Do your hens like to be held?

[noodleroo]

You might try putting a blanket or a towel down on the ground and sitting on it so you are on their level. Its easier to entice them into your 'lap space' with treats while sitting on the ground. I have buff orps, too and they all let me hold and love them. Sweetie (in the second photo) is by far the most loving. She wants to be held and loved all the time...

 

[wood&feathers]

Hmm, noodleroo, I guess it depends on the birds. Mine seem to seek out higher perches, and I am apparently a perch The chicks I have in the brooder right now seem to agree - the higher ranking birds are the first to jump on my shoulder.

 

[noodleroo]

wood&feathers :

Hmm, noodleroo, I guess it depends on the birds. Mine seem to seek out higher perches, and I am apparently a perch The chicks I have in the brooder right now seem to agree - the higher ranking birds are the first to jump on my shoulder.

Mine like to be higher up, too but some like to cuddle against my neck. I think they like the heartbeat...​

 

[BWKatz]

My 4 all got friendlier when they started laying. All run to me. Thelma who is the lowest in pecking order waits to be picked up coming & going from coop to run which are about 50 ft apart. She always likes to be cuddled.

 

[Bleenie]

I was gone watching a friends house for a week and when I got home I thought my ducks were going to be happy to see me, they couldn't have cared less! the little pullets on the other hand though! One of the red ones wouldn't quit flying up on me or climbing up me just so she could sit on my shoulder and snuzzle into my neck! She never did that before.

I brooder raised them and handled them a fair amount but most are still a little flighty if i get too close, the 2 red girls have been all over me since i was gone for a week though, lol.

 

[froggiesheins]

Quote:
What an adorable picture!

 

[Carrie Lynn]

Do you all get pooped on a lot?
I'd like to hold mine more but I just know I'll get bammed!

Carrie

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

I've been pooped on. I was feeding them treats and then picking them up. So I stopped doing those to things together. I either feed treats OR pick them up but not at the same time.

I try to keep an old fleece by the back door and put that on when I go out to see them and for the most part, you just flick off the poops. For those occasional wet one, then the fleece goes right into the wash.

 

[ChooksChick]

I'm sorry not to have read all the posts, and my point may be moot...

But, I have at least 150 hens, and my birds nearly all like to be held, but many will become more receptive to being held after they begin to lay. It softens them a bit to being social with humans.

 

[mrsbos]

Quote:
That's what I want to know. I love holding my chickens in my lap.....but their preference is roosting on my head or shoulder. They always sneak up behind me and ambush me by jumping up there (I'm barely 5 feet tall). I don't think so! Poop in my lap is one thing....poop in my hair/neck/shoulder/running down my arm/near my face.....YUKKKKK!