Help! I thought Faverolles are suppose to be friendly?

[JoCoKS]

I bought 5 Salmon Faverolles that were born May 6, 2019 because I wanted some friendly chickens and they run when they see me out in their garden area even when I take the sunflower seeds, meal worms, etc. like I give my Reds. When I was raising them in my bathtub in our guess bath I did everything suggested on line for them to get to know me and it did me no good. I raised 3 Rhode Island Reds in the same tub and when they see me they run and fly to be near me and the Salmon Faverolles run the other way or run into their coop. Can anyone tell me what I can do to make them pets?
I wonder if I caused the problem because when I moved them outside I had not finished their coop in time so I had to carry them out in the morning and bring them in at night. I feel this is part of my problem and they probably did not like it and it did not help me since I am permanently disabled so it was probably rough on all of us. I finally finished their coop that I designed with insulation in the floor, walls and roof to keep them warm in the winter and cooler in the summer. I even installed a small fan to exhaust their coop. To keep in clean I painted the interior with even their roosts and I made them removable so I can take them out and clean. I painted the exterior and put in a vinyl tile flooring. Them seam to love their coop and stay in on hot days but they are out in the morning and evening.

 

[cottontail farm]

it sounds like you're doing everything right! Let them learn to associate you with treats and they should come around in no time. They're still quite young and probably just trying to figure out who is going to eat them and who isn't. They should calm down as they get older and get to know you.

 

[Rockporters]

I had the same problem with a Salmon Favorelle. Total spaz. It never got any better. Well, it would take food from my hand and run away as fast as it could, if that counts.

 

[Callender Girl]

My Salmon Faverolles were brooded indoors, and every day that I picked them up, they screamed like I was tearing off their heads.

I, too, carried them outdoors daily for weeks, and they continued to carry on like I was an ax murderer.

Today, at more than a year old, both Camille and Celeste will run to me for treats, and if Celeste believes she may not get as many grapes as her sister, she will leap onto my lap. Both do the submissive squat if I have to pick them up for any reason, but they don't run away. I think maturity has mellowed them. That, and the fear that the rest of the flock will get more treats than they will. Have patience, and good luck!

 

[Matzwd]

Same here. I've had two, also recommended to me because if their sweet disposition, and they have both been terrified of humans. The first one improved when she began to lay, but didn't want you to touch her. My current one is three months old, and I can't get anyplace near her as she freaks out. I have several birds that are that way this year...an Easter Egger, a Sebright, Porcelain D'uccle, Mille D'uccle Roo, three Wyandottes, a Polish, an Ameraucana...all spazzes.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Mine are being raised by my very mellow bantam cochin.
They are screamers.

Maybe @Chickassan can lend her knowledge here.

 

[JoCoKS]

Mine are being raised by my very mellow bantam cochin.
They are screamers.

Maybe @Chickassan can lend her knowledge here.

it sounds like you're doing everything right! Let them learn to associate you with treats and they should come around in no time. They're still quite young and probably just trying to figure out who is going to eat them and who isn't. They should calm down as they get older and get to know you.

it sounds like you're doing everything right! Let them learn to associate you with treats and they should come around in no time. They're still quite young and probably just trying to figure out who is going to eat them and who isn't. They should calm down as they get older and get to know you.

 

[JoCoKS]

I want to thank you Cotton Tail Farm for your great reply it made me feel a lot better. I am a major animal lover and I have a lot of different critters in my life. When I was a child my mother was not happy with my collection so my father built an 8'x12' addition to his heated garage so they could be outside. I had a Rhode Island Red and we had a lot of fun when I was a child so that is why I bought my 3 Rhode Island Reds and now added the 5 Faverolles to my collection. The Faverolles are really beautiful and all have a different color scheme with I like.
My Golden Retriever brought me two Cotton Tail baby bunnies and I tried to feed them with an eye dropper and they will not take it. Since their eyes are open I put in food and water in the box they are in. I need help with these bunnies can you give me advise?
I checked out your site and it is great.
Joe

 

[DanEP]

At around 10 weeks most chickens go thru a teenage phase where they are little spaz's but most settle down as they approach laying age.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

I did not read all the replies so forgive me... please... thank you

I think some of this in my case is hatchery stock vs breeder stock... I suspect I’d have far more ‘pet’ faverolles if I had breeder raised birds...

Some of this is if other breeds have pushed them around....

Some of this is luck of the draw....

And some of this is just the faverolles wackadoodleness...

All of mine have taken confinement well... so they really are a great breed for a 24/7 coop & run setup...

One of mine is as friendly a bird as you ever could want...she always was... then I gave her eggs to hatch, as well as a bunch of farm store fosters... she took them all no worries... and has been a super momma chicken...I’d put her up there with the best Brahma, speckled Sussex, or buff Orpington as far as ‘pet chicken’ that I’ve known...

They’ve all been good layers, even though the winter... as advertised...

But I had too roosters, one I kept, one my sister took... both were handsome, both were people aggressive, both were tasty... they were not as advertised... but roosters were raised with no older birds... and that is said to create bad examples...

Overall the 7 or 9 hatchery hens I had were as advertised... but only about 3 were super docile, and only one is a pet...

They’re all whacky... and would walk up to a hawk to ask for directions back to the coop... so I’d rate them pretty low on the “free” range scale... but very high on the enclosed space or small space scale...

Hope that helps!