How do I get my hens to like me :)

The treats are pretty much what's going to do it. If you're throwing treats out to them, start to decrease the distance away from you so they gradually get used to being closer. Figure out what your chickens like the most and give them increasingly "valuable" treats as they get closer. For mine, they get Cheerios when they come take them from my hand but only lettuce when they stay a few yards away. Just be sure to transition gradually because at first they won't know you have extra special treats with you and would probably be too scared to risk coming for them anyway if you ask too much of them at first.

The other thing you can try is working on some clicker training. I take mine out individually to our dog run (that required some chasing and catching at first) and worked on teaching them each a few tricks. Now they come running whenever I come nearby. They learn that being around you is not scary and they get treats!

 

Quote:Karen Pryor, who wrote Don't Shoot the Dog, said that anyone who wants to be a parent should be able to train a chicken, and clicker training is the route to go.

The book is a great read.

And the OBVIOUS IMPLICATION is that anyone who visits backyardchickens is a wonderful parent, don't you think?

 

Chances are Pearl will never perch on your shoulder..she's a leghorn.They are not that cuddly of a chicken.Ours will flock us when we go out and untie shoes as many times as you re-tie them but they don't like people touch very well.Very friendly but not lap pet type. Then again I have a broody leghorn and they don't do that either
All depends on the personality..don't worry even new chicks are not always sweet and cuddly no matter how much you try..and some older ones will come around real quick.

 

Hi and welcome! I too am a rather new mama to chickens and am so obsessed it's not funny! I love EVERYTHING about my darling girls! I just got my first egg on Sunday and cried! (what a goof ball) I still have one girlie that won't let me hold her without a bunch of "squawking", however I am now able to pick them all up and/or pet them. I did this by being persistent, while talking sweet talk to them and offering their favorite treat (berries), right out of my hands. I can yell out my backdoor "hi chickens!!!" in my rather high voice and they all talk back! It's super cute! Anyway, have fun and good luck!

 

Just sit with them and feed them treats, dont try to pet them until they get more comfortable with you around because you'll scare them away.