Gallinarium
Crowing
I don't have friendly breeds, so I thought I would never be able to easily handle my birds. They still might very well ignore me when they grow up, but for now eight out of my twelve pullets don't run from hands, and are quiet when held.
What I did was this: tamed them the way I tamed my hamster.
The way to a hamster's heart is through his stomach, or rather through his cheeks, since he pouches everything first. A quick completely relevant picture:
Anyway, I figured chickens are just as big of pigs... And I was right! I picked them up one by one and held them in one hand while offering food in the other. Only one snooty chicken has ignored the food. Then I place them gently back in the coop, and grab the next pullet.
The first to transition over was Rosalie, my brown Leghorn. Previously she shrieked every time my hands got too close, and stuggled when held. The day after I started doing this, I noticed that if I moved slowly and slid my hands under her from the front or sides, she did not scream bloody murder. In fact, she accepted it like a show chicken. The next day, both Sally the Red Star and Alice Von Fluffypants the Whiting True Blue started acting the same way. Now, four days since I started, all but four are friendly. And it's not just being held nicely, either. Both Sally and Alice fly up to my arms, shoulders, or head when I open the door. Rosalie and Jasmine hop up on The Box to watch me, and step up onto my hand when offered.
It just seems like a miracle to me. At six weeks, I'd lost hope of ever having friendly birds. And, again, it might not last, but for now at least I'm happy.
Try it and post how it goes. And are there any other ways to tame chickens that help?
And who says bribery doesn't work?
What I did was this: tamed them the way I tamed my hamster.
The way to a hamster's heart is through his stomach, or rather through his cheeks, since he pouches everything first. A quick completely relevant picture:
Anyway, I figured chickens are just as big of pigs... And I was right! I picked them up one by one and held them in one hand while offering food in the other. Only one snooty chicken has ignored the food. Then I place them gently back in the coop, and grab the next pullet.
The first to transition over was Rosalie, my brown Leghorn. Previously she shrieked every time my hands got too close, and stuggled when held. The day after I started doing this, I noticed that if I moved slowly and slid my hands under her from the front or sides, she did not scream bloody murder. In fact, she accepted it like a show chicken. The next day, both Sally the Red Star and Alice Von Fluffypants the Whiting True Blue started acting the same way. Now, four days since I started, all but four are friendly. And it's not just being held nicely, either. Both Sally and Alice fly up to my arms, shoulders, or head when I open the door. Rosalie and Jasmine hop up on The Box to watch me, and step up onto my hand when offered.
It just seems like a miracle to me. At six weeks, I'd lost hope of ever having friendly birds. And, again, it might not last, but for now at least I'm happy.
Try it and post how it goes. And are there any other ways to tame chickens that help?
And who says bribery doesn't work?
