How do you make your chickens more comfortable with you?

[RezChamp]

I know I'm only 11 but I still care about chickens

Aw.
Oh to be that sweet again.
My 2 youngest are 13 & 6. They want to hold the chickens too.

But....chickens are born with an innate fear of being held because that's what predators do.
If you chase them down to catch them you're acting like a predator.
Trust will be gained if you temper your love with patience.
There are lots of good ideas in this forum.
Different ways work for different people.
Most probably you'll find your own way by trying a few different ways.
Lots of good ideas here.
Good luck

 

[newmommy]

All the advise I have seen here is the same that that I got for trying to get a stray chicken comfortable with me

 

[Peeps61]

I have four hens, 7 chicks about 11 weeks old now and a stray bantam hen that hangs around our property. We live on 10 acres out in the country. The stray was very skittish at first, but now she hangs around with the big girls and will come up with them to accept treats. Petting? No. But at least she's not terrified of me now.

 

[ThaSilverShadow]

Going in at night when they are sleepy is working well for me. I have my light so she can see me while I caress/talk to her. It is helping during the day as well. Today I picked her up and she rested on my hand until I was tired of petting her. A first! Only birds I've had a problem with being friendly is these two barnevelders.

 

[Our Roost]

I sometimes choose to pick up a few shy and jumpy birds individually when they are comfortable on the roost in the evening. I will stroke and fondle them and after they calm down, I return them to the roosting perch. I make sure I have their full attention with eye to eye contact. A few nights of this routine usually works and they become more calm to my handling of them. This practice lets them know I'm not a threat. Sneaky eh!

 

[DDRanch]

I often will just sit with them and read or hang out. Quiet, consistent and slow activities will calm a hen. I also talk to my girls a lot so they know my voice.

I never allow anyone to chase them or pick them up. If a guest wants to hold a hen, I will pick her up and hand her to my guest. Once a hen has been chased or roughly handled, it takes a lot of time and attention to counteract the experience.

I have had rescue hens that were terrified of people but after a couple of weeks of quiet talk, walk and treats, they lost their fear of me, followed me around, and allowed petting and picking up.

 

[DDRanch]

I forgot to mention, I do not pick them up when they are molting unless I absolutely have to. Molting is quite uncomfortable for them as new feathers grow.

 

[goatgal2012]

Bread isn't good for them or ducks anyway.

 

[Our Roost]

Bread isn't good for them or ducks anyway.

You can't be serious! I've been feeding ducks bread at shorelines forever and my chickens cant wait for me to show up with a bag of day old bread for them. I have yet to have a problem. Something in bread we all should know about?

 

[Kusanar]

I think it's the whole "once you cook something it looses it's nutrition" thing. I don't think it'll hurt them, but it may just not be as good for them as their normal feed is.