How to get pullets to be trusting of me

[5280native]

We have 4 pullets all approx 11/12 weeks, and have had them for 3 weeks now. They are all still terrified of us, unless we have a handful of treats.

We have
1 silkie bantam - I've read these love being held, but she still tries to get away and I'm afraid to hurt her
1 cochin - She's pretty cool with being held, the best of the bunch
1 laced wyndotte (who is much bigger than the rest)- She's the boss, but runs when you try to get her
1 Easter egger- who will scream bloody murder if she isn't with the other 3 and HATES to be held


Any idea on how to get them more used to being held? Or is it something that takes months not weeks?

Thanks so much!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Invest your time in doing some searches here regarding the socializing of your flock -- there are tons of great posts about different things that have worked for other members to build a friendly "pet" relationship with their birds.
The biggest thing is just be present. Spend time just being there - not trying to interact with them, but just becoming a familiar "object" in their world so you are no longer that scary strange thing that appears now and then. Approach them from the side or below with your hands rather than from above - coming in from above is a threatening move in their perception. Are they in an area that is large enough for you to just sit down in with them? If you do that you are on their level and not looming over them - and you can just sit and read a book, etc and let their curiosity take over and lead them to approach you vs. you trying to approach them.

 

[5280native]

Thank you for the advice. That's kind of what we have been doing, just sit there and let them come to us for treats. As for an area where they live, it's our first time with chickens so we are learning as we go. We supervise them as they wander around the yard every day, but I am adding a larger screened off are where they can wander all day un-supervised, big enough for one of us to sit and chill with them. I will also look up more about socializing.

Cheers!

 

[chicks370]

It takes time and patience. Don't force it but incourage them with treats!

 

[Traphill]

Hi 5280 native

Welcome...good advice on the other replies but also there are some breeds that are just not that friendly and prefer to be away from you......don't take it personal!!!
My marans and speckled Sussex follow me around the yard and yet my 3 year old Easter eggers really don't want anything to do with me unless I have meal worms in hand! Enjoy your chickens they are so much fun.

 

[GaChick34]

I'm new to all of this as well. From what I've read here, treats are the way to their heart. I also just with mine like someone suggested. I've got one orp who will climb all over me. Even on top of my head. The others, not so much. I'm just trying to be patient, but it's easier said than done. I've read they don't like to be held, in general, but I would like to be able to hold mine as well. Not to coddle like a dog, but where they just hang out comfortably. Best of luck and hope that they come around to you. I'm sure they will in time.

 

[GaChick34]

My EE runs from me as well. She acts like I'm going to poke her with a cattle prod. Quite the dramatic little things when they want to be. Lol

 

[MrsHall28]

So far treats seem to be the only thing that work for me. One even jumps up on my lap to get treats, but she's outta there as soon as they are gone. When I lay out a towel and sit in the grass with them on their level they get really close to me, even pick at my shoe lace and stuff. They still hate being held, etc. I don't know if they'll every *like* that lol.

 

[SpringPeeper]

Some of it could be their age. In the awkward stage between cute and trusting little chick and confident sub-adults, I've had a lot of quite sociable chickens go through a very flighty stage. They seem more aware of dangers around them, a little more able to flee, and are in the age range when a mother hen might be thinking of abandoning them. I think even chicks raised without a mother hen are naturally going to go through a super-alert stage around the time their instincts tell them they'd be on their own for survival.

Just interact with them regularly and calmly and bribe them with treats and I think you'll see them come around.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

First, ignore the nasty poster. In fact, report them. There's a little red flag at the lower left corner for you to use. BYC is not that kind of place.

It's always best to start taming chickens as day-old chicks and never stop petting them if you want tame birds. It seems like the "default setting" for chickens is to not be afraid, but also not want to be held and if you want the behavior to be different, you have to work at it. I've found that having your brooder window on the sides so that you can come up to them at eye level and not tower over them from the top like a predator helps a HUGE amount in keeping tame chicks.

Your birds are at a skittish time of life. It's amazing the personality change hens go through when they start to lay eggs. Pullets that are screaming and running away and too scared to come near me for treats are all of a sudden crowding around my feet once they start to lay, so don't get too discouraged.

Since they are older, it's going to take some work to tame them. Lots of really great treats, and lots of holding them. Get one of those open-bottomed baby corrals or a dog kennel that's relatively small and forces them to be near you. Sit in the middle of it with your birds and a good book. Put some delicious treats around you and just sit. Let them explore, let them hop on you, but don't attempt to grab them at first. This will take lots of patience and lots of time and you'll need to do it every single day. Once they're perching all over you and taking treats with no hesitation, then you can start moving your hands towards them and see if you can pet them. Again take it slow.

Best of luck! I, personally, have too many birds to try to tame them. As long as they aren't actively afraid of me, I'm doing OK. When I want to work with them, I go into the hen house with someone else to help me catch them or I work with them at night when they're roosting and wont' run away. It isn't necessary to have birds that want to be held and cuddled in order to be able to work with them.