Friendly chicks

[breezychick]

Chicken math stikes again. I have seven chickens doing well in my outside coop but just couldn't resist
when I went into the feed store on Fiday afternoon. Two three week old chicks came home with me
One is a Dominique and the other is a Barred rock. These two chicks are so different then my others - 2 BO,
1 Australorp and four Easter Eggers. They will hardly leave me alone! I guess I am Momma! I haven't done
anything differently so I'm just wondering from some of you with more experience if this is just how these
breeds are? My other chickens let me pet them and come running for treats but this is a whole new experience for me (kinda cool!)

 

[debid]

My Dominique is outrageously friendly to anyone and everyone and it started the day I brought her home. My mom has 4 Barred Rocks and one of them is friendly like this. Her others act more like typical chickens -- they'll come over for treats but they don't climb in your lap if you sit down like the one will.

 

[earnhardtlvr]

I don't have any Dominiques unfortunately...but I do have 2 Barred Rocks, and my one, Sweet Pea, is so super friendly!

She always runs to me when I go near the brooder and if I lift the lid will fly up and perch o the edge of the brooder right in front me and want to b picked up! So cute!!

 

[AUChick9202]

I also have a BO, BA and EE. They are very friendly with us too. I posted pictures tonight of them roosting on my son's arms. My BA is the friendliest by far....I can't put my hand in the brooder w/o her flying over to roost on me. And we haven't even given them treats yet

 

[teeville5]

My BRs, Amelia & Edma, are super friendly and just love attention. The minute I go to the brooder they fly to the edge. A few others do, too, but they aren't into the cuddles as much as them. It's funny, though, because if I give others attention, Amelia gets jealous and does what she must to get next to me to remind everyone she is the reigning cuddle queen.

 

[Katydid2011]

We have Buff Orpingtons, Wyandottes, Americaunas, Australorps, Rhode Island Reds, Delwares, and Black Stars and they are all "in your pocket" pullets, except for the Wyandottes and Australorps who are more aloof. They are so excited to see me, it cracks me up and warms my heart at the same time.

 

[Balbinka]

Quote:
It was obviously just meant to be!

 

[breezychick]

My other group really didn't want much to do with me but these two are little velcro chickens.
Its so much fun. The Donimique likes to sit under my hair on the back of my neck and she
just makes all kinds of sweet noises.

 

[morsekathan]

Well, I'm interested in this thread because my new hens are completely uninterested in me. Last week, I lost my beloved hens (who came running when I called) to a raccoon and now have two year and a half bantams, three 12 week old pullets of mixed breed and one little speckled sussex who is about 8 weeks old. They all get along with each other, but none come for food and none even come close to me except when I let them out of the coop in the morning to free range. I pick each on up and put them outside as they all huddle in the corner when I open the door. My husband says I need to be patient, but I'm despairing and not feeling much chicken love.

 

[Themehmeh]

Well, I'm interested in this thread because my new hens are completely uninterested in me. Last week, I lost my beloved hens (who came running when I called) to a raccoon and now have two year and a half bantams, three 12 week old pullets of mixed breed and one little speckled sussex who is about 8 weeks old. They all get along with each other, but none come for food and none even come close to me except when I let them out of the coop in the morning to free range. I pick each on up and put them outside as they all huddle in the corner when I open the door. My husband says I need to be patient, but I'm despairing and not feeling much chicken love.

I noticed the same thing with my chickens and felt like they weren't bonding in the way I wanted. They also didn't care if I had food or treats in my hand, so I did a bit of a no-no. I cleaned their cage. I let them eat their food, and I didn't feed them when they expected it (but didn't make them wait more than a few hours). Then I fed them by hand. They were all pretty hungry so they gobbled it all up. The second day they had their food, but knew my hand also had food, so they ate from my hand again. I only had to do that three or four times and now they're plenty sociable.