How can i get my new hen (Wyandotte) to be accustomed of me and let me hold her ?

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papileo

papileo

In the Brooder
5 Years
Oct 22, 2014
88
2
48
Los Angeles, California
400
I baerly have less than a week with her and I want to start making her feel safe around my presence and actually want to be with me and let me feed her any tips my fellow BYC users
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?
 
She is a beauty. How old is she? It's generally easier to make friends with chicks than older birds but the magic trick is the same - chickens love to eat. You might try throwing some treat for her, when she starts to look forward to that, you can throw them closer to you. If you sit down near her, eventually she will want to investigate you and see if you have more. Just be cool and calm, so she doesn't get frightened. It's best not to try and grab her but , let her approach you. Some chickens just aren't the lap or shoulder type but, can be friendly in other ways.

Is she the only chicken you have? If there were others, she would learn faster that you are not a predator. She will come around - patience and food are all you need. Welcome to BYC.
 
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Glad you joined us.

I agree treats is the answer, find what she loves and cannot resist. Getting down to their level and enticing her to approach you should work.
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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X3 on the treats! Food is a wonderful bonding agent for chickens. And although it is much easier to get chicks to warm up to you, you can warm the hearts of the older birds too. Go sit down in the run with her. On the ground. Bring some goodies and sprinkle some all around you. Hold some in your hand. Talk quietly to her too. Do this every day for at least a 1/2 hour. Spend some quality time with her so she realizes you mean her no harm. Move slowly around her and don't try to pick her up for a while. This is scary for a new bird. Just let her warm up to you. Some birds really come around and others not as much. But you will definitely make an impact on her feelings toward you.

Enjoy this beautiful bird! I hope she comes around soon!
 
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Glad you joined us!

I would definitely start giving her treats. Some good treat choices include bread, sunflower seeds, scratch grains, mealworms, moistened chicken feed, leafy greens, etc. Try offering her a few treats in the palm of your hand. If she takes them, great. If not, sprinkle the treats on the ground and stand nearby as she eats. That will help get her accustomed to your presence.

Once you think she has gotten used to you being around, you can move on to physical touching. Give her a few treats, reach a hand out, and stroke her from neck to tail. Keep petting her as long as you want, or as long as she will stand still. If she seems fine with petting, you can proceed to gently holding her.

With most chickens, the taming process goes rather quickly. A few, though, will never become truly "tame." Good luck with your hen!
 
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Yes, the way to a chicken's heart is definitely food. For some reason regular feed pellets become so much better when mixed with water so they are just mush. I give mine this as a treat, whenever any of them have a health problem and I want them to eat properly, when I want to give them medication. They eat the lot all at once (whereas when it is dry they eat a bit and come back later for more). I give it to them in the same enamel dish every time and I just have to pick the empty dish up and I am immediately surrounded by chickens.
My absolute secret weapon that no chicken can resist is bacon rind cut into small pieces.
 

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