well I been petting my brahma and picking her up now that she is squatting,I just went out to see what they were up to and reached down for my andalusian who has never squatted, but has been laying eggs for more then a month, she squatted and let me pick her up and pet her with no fuss, I sat down on the bench with her in my lap scratching her head and the brahma flew up on my knee for a bit of an ear scratch too, I'm so happy I thought I was always going to have standoffish birds, but yippee.
Congrats! I love those quiet moments, sitting on a bench with chickens. And it's always a thrill when a different chicken decides she wants that attention, too, and becomes friendly. I work on it when I give the evening treats out, which I always do sitting down, holding out my hands with the goodies in them. (The morning treats are tossed into the run - gotta distract the girls whilst I run through the chores before I leave for work!) Once a chicken begins to routinely eat from my hands, I know I'll be able to get her to come sit on the bench with me before long.
Quote:My dark brahma is probably my most un-friendly of the lot. When I pick up my babies I always reach in slowly from the front and slide my hand in under the breast and pick them up. All the other girls are fine with that but Thelma, the Brahma pecks at me. She did that yesterday so I chased her down and made her sit with me for quite a while. She calmed down and the next time I reached for her she didn't peck. Who knows what this evening will bring but I refuse to have chickens that think they are the boss over me. I don't need a pet that won't be a pet.
How cool! I have a dark brahma who is sweet but I can't really handle her with her being comfortable. She doesn't move but does this UNHAPPY growl/cluck, so I don't push it lol! But one of my Wyandottes sat in my lap eating grape leaves and I was able to pet her all over and inspect her comb, face and wattles up close! It was great chicken love = best love haha
Congrats! Isn't it great?! I recently had the same realization with my chickens when they got to laying age. A couple of the pullets I never thought I'd be able to catch are now some of my most submissive chickens, and if I put them on my lap they'll just cower there and let me pet them until I kick 'em off (though they really don't seem to enjoy it). But one of my Red Stars LOVES having her back scratched and will keep squatting repeatedly until you finally start ignoring her. I heard they got friendlier when they matured, but I had no idea.
Congrats!! Isn't it great??? Mine have gotten a little friendlier too, at about 6 months now. They still seem uncomfortable when I hold them, but they make the most beautiful cooing/singing kinda soft sound that really doesn't SOUND annoyed. Does anyone else's make a sound like that? Does that mean they maybe secretly like it??
I have one girl not yet laying but she has came to me when I called for her since very young, and she makes that content chirping, purring kinda sound too. I love it. I squat down, hold my arms straight out and call "Betsy Lou" and she will come running from wherever she is even if I can't see her! Then she waits for me to pick her up.
I have 4 .. 26 weeks. They will squat so that I can pick them up .. and they will sit for a little bit. One of 'em, though .. she likes to play cat and mouse She squats and when I lean it .. runs. Of course, it can be a side effect of the gentle giant. My 4 year old grandson announces "I NEED to catch a chicken." And, then, he does. Just plucks them from the ground. He's gentle, but abrupt, and, of course, it's always the same gal
I haven't heard the purring on my lap yet. Just in the dust bath ,maybe with time that will come too. Was wondering if chicks that have been hatched are friendlier then bought chicks?
