Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

Much better. I dob’y know what was going on there, but today she was great..

Excellent!

 

[bgmathteach]

they dont want to come hahahah
also when trying to pet they back off a little bit and return for treats

Oh, that means you happen to have 'no touch' chickens.

Best thought, since they WILL eat from your hand...maybe get an old towel or blanket, put it on ground and lay on it. Sprinkle their favorite treat on and around you on the blanket. Lay/sit very still and let them eat & climb over you without petting. Just lay/sit still and talk to them...let them explore for treats 'unmolested' Repeat daily...eventually they will associate your lap with really good things and hop up on their own. [eventually, just treats on lap, NOT on towel, as they get accustomed to this.]

As far as the cuddling/petting part of this...some chickens are just plain old 'no touch' chickens. However, it is nice to be able to touch them for when you need to do a health check. At roost time (at/after dark), slide your finger or hand against the back of their leg (between foot and knee...low on leg) they will step up onto your hand. Then gently rub their crop for a few seconds, then place them back on roost. [if they are freaked out by you picking them up this way, do this a couple of nights until they are fine with it before stroking their breast/crop.]

Anyone else have better thoughts?

 

[BY Bob]

they dont want to come hahahah
also when trying to pet they back off a little bit and return for treats

That is the most I can get from my group. I have had lap chickens but they always made that choice. I would of course encourage it but I never trained them to do it.

 

[featherhead007]

That has saved you getting a good old beaking

I’m not getting any beakings, I have my bodyguard rooster for protection!

 

[r0bz]

Oh, that means you happen to have 'no touch' chickens.

is this a breed-related phenomenon?

 

[BY Bob]

is this a breed-related phenomenon?

Nope specific chickens are no touch chickens. I have 3 right now. It's there personality to not like being touched. They will get close to you and even eat from your hand but you may not ever touch them.

 

[BY Bob]

Curious

Someone has been checking everything out this morning including me! Lots of pecking going on.

 

[rural mouse]

my chickens come when called and eat treats from hand but i cant do more than that
how did you get the chickens on your lap?

Put the hand with treats in your knee...?

they dont want to come hahahah
also when trying to pet they back off a little bit and return for treats

Chickens will teach you to be PATIENT! Don't try to pet. Set the hand on the knee (with the treats), have a little scattered around you, take out your phone and read something. (I'm not watching you, I'm ignoring you, you don't exist, I've forgotten you're there). If the come up close and take treats from the hand, DON'T TENSE IN EXCITEMENT. Refer back to the parentheses for your actions. It's like making a big deal over something a shy child does...don't make them self conscious about it. Act like it's normal, but don't try to pet. They're nervous. The lack of reaction will calm them and build confidence. I have 1 adult who freaks if I go in the coop near her, so I'm having to work on that. She's a favorite target of Cheetah first thing (he chases until he catches her to the point that she doesn't want to leave the coop for breakfast). I was able to dump a small handful of breakfast up where she was this morning. She freaked and went roost hopping, but came back and ate a little bit before leaving (as I was trying to offer more: mistake, should have let be, pushed too fast).

Note: this is for working with adults

 

[rural mouse]

is this a breed-related phenomenon?

Some breeds are more prone to cuddles others more standoffish. Each bird is an individual and there are plenty of breed standard exceptions.

 

[Ponypoor]

It helps cats to reduce fur balls.
I mix a spoonful in with their wet food most days.
I open the can and use a few spoons and then freeze it for use later because the cans are rather big.

I have heard this before , I think I will try with my kitty, also I just BET the hens will like a nice pumpkin treat every now and then!

One can get this small sandwich ziplock baggies (or reuseable plastic containers if you can get them) and put small portions in freeze and thaw as needed !