Hello from Sonoma California! New member. Just moved to the country and am about to begin my dream of having all the animals! Chickens first!

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Sonomachick

Sonomachick

In the Brooder
Sep 22, 2022
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Just had to sign up now that we are planning the coop. Reading some really helpful threads here. Thanks! I’ve had a job in travel that has prevented me from having pets as much as I love them. Especially wanted to chime in since I just read a thread about how unfriendly so many chickens turn out, despite being hand raised. This is a concern as it has been my dream to have sweet friendly tame fluffy birds of my own. But if they’re all skittish scaredy-cats I’m gonna have a well stocked freezer in no time! 😂 (JK) ….but seriously. I’ll be very disappointed. Lol! Here goes:
Question: For any of you who have had a “dog chicken” or “lap chicken,” how was it raised? Was their awesome personality innate (just born that way) or did you raise it to be friendly along with its also friendly peers?
Thank you sooooo much! So excited to start chickening!!!
 
Sonomachick said:
Just had to sign up now that we are planning the coop. Reading some really helpful threads here. Thanks! I’ve had a job in travel that has prevented me from having pets as much as I love them. Especially wanted to chime in since I just read a thread about how unfriendly so many chickens turn out, despite being hand raised. This is a concern as it has been my dream to have sweet friendly tame fluffy birds of my own. But if they’re all skittish scaredy-cats I’m gonna have a well stocked freezer in no time! 😂 (JK) ….but seriously. I’ll be very disappointed. Lol! Here goes:
Question: For any of you who have had a “dog chicken” or “lap chicken,” how was it raised? Was their awesome personality innate (just born that way) or did you raise it to be friendly along with its also friendly peers?
Thank you sooooo much! So excited to start chickening!!!
Click to expand...
Welcome to BYC!! A little of it depends on the breed. For me- Easter Eggers are the most personality-filled, sweet chickens. 🥰
1. Hold them when their chicks, be slow and gentle. Petting them to sleep is the best and teaches them to like petting!
2. When their ‘teenager chickens’, they are not gonna want to be held, since their growing in their feathers. Still, be sweet to them.
3. After they’ve grown in their feather, begin holding and petting them again. Rememeber, as they age, they’ll realize they love it. :)
4. Dont chase them when you go to pick them up, crouch in front of them and reach out your hands to pick them up! (That way your not swooping down on them like a hawk 😂)
Is is from my personal experience with a lap hen. 😊
 
Welcome, and congratulations!!! Beware chicken math --- it spreads into all sorts of other animals, too.
We started with chickens ... then came pigs, more chickens, then cattle and more chickens, and lastly, goats. Son tried to talk me into adding sheep. Grandkids want me to get horses. Hubby wants a herd of cats to turn loose in the barns. Nope nope, and... nope. But I am toying with the idea of finding a bottle-baby donkey to put out with the cows. Son thinks I should get a great pyrenees instead. Hmmm...
 
Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.

You have to remember that chickens are prey animals and any animal with eyes at the front of the face is a predator, aka YOU.
That being said, I have read that hatchery buff Orpingtons are rather laid back and more likely to be lap chickens. They would do better in confinement because of their lack of a strong instinct to avoid potential predators.
 

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