as chicks so they were pretty nervous about people. It took a little bit for them to eat treats from my hand. Now they are at the point where they are just starting to chase me down across the yard if they suspect I have treats.

But if I sit down with them and try to get one to be a "lap chicken" they are still too nervous to try that, and they also do not like it if I try to slowly reach out to pet them. They will back away. I don't ever try to pick them up because as early experience showed, they will be scared of me for a few days after that. There hasn't been much need to pick them up. They return to their coop at night no problem and if I need to get them to go somewhere they are easy enough to "herd".

Wondering if they will always be a bit shy or whether they will just need more time? They are about 13 weeks old now.

 

[lovemy6hens]

They absolutely exist. If I sit on the ground, I usually have one on my lap, one on my shoulder, two on my legs, and some gathered around me like they're in class. If one gets up, another is ready to steal the spot.

 

[lovemy6hens]

Has anyone had non-lap chickens that were able to train into lap chickens?

We have 3 girls that were already 5 weeks old when we got them. I don't think they had much human handling as chicks so they were pretty nervous about people. It took a little bit for them to eat treats from my hand. Now they are at the point where they are just starting to chase me down across the yard if they suspect I have treats.  But if I sit down with them and try to get one to be a "lap chicken" they are still too nervous to try that, and they also do not like it if I try to slowly reach out to pet them. They will back away. I don't ever try to pick them up because as early experience showed, they will be scared of me for a few days after that. There hasn't been much need to pick them up. They return to their coop at night no problem and if I need to get them to go somewhere they are easy enough to "herd".

Wondering if they will always be a bit shy or whether they will just need more time? They are about 13 weeks old now.

Yes, I have four who came to us as adults. It took about 6 months, but one is now a lap chicken. The other three are much more hesitant, but will sit gathered around me when I sit on the ground with them. One of them likes to rest her beak on my foot when she falls asleep.

EDIT: I have only one who likes to be petted. In general, they don't like to be touched. That doesn't mean they won't sit on your lap though. Of mine, the one who hates being picked up the most is the one who sits longest on me.

You'll need to pick them up for health checks, so start with that every day. They may never want you to pick them up, but they'll settle down. I didn't want to scare mine either, but checking them is necessary. They'll get over it. Discovering the right way to pick them up and hold them is important. What works for one can be a disaster for another. The more you pick them up, the faster you'll learn what works.

 

[mizz9]

Yes, I have four who came to us as adults. It took about 6 months, but one is now a lap chicken. The other three are much more hesitant, but will sit gathered around me when I sit on the ground with them. One of them likes to rest her beak on my foot when she falls asleep.

Aww that is so cute! Good to know!

 

[Chiknmama33]

I have a couple lap chickens

 

[Pendragonz]

I've got 2 that like to get on my lap when I let them out for the evening and sit watching chicken TV. One of them is a Barred Rock, and the other is a Black Star. Truth told, I'd rather sit watching chicken TV than to be inside watching the boob tube. Much more entertaining.

 

[ktdeluxe]

About a third of our 11 chickens will come, sit on our laps and lay down on our laps to be be petted. No other motivation. My Sadie will come to her name when I call her and will squat down when I am about 6 feet away, anticipating a pet. We found that whether a chicken will be a true pet depends on the chicken. All of our chicks were handled a lot from 3 days on and certain chicks always enjoyed it, and others didn't. But we know, had we not handled them a lot, none of them would have been willing and eager to jump up on our laps.

 

[sunflowerbee]

I've got 2 that like to get on my lap when I let them out for the evening and sit watching chicken TV. One of them is a Barred Rock, and the other is a Black Star. Truth told, I'd rather sit watching chicken TV than to be inside watching the boob tube. Much more entertaining.

I'm with you. I love to watch my chickens

 

[silky ma]

Any chicken will want to sit in your lap if you take the time to build a relationship with them. All i have to do is sit in a lawn chair and i get takers and sometimes squabbles ensue for the top lap spot.