How to bond with chickens?

[cluckkatie]

I especially want mine to start perching on me. How do I know they’re showing me affection? I think they are

 

[Chirehe]

I just hang out with my birds (I did a lot more when it was warm) all my hens will just casually jump on me when I bend down to get anything or they’ll just climb my back. I’m not sure if it’s necessarily affection but they trust me lol unlike my roo who respects from a distance (unless I have food XD)

 

[rosemarythyme]

I don't let my chickens perch on me (dirty feet, don't want to get nailed in the face) but assuming your birds are mostly tame if you just sit around quietly with food in your lap you'll find yourself with a volunteer sooner or later.

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x rosemarythyme ... Get a step stool & plastic container of treats (mealworms or/and Boss) and when you have time, go sit in the coop with them. Shake the container, they'll realize what it is you're approaching with & come running. There are times I just sit on the stool picking rocks up in their area, they come over to see what I'm doing and help out by digging more up. ALL it takes is time & patiences, they'll be under foot

 

[robinwhiskers]

Hand feeding, target training, rewarding eye contact, just sitting in there and watching them be chickens...

 

[little_chick_homestead]

I especially want mine to start perching on me. How do I know they’re showing me affection? I think they are

How I got mine to bond with me was by sitting down in the doorway of my coop watching my chickens for about an hour every morning. I kept doing this for some time until they got used to me being there, they would walk up to me in interest or even hop up onto my lap thinking I'm a perch! After a while of doing this, I held food in my hand for them to peck at so they'll get closer to me. I would pick up the hen (or rooster) who came to me first and I would hold them in my lap and let them eat the food from my hand if they felt safe around me. For me, I got a few of my chickens to be calm and feel safe around me after a month of working with them. Some I even grew a strong bond with and they come to me for food, they come when called by name, one of my roosters is so calm and happy around me that when he relaxes on my lap he would fall asleep.

 

[Cathy Roberts]

2x rosemarythyme ... Get a step stool & plastic container of treats (mealworms or/and Boss) and when you have time, go sit in the coop with them. Shake the container, they'll realize what it is you're approaching with & come running. There are times I just sit on the stool picking rocks up in their area, they come over to see what I'm doing and help out by digging more up. ALL it takes is time & patiences, they'll be under foot

How I got mine to bond with me was by sitting down in the doorway of my coop watching my chickens for about an hour every morning. I kept doing this for some time until they got used to me being there, they would walk up to me in interest or even hop up onto my lap thinking I'm a perch! After a while of doing this, I held food in my hand for them to peck at so they'll get closer to me. I would pick up the hen (or rooster) who came to me first and I would hold them in my lap and let them eat the food from my hand if they felt safe around me. For me, I got a few of my chickens to be calm and feel safe around me after a month of working with them. Some I even grew a strong bond with and they come to me for food, they come when called by name, one of my roosters is so calm and happy around me that when he relaxes on my lap he would fall asleep.

 

[Cathy Roberts]

2x rosemarythyme ... Get a step stool & plastic container of treats (mealworms or/and Boss) and when you have time, go sit in the coop with them. Shake the container, they'll realize what it is you're approaching with & come running. There are times I just sit on the stool picking rocks up in their area, they come over to see what I'm doing and help out by digging more up. ALL it takes is time & patiences, they'll be under foot [/

2x rosemarythyme ... Get a step stool & plastic container of treats (mealworms or/and Boss) and when you have time, go sit in the coop with them. Shake the container, they'll realize what it is you're approaching with & come running. There are times I just sit on the stool picking rocks up in their area, they come over to see what I'm doing and help out by digging more up. ALL it takes is time & patiences, they'll be under foot

This is just what I do. Mine just aren't as friendly as some. They let me pet them once in a while, but like to be admired from afar better.

 

[SW31]

It’s about spending time with them. When I first got mine I would open up the coop and sit with them drinking my pot of tea. The hens are pets. They realised I wasn’t going to hurt them so started to relax. They know them names when I speak to them and I know their individual tastes such as who likes tomatoes or grapes or cheese. I also say and sing *. them same things as I know they don’t understand what I’m saying but they recognise familiar sounds.

* I often sing the Good morning song from the film singing in the rain - yes I know I’m daft but life’s too short to be serious!

 

[Cathy Roberts]

It’s about spending time with them. When I first got mine I would open up the coop and sit with them drinking my pot of tea. The hens are pets. They realised I wasn’t going to hurt them so started to relax. They know them names when I speak to them and I know their individual tastes such as who likes tomatoes or grapes or cheese. I also say and sing *. them same things as I know they don’t understand what I’m saying but they recognise familiar sounds.

* I often sing the Good morning song from the film singing in the rain - yes I know I’m daft but life’s too short to be serious!