How to make birds friendlier?

[Insnesnakos]

My little birds always go to me for food, but won't let me touch them. How can I make them less scared of me petting them?
I almost tripped on one the other day because of them running in front of me when I'm trying to return home to get food for them. They always think I constantly have food.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

My little birds always go to me for food, but won't let me touch them. How can I make them less scared of me petting them?
I almost tripped on one the other day because of them running in front of me when I'm trying to return home to get food for them. They always think I constantly have food.
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I’m not sure I raised mine from chicks and they’re lap chickens but I adopted a full grown hen I sat with her a lot and now she follows me like a dog and plays with my feet!!! She has tried to get on my lap but she tripped I hope she tries again!

 

[Insnesnakos]

I’m not sure I raised mine from chicks and they’re lap chickens but I adopted a full grown hen I sat with her a lot and now she follows me like a dog and plays with my feet!!! She has tried to get on my lap but she tripped I hope she tries again!

I got mine from chicks (we brought one of the big hens inside to be with them at night) and they always follow me and are fine with eating from my hand.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

I got mine from chicks (we brought one of the big hens inside to be with them at night) and they always follow me and are fine with eating from my hand.

Hmmm how did you raise them when they were little? I cuddled with mine constantly until they jumped on my hand to come out. I also let them play on a mat and jump on me when they wanted. they loved to cuddle and now as hens they are lap chickens. I hope you can get your hens to be more friendly they don’t seem scared of you maybe take some time to just sit with them?

 

[Insnesnakos]

Hmmm how did you raise them when they were little? I cuddled with mine constantly until they jumped on my hand to come out. I also let them play on a mat and jump on me when they wanted. they loved to cuddle and now as hens they are lap chickens. I hope you can get your hens to be more friendly they don’t seem scared of you maybe take some time to just sit with them?

I would watch them eat and move around or talk to them. They would eat from my hand or try to get a better look at me. Now when I sit down they go towards me to see if I have food, then complain if I don't.

 

[Chikenshiken]

My little birds always go to me for food, but won't let me touch them. How can I make them less scared of me petting them?
I almost tripped on one the other day because of them running in front of me when I'm trying to return home to get food for them. They always think I constantly have food.

Some chickens just won’t like being touched but some can be trained! Chickens are very food motivated so yes, they might come to you for food. All chickens do this so it’s nothing to be upset about I trained my older hen by sitting outside with them for as often as I could to let them realize me being around doesn’t always automatically mean food. They know I have food only during certain times like the morning and when I sit on the porch with snacks. I’d also hold them and feed them in my hand or lap that way they’re distracted while being touched and grow more tolerant over time. So I’d just try
1. Sitting out with them often

2. don’t always have food out everytime you see them so they associate certain times with treats and you with attention. When you do have snacks I’d hand feed them

3. Just interact with them I always follow mine around and sit next to them while they graze

I hope this helps you out! I got one of my more untame hens to go from running away to letting me pick her up and kiss her with this method it takes a long time, it took a year but it was worth it

 

[Insnesnakos]

Some chickens just won’t like being touched but some can be trained! Chickens are very food motivated so yes, they might come to you for food. All chickens do this so it’s nothing to be upset about I trained my older hen by sitting outside with them for as often as I could to let them realize me being around doesn’t always automatically mean food. They know I have food only during certain times like the morning and when I sit on the porch with snacks. I’d also hold them and feed them in my hand or lap that way they’re distracted while being touched and grow more tolerant over time. So I’d just try
1. Sitting out with them often

2. don’t always have food out everytime you see them so they associate certain times with treats and you with attention. When you do have snacks I’d hand feed them

3. Just interact with them I always follow mine around and sit next to them while they graze

I hope this helps you out! I got one of my more untame hens to go from running away to letting me pick her up and kiss her with this method it takes a long time, it took a year but it was worth it

Great! I will try these things next time. Not today though, it's windy out.