IamRainey
Crowing
This is my first time raising chickens. I have 3. They are 26 weeks old now but I got them when they were 6 weeks old.
I've never forced contact. ...tho I would love to have a real relationship with them and be able to handle them when necessary.
Recently I have been sitting in the coop with them when I clean it out in the mornings. They have fresh greens down in the run and I scrape off their poop board then sit down and make some chicken sounds. They invariably come up now and check me out leaving the greens behind.
They will get very close. If I try to touch them they might do that "flounder" thing if I get them in the right spot. Then I can quietly stroke their backs. Or they'll scoot away but then come right back. And they now peck at my hands and my toes. And when I say "peck" I mean they really peck! Like trying to get a bit of meat.
Also, my biggest "chicken" (as in the one that has always been most fearful) has started getting up on the top roost so she's behind my head and pecking at my ears. OUCH!
If this is familiarity and we're making progress I'll carry on but if this is aggression how do I get them to cut it out?
I've never forced contact. ...tho I would love to have a real relationship with them and be able to handle them when necessary.
Recently I have been sitting in the coop with them when I clean it out in the mornings. They have fresh greens down in the run and I scrape off their poop board then sit down and make some chicken sounds. They invariably come up now and check me out leaving the greens behind.
They will get very close. If I try to touch them they might do that "flounder" thing if I get them in the right spot. Then I can quietly stroke their backs. Or they'll scoot away but then come right back. And they now peck at my hands and my toes. And when I say "peck" I mean they really peck! Like trying to get a bit of meat.
Also, my biggest "chicken" (as in the one that has always been most fearful) has started getting up on the top roost so she's behind my head and pecking at my ears. OUCH!
If this is familiarity and we're making progress I'll carry on but if this is aggression how do I get them to cut it out?