How do I get my chicken to come to me by name

[Themellowyellows]

I'm pretty sure my chick is a Australorp chicken and I think it's a pullet the comb seems pretty small to me I have this image of the comb size of a 5-week old pullet and cockerel if you want to look at it.

If Austrolop then probably pullet, also a bit to early ~ just my guess, might be to early.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

But it has those wild feathers on top of its head .... never saw that on any of my Australorps ...

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

I'm pretty sure my chick is a Australorp chicken and I think it's a pullet the comb seems pretty small to me I have this image of the comb size of a 5-week old pullet and cockerel if you want to look at it.

It is certainly not pure Australorp, as I can see a crest on its head (that little tuft of feathers sticking out). At least I think that is what I am seeing, I am unsure if it is just sticking out because those head feathers happened to get wet. But it looks pretty dry to me. If you can tell me whether or not the chick's head feathers are always like that, then that would be great.

 

[IRS]

It is certainly not pure Australorp, as I can see a crest on its head (that little tuft of feathers sticking out). At least I think that is what I am seeing, I am unsure if it is just sticking out because those head feathers happened to get wet. But it looks pretty dry to me. If you can tell me whether or not the chick's head feathers are always like that, then that would be great.

Hmm well when it first started growing its feathers little feathers were sticking out of its head, actually I incubator this chick myself when it was an egg and the egg was white I just searched it up and Australorp lay brown or light brown eggs so my chick may not be all pure or not a Australorp at all.

(Here's a picture of the egg)

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

its feathers little feathers were sticking out of its head,

So that means it has a crest and it is certainly not pure.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

To answer yoir question ... to start with, keep doing what you are doing to which your chick is responding. Waving your arms or whatever. And call the chick's name. Repeatedly, in the exsct same tone to which you want it to respond. When it comes, give it a special treat you will give it ONLY when it comes to you snd at no other time.

Next, gradually diminish the arm-waving and other things you do and emphasize the name-calling. Continue with the treat. For now, be consistent with the treat, but give it somewhat sparingly. I mean, give a teaspoon, not half a cup!

Over time, use the name more and the body language less. If it doesn't come, go ahead and give a TINY bit of treat as you say the name. Name = treat. No name, no treat. Then back up a little and try again. Try to get it to at least take a step toward you before giving the treat. Don't grab or try to pick the bird up, lots of them don't like that. See if you can tell how the bird feels about that.

A thought about feeding out of your hand. Some birds peck really HARD! You might decide you don't really want to do that. Maybe put the treat in a little cup and let it take the treat out of that while you hold it. Just a thought.

Reward small improvements! Your bird may not run across the yard when you call its name at first, but if it takes a step toward you, that's progress! Reward it. Tomorrow it may take two steps. This is called "successive approximation." I like big words!

Good luck and have fun!