Holding our hens

[Sylviesoph]

Good evening everyone,
Just wondering if anyone can offer any helpful answers. We, my brother and I, have just given my dad 4 hens for his 50th birthday- we will all care for them.

I have read that if you don't start handling your hens when you first get them then you may never be able to. With this in mind I tried to pick our hens up today but they seemed to get really distressed. One flew into the chicken wire, and another defecated (I know this happens often like all of the time haha but this appeared to be in fear).
Should I be trying to pick them up? And if so for what reason? I'm already in love with them, these are our first proper pets. We used to have dogs but were allergic and could no longer keep them- we were devastated and our hens fill a void. However having said this I don't necessarily want to be cuddling them every five minutes especially if it stresses out.
Any help would be gratefully received.
Sylvie

 

[LRH97]

It just takes time. If you just got them, they are probably still pretty unsure of you. The key is to spend time with them, just as with any other small animal. They're not like dogs (even though they eat like them sometimes!), so they don't crave human attention. They key to a chickens heart, is through its stomach. My girls' favorite treats are the Happy Hens dried mealworms. Just start by offering them treats with your hands. Maybe scatter some in their pen so they can figure out what the treats are, and then just take baby steps from there. With enough commitment, they'll soon be following you around the yard begging for treats. Best of luck to you!

 

[JAZsMom]

Exactly. It takes time. Just go slow...introduce your big, scary hand into the cage, try to pet them, offer a little treat (part of a grape, a piece of spaghetti). Our poor babes are only 3 weeks, but I also have a 6 year old son and an 8 year old daughter, thus they get handled a LOT. They dont love it, but tolerate it and were eating out of my daughters hand tonight. She's very soft and gentle, she grabs them, but once she has them shes able to ease them with soft talking and gentleness. Keep at it, dont give up! Kindness, gentleness and FOOD!

 

[Sylviesoph]

Thanks for the feedback! You're both definitely right... This morning when I took in food they came very close to my hand.... Ginger is our most inquisitive hen and the rest follow her, and she's warming up to our presence. I absolutely love them... Did not anticipate how funny hens could be, I could watch them for hours.

 

[BriskRooster]

the way i tamed my 12 hens was just by whistling every time to came to feed them and eventually they will run up to you whenever you whistle but you have to keep feeding them when you whistle otherwise they wont bother coming when you whistle, that will just over-all tame them and make them easier to handle but they will ALWAYS resist you when you come to pick them up.

good luck!

 

[Fancychooklady]

Chickens don't like being touched from above, it's a predator thing. When you are offering feed try stroking the chest. When you do need to handle them, put your hand in between the legs ( Palm up ) and lift gently. Don't touch the feet or legs , just let them hang each side . This is how a poultry judge holds chickens for inspection.
When I whistle , mine bounce off the wire on the coop trying to find the door cause they think it's a hawk. Lol. We have lots of hawks.

 

[theoldchick]

Most chickens will not be a true ''pet" in that they will run up to you and ask to be petted. But most can be motivated by food and will gather around at your feet for a special treat. Its fun to see those rotund bodies come thundering across the yard to get a handful of scratch feed.

In the world of chickens one must be constantly on the alert for predators. They instinctively know danger comes from above. And humans are predators-even the vegetarian humans- look and act like predators. We chase things that run from us. So don't feel bad if your birds don't 'like' you at first. Their fear of you is not personal, it just how they survive. Once they learn you bring food they will come running, but don't expect them to like to be cuddled. As in their world being cuddled is a precursor to being eaten. So simply enjoy them as chickens, and maybe one day you'll have a hen hop in your lap as you sit quietly. And if you want a 'cuddle' chicken a Silkie is usually the breed for that.

Good luck and enjoy your chickens!

 

[Fancychooklady]

Most chickens will not be a true ''pet"  in that they will run up to you and ask to be petted.  But most can be motivated by food and will gather around at your feet for a special treat.  Its fun to see those rotund bodies come thundering across the yard to get a handful of scratch feed.

In the world of  chickens one must be constantly on the alert for predators.  They instinctively know danger comes from above.  And humans are predators-even the vegetarian humans- look and act like predators. We chase things that run from us.  So don't feel bad if your birds don't  'like' you at first.  Their fear of you is not personal, it just how they survive.  Once they learn you bring food they will come running, but don't expect them to like to be cuddled.  As in their world being cuddled is a precursor to being eaten.  So simply enjoy them as chickens, and maybe one day you'll have a hen hop in your lap as you sit quietly.  And if you want a 'cuddle' chicken a Silkie is usually the breed for that.

Good luck and enjoy your chickens!

Couldn't have put it better myself.

 

[centrarchid]

Good evening everyone,
Just wondering if anyone can offer any helpful answers. We, my brother and I, have just given my dad 4 hens for his 50th birthday- we will all care for them.

I have read that if you don't start handling your hens when you first get them then you may never be able to. With this in mind I tried to pick our hens up today but they seemed to get really distressed. One flew into the chicken wire, and another defecated (I know this happens often like all of the time haha but this appeared to be in fear).
Should I be trying to pick them up? And if so for what reason? I'm already in love with them, these are our first proper pets. We used to have dogs but were allergic and could no longer keep them- we were devastated and our hens fill a void. However having said this I don't necessarily want to be cuddling them every five minutes especially if it stresses out.
Any help would be gratefully received.
Sylvie

Most of mine are far from pets but a few most certainly are where treatment of such reduces stress in close quarters.

Birds shown in thread below are tame enough to fly from ground into my hands and can be called in even then 300 feet away. Process requires some time investment and insects I strongly suggest be used as the enticement.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/407880/ambassadors-for-the-farm

I can provide details on how to tame adults.

 

[cackleberrycam]

It just takes time. If you just got them, they are probably still pretty unsure of you. The key is to spend time with them, just as with any other small animal. They're not like dogs (even though they eat like them sometimes!), so they don't crave human attention. They key to a chickens heart, is through its stomach. My girls' favorite treats are the Happy Hens dried mealworms. Just start by offering them treats with your hands. Maybe scatter some in their pen so they can figure out what the treats are, and then just take baby steps from there. With enough commitment, they'll soon be following you around the yard begging for treats. Best of luck to you!

I agree.