Earning my flock love and trust

[RY29]

Hello Everyone!
I have 11 weeks old chicks and although they seem to know that I’m their care taker, they don’t really want me to touch them and hold them. When I sit inside the run with them, they jump on my lap to get the food or treats. Then I sneak a little petting. They let me for a little bit and then they jump off. The first time they jumped on my lap I didn’t have treats and some of them let me pet them for a while even laid down and closed their eyes for a bit. It was the only time it happened. I would like for it to happen again and also let me hold them. Any suggestions or recommendations to earn their trust and love? TIA

 

[thecatumbrella]

I would also love lap chickens, but unfortunately, it's up to the chickens to decide if they like that or not. Most birds don't enjoy petting. It's unnatural for them, and if they're molting (which your 11 week-olds likely are, as part of getting their adult feathers), it's uncomfortable for them to be touched and held.

I'd start by doing exactly what you're doing: sit in the run. Let them jump on you. You don't always need to have treats. But when they jump up, just leave them be. Talk to them in a soft voice and make eye contact. Mine love that. I do a small amount of "punishment" pets if they get too mouthy with my clothes or hands. Just take a finger and lightly stroke their chest for a moment. They'll act very offended and hopefully knock it off.

But the truth is, I've found that if you're going to get a snuggly lap chicken, they'll literally come that way as chicks. Trust can definitely be gained over time though, and many pullets become more cuddly and tolerate once they start laying. So keep doing what you're doing and let them come around on their own time!

 

[SnackMeat]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=742097811628723

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Interesting!

 

[thecatumbrella]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=742097811628723

I tried this on multiple chickens! It sort of works on some, and absolutely does not work on others. Maybe because I'm not wearing a cute dress and offering treats?

The tuck thing was actually the most useful. I've inadvertently held birds this way to examine feet/bums, and noticed they calmed down. Now if I have one in my lap for a health exam that's getting a little too anxious, I'll do the tuck and relax them before we continue.

They certainly don't want to hang around after the exam's done...

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I wonder if you have to start them youg.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I wonder if you have to start them youg.

Agreed. I want to try some new techniques with our next batch of chicks, so this could be an interesting add.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I'm ok with mine not being lap chickens.

Ours are 6-8 weeks old when we get them, long past the point of imprinting. They obviously regarded me as a mass murderer at first, only warming up when they reached POL (point of lay.) They let me catch them for quick health checks, but then I let them go.

They're not mammals like dogs or cats (in fact, birds are reptiles), so it isn't really natural for them to cuddle. They've gotten to the point where they accept skritches as we pass one another, and that's fine.

 

[lagrange chicks]

This has nothing to do with lap chickens but does with trust. Couple weeks ago I put 1 of my girls down, she was just about dead when I found her and the others were pecking at her. The rest of the flock now has been very scared of me I guess from them seeing me take there flock mate out of the run to never to see her again.