How friendly are your Red Sex Links?

[GSDBESTK9]

Does it depend on the particular chick? I've had my 6 red sex links for 3 weeks now and they still freak out when I pick them up.

 

[Fred's Hens]

You are that Giant that scares the crud out of them. It'll change as they mature. Instinct tells them to fear anything and everything, especially something as large and above them as you are.

The RSLs we've had have been friendly to a fault. As in, tripping over them as they love to be under foot.

 

[AnimalCrazed]

The more your around them the Friendlier they will be! Mine come running everytime i go out the door, they even stop when i go to pick them up

 

[crchickens]

Mine are super friendly. They are some of my best. I do have one RIR who is not very friendly, so maybe yours got it from those genetics.

 

[Hapigrl]

So are your girls 3 or 4 weeks old? Ours are 6 weeks old, and I will say at that age they did still freak out to see my hand come into the cage we were keeping them in. They would come to the door when I sat in front of it to say hello, but it wasnt untill they went into the coop when they all got more friendly. We have one or two hens who will actually come over to you and let you pet them as much as you want. The others are curious and will come over and get very close, but one or two pets is all you get. They are all very very friendly, but we are just working into picking them up. We only have one hen, Monroe, that almost comes running wings open for love lol!! She will let you carry her for hours. We are very very new to this, but I would say it depends on the bird, just like people. Also, they do let us pet them more day by day. OH!! wait till you give them treats!! They REALLY come running then!! You will looooove it!! it is so cool! ours really LOVE raw tomato, and yogurt....Good luck hun

 

[Panth]

I guess I was unlucky with mine I bought 2 black sex links and 1 red sex link last year. The 2 blacks are called the TroubleTwins because they get into everything and have to be underfoot and a part of everything I do (they even hop into the car while I'm cleaning it). On the other hand, the red is scared of everything and mean. She does lay a large egg very faithfully though. Hopefully yours end up being more friendly. As a rule, once chickens reach POL (point of lay) they usually have a big attitude change and mellow out a LOT.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

It can vary a lot with sex-links depending on exactly what they were bred from. My ISA Browns as Fred notes can be a nuisance for always being underfoot and checking things out. I have another pen of sex-links we bought as a part of a fair project that were just plain mean to the point I'd have to stand over my youngest with a stick to keep them from pecking her as she was filling feeders. They have since proved to be excellent layers though and the meaness gradually faded.

Mostly though they've been very good birds as temperament goes.

 

[bucky52]

i have three,when i first got them they were 20 weeks old.they would not even let me touch them.i would give them treats and fed them out of my hand.once they started laying,they became so sweet and they are like pets.and they are great layers.

 

[GSDBESTK9]

Cool, this gives me hope!