sweetwatermountain
Chirping
Hi there!
I've been reading for weeks but this is my first day posting to the forum and only my second day of having my own chickens! Please forgive me if I have posted in the wrong section.
I have read a lot on the forum about taming my chickens so that they will come to me and even though I've found some conflicting information this is the approach I'm taking:
I've been sitting in their run...I tried to put the treats in my lap but they are terrified of me so the best I've done is gotten them to eat the treats about half a foot away from me. I've been sitting out there for about 30 minutes at a time several times a day, just getting them used to my presence and talking frequently. I make the same noise when they eat the treats so that they will associate that noise from me with treats. I have not been grabbing them except when I have to to get them in the coop at night...tips for when I need to do this? Should I keep holding them until they calm down or let them down as quickly as possible since they are scared?
The other thing I keep reading is that it takes time. I'm sure every chicken is different, but if you have gone through this experience, how long did it take your chickens to warm up to you?
Is there anything I'm not doing that you would suggest?
I don't need them to love me and sit in my lap (though that would be neat!), but I would like to be able to pick them up when necessary without scaring them and when I free range them once they are full grown I want to make sure they will come back to me.
Mine are 6 weeks and have not been handled much until now. They are 2 Whiting True Greens and 2 Whiting True Blues. They are terrified of me!
Thank you for any tips and resources you can offer. I'm so excited to join this community and have my own chickens!
I've been reading for weeks but this is my first day posting to the forum and only my second day of having my own chickens! Please forgive me if I have posted in the wrong section.
I have read a lot on the forum about taming my chickens so that they will come to me and even though I've found some conflicting information this is the approach I'm taking:
I've been sitting in their run...I tried to put the treats in my lap but they are terrified of me so the best I've done is gotten them to eat the treats about half a foot away from me. I've been sitting out there for about 30 minutes at a time several times a day, just getting them used to my presence and talking frequently. I make the same noise when they eat the treats so that they will associate that noise from me with treats. I have not been grabbing them except when I have to to get them in the coop at night...tips for when I need to do this? Should I keep holding them until they calm down or let them down as quickly as possible since they are scared?
The other thing I keep reading is that it takes time. I'm sure every chicken is different, but if you have gone through this experience, how long did it take your chickens to warm up to you?
Is there anything I'm not doing that you would suggest?
I don't need them to love me and sit in my lap (though that would be neat!), but I would like to be able to pick them up when necessary without scaring them and when I free range them once they are full grown I want to make sure they will come back to me.
Mine are 6 weeks and have not been handled much until now. They are 2 Whiting True Greens and 2 Whiting True Blues. They are terrified of me!
Thank you for any tips and resources you can offer. I'm so excited to join this community and have my own chickens!
