How can I bond with my chickens?

[Chickens and kittens]

They are about two or three months. They don't sleep in their coop they just sit on top of my dads welding machine. I do like to go outside and sit on my back steps and watch them they are so entertaining. I started giving them treats (bread) and they go freaking nuts for it! My two orange ones are very greedy with it and sometimes steal it from the other ones. So far the ones that come to me when I throw feed are the only four that are taking the bread from my hands but the others are watching they look a bit confused and jealous that the others are getting bread.

 

[TominWa]

I sit with them for a minute or so every morning when I go in to open the door to the run. Their like little kids. Stretching the whole bit. Then there is a little treat, which is nothing but their regular feed in my hands, but they love it and all crowd around. Its all time just like anything else. Trust. Once an animal knows you aren't going to eat it or step on it they are all pretty friendly....in their own animal way. I wish I had read the threads here before doing my brooder. I read one post about these giant hands coming in out of the sky. Makes sense. The more you can get in there with them the better. IMO.

 

[aart]

I don't put them back down until they've relaxed.

Great point!!....and starting this from when they are young makes it much more effective. Of course they might rebel as they get older, nearly laying birds are pretty skittish.

they are all pretty friendly....in their own animal way

Exactly! Chickens are a prey animal and it takes quite a bit of 'training' to get them to be cuddly. If I want an animal cuddle, I call the dog.

 

[scoopsmom]

I think breed has something to do with it as well. I have 6: 2 gold sex links, 3 bantam Cochins (1 of which is a rooster), and 1 black star- all are almost 4 months. I handled them alot when they were chicks and my black star was very tame, while the gold sex links were extremely skittish. Now that they're older the gold sex links love to hop in my lap and get pet while the black star is not a huge fan of being held or pet. Although she is the head of the flock and very curious. She likes to walk on our feet. All of my Cochins are very affectionate. They jump in my lap and Nestle down while I pet them. My rooster is my favorite and my most tame but he HATES being picked up or pet..he wants to hop up on me then it's ok for me to pet him. It's like someone else mentioned.. having giant hands coming down to snatch them up just doesn't seem safe to them. Can't blame them...
I sit down with them in their chicken yard as often as possible and give them treats occasionally. It might take awhile but they'll come around. I think it's best to let them come to u cuz as I said all of mine dislike being picked up. Although I still do it occasionally when I'm inpatient to get chicken cuddles. Most of them settle right down when they realize it's just me.