Handling Advice for My Fuzzy Friends

[SilkieMitch]

First time flock boss here! I have five 13 week old Silkies who are such awesome birds. I let them wander the yard several hours a day with me watching carefully over them to keep them in safe areas and scare predators away. They are very friendly, and they will walk all around the lawn chair where I sit, but they are not big on getting close enough to my hands for me to touch them (unless I grab them). They never nip at me or peck at me and seem to like me, though. They are not interested in taking any treats from my hand, but if I grab them and sit them in my lap, they will chill there for several minutes while I pet them without me having to “make” them stay. Though it can be a b-word herding them back into the coop if I want them in before they decide they’re done foraging!

Most of my bird experience has been with parrots, which I’ve had for years, and I was wondering what is the best way to get my chickens more used to me: avoid holding them and wait until the want to come to me for treats or pick them up a lot (I have to grab them to do this as the will come near me but not up to me) and pet them in my lap so they get used to me? Or should I just leave them alone completely? (I have a blast just watching the Flock TV, anyway). Parrots can get snotty if you “make” them do anything, but then parrots are EXTREMELY temperamental! . Seriously, my rose breasted cockatoo had attitude like no one else, but once you won her over, she was a doll. IF you could win her over, haha.

Advice for a newbie to chickens on what works best for these type of feathered children?

Me and Biggie Very-Smalls:

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi! I've had the best results by getting down on their level. Instead of sitting in the lawn chair sit on the ground. Hold your hand palm open on your knee with some squirmy mealworms. They'll come around and may climb on you eventually. Being above them means you're a potential predator. Slow, steady movement is better than fast and sudden. Also, some chickens just don't like to be lap babies that you can hold.

Once you find a treat they really like, scratch usually works, put it in the same container all the time and shake it a bit to get their attention, then toss some out. They'll learn this means something yummy is headed their way and you'll have to fight your way to the run or coop to lock them in.