Do your hens like to be held?

[Just_Clucky84]

Just read your post. I have a Buff Orpington hen named Amanda who DEMANDS to be held. We know when she wants to be picked up because she will come over and peck you to get your attention. If you do not pay attention to her or pick her up, she will then bite you. At first we thought this behavior meant that she wanted/expected food from us. We'd offer her bread, corn, etc, and she'd ignore the food and continue with the pecking and biting behavior. She is fine and relaxes when we pick her up, but the pecking/biting behavior resumes once we put her down. Amanda is going to be 6 years old in July 2015 and her behavior has not changed. She is a pet and we have accepted that she thinks she is a diva and we treat her like one. Too funny!

 

[Steven Stitcher]

Awww. Aren't Buff Orpington's just the sweetest things? I wish that Black Orpington's were easier to find. And did you see the photos someone posted about a week ago of the Chocolate Orpingtons?

I would LOVE to add a few of those to my bratt pack.

I have three chocolate orpingtons

 

[tuesdaylove]

I have six bantams and five standards. All of my bantams were either hatched here, or bought at a couple days old, so basically raised from birth. Four of them are completely feral and can't be caught at all. Two of them tolerate being caught and held, but they don't like it and they struggle away immediately. One of the standards was born here, and he's not sociable. The four standard pullets came here when they were four months old, and they are by far my friendliest birds. They don't really enjoy being held, but they tolerate it and they actually follow me around, whereas the bantams run away in panic. I think big birds are just friendlier. I try and spend time with all of the chickens every day, but my bantams just don't tame.

 

[dunnmom]

Mine don't really like it so much as tolerate it for a little bit. I didn't handle them enough when they were little, so the only one to blame is me.

 

[Chickassan]

Nope, but my doodle digs a nice snuggle.

 

[Chickassan]

Nothing to do with it, held all mine alot but the girls aren't touchy feely lol.They were as kids but they grew out if it, they tolerate petting but holding nope.

Mine don't really like it so much as tolerate it for a little bit. I didn't handle them enough when they were little, so the only one to blame is me.

 

[dunnmom]

Mine are fairly friendly even though they don't like being held. I think it's only because they think I'm going to give them something to eat when I go into the run, though. I feel so used! Lol! I do occasionally catch them and hold them either to give them a check up, move them somewhere, or as a show of dominance when they're naughty.

 

[Chickassan]

Spot on! They are just after your food,and jewelery, and any moles or freckles..toenail polish...really just a bunch of greedy butts.

Mine are fairly friendly even though they don't like being held. I think it's only because they think I'm going to give them something to eat when I go into the run, though. I feel so used! Lol! I do occasionally catch them and hold them either to give them a check up, move them somewhere, or as a show of dominance when they're naughty.

 

[kklowell]

I have 12 that are 7-8 weeks old. One will step into my hand and let me pick her up, and she usually will push her way through the other birds to get to me. Two others are quite friendly, they don't mind being petted, but prefer to not be picked up. The friendliest one is a Golden Comet, the other two are white Plymouth Rocks. The least friendly are my Leghorns.
The picture is the GC that seems to love all the attention. Her name is Cutie.