How to make chicks cuddly and pettable? Feeling discouraged...

[Dragon Slayer Trinket]

I have one chicken that is as friendly and cuddly as a puppy just about. This is why I think:
1) She was 1 of 6 and I was there when she hatched out of the egg. I missed the rest of them hatching. I think I may have a little bit of imprinting to thank for that.

2) Her and her siblings lived in a brooder in my bathroom for a long time. I spent a lot of time with them. The "putting your hand face up with food in it" really works. After a while, I could put my hand in there without food and they would still hop in my hand and sit because they liked me and liked me to play with them.

3) I tried not to grab them unless I had to, and I would wait for them to hop in my hand if I wanted to take them out to play with them. They also like being pet on the chest with one finger, not pet on the head or back so much, that's scarier.

4) my friendliest chicken got the most attention as a chick because she was my favorite from the start. She was handled the most too. I also would sometimes take her outside for brief periods when it was warm outside and let her scratch around in my garden bed. Basically, she came to associate all good and interesting things with interacting with me.

5) all but 2 of the chicks were very friendly when they first went to live outside. 1 was never fond of me, and I think that's because I didn't get to meet her until a day or 2 after she hatched (she eventually came around tho and is my second friendliest) the other was a roo who hatched after everyone else, and idk why he didnt like me as much, that's just his attitude I guess) the others were all boys. All those boys were friendly and would follow me around the coop like puppies. When they got older, one got shy and no longer liked being touched (he was also almost eaten by a dog at one point so idk maybe he was traumatized) the other 2 boys remained sweet and loved to interact with me. Sadly however, I left them together too long as adults once they reached maturity and one started to bully the other. The bully stayed sweet towards me, but the other became afraid of anything that approached him, including me. The cuddly bully went to a new home where he could be the only rooster, and since he's gone, the bullied rooster has regained some confidence and will still let me pet him from time to time, but is sadly still skittish. The 2 girls however, very friendly, but only one likes to be held and touched.

In conclusion, the most important things I've found in making a cuddly chicken are:
*Be there when it hatches if possible
*spend lots of time with them
*lots of positive reinforcement and enrichment
*no grabbing or petting on head and back at first, only pet the chest and be patient when waiting for them to interact with you.
*continue to spend time with them once they move outside and let them eat from your hand from time to time. Keep petting them.
*try to keep them from being traumatized by other pets. Traumatized chickens take a LONG time to gain trust with.
*nothing is 100%. Out of 6, I only got one cuddly hen. Her tempermant was always more chill than the others so maybe she was predisposed. Idk. But she was worth it!

Agree totally. Question: How badly was your rooster attacked? I had a very nice hen get beaten up by a dog. Lost lots of feathers and skin. I held her for a while to keep her warm (she was soaked), but she's nicer than ever now.

 

[Katakornchicks]

Agree totally. Question: How badly was your rooster attacked? I had a very nice hen get beaten up by a dog. Lost lots of feathers and skin. I held her for a while to keep her warm (she was soaked), but she's nicer than ever now.

He was not attacked badly because I stopped it before it got bad. I saw it happen, the dog was chasing my chicks and I was chasing the dog. The dog cornered the baby rooster and had him in her mouth. I immediately tackled the dog and smacked the baby out of her mouth almost as soon as it happened. He didn't have a scratch as best I could see. Then he ran scared and got caught in a fence trying to get away and I had to go free him from the fence after the neighbors came and got the dog. He seemed relieved at the time and closed his eyes in my hands once he knew he was safe. He still grew up to be kinda shy tho and avoided being handled. I'm sorry about your hen! But I'm glad it brought you closer together instead of making her fearful.

 

[RiverOtter]

It is confirmed. I have cracked the code. Airline type crate in a busy spot, roughly eye level, handle the chicks when they come pouring out at you.

Can I just say, I hope y'all appreciate what I have done for science. Because guineas are not good to snuggle with. Don't get me wrong, apparently, they LOVE to snuggle. If I give this one range of the house, at bedtime she wants to get under the covers and cuddle. She is deeply put out that I refuse. But they also have stronger beaks and longer claws than chickens, and CANNOT be convinced that every smudge and freckle on your skin doesn't need to be pecked off, and to not go through the motions of dustbathing on top of you. Guineas also have Very Strong Opinions on where they should be. If they are of the opinion that place is in your hair, your options are caging a guinea or having one in your hair.

 

[BettyKrocker]

Hello guys! I'm wondering what are your methods to get a chick to be more friendlier, cuddlier and pettable.

I know chickens are food motivated, but I have no success in having them eat any treats. I tried mealworms, wetting their starter food, scrambled eggs, and boiled egg yolks, but they always ignore it.

My first batch of chicks were are a disaster since it was my first time raising chicks and I made a lot of mistakes thus making them super skittish. I was determined to make things right with my second batch of chicks. The second batch consists of 3 chicks that are a little less than 3 weeks old now and their breeds are a Lavender Orpington, Barnevelder, and a Blue Americauna. The most outgoing and curious of the trio is the Orpington.

I made sure to use a brooder that allowed me to reach for them from a ground level and the sides are open mesh so they can see me when I approach. I spend 30mins everyday sitting on the ground and hanging out with them, manually dropping their feed so that they know my hand isn't a threat, making the same clucking sound when I visit and feed them, and petting their wings and crop when their busy eating. Hand feeding them their starter feed is iffy currently. Anything that requires me to reach from above and possibly scare them like cleaning their brooder I always do at night in darkness since they won't be able to see me or anything for that matter.

While they're happy to see me when I'm visiting them and would come up to me, they would back away if I try to pet them anywhere when their NOT busy eating. Whenever I pick them up, they always scream and try to wriggle out. It makes me worried that the small shred of trust that I cultivated with them is shattered whenever I attempt to grab them.

Do I forcefully hold them on my lap until they stop screaming and wriggling away? How do you make your chicks interested in eating treats? What other things did you do to get your chicks to be cuddly and pettable? Does this get any better or am I doomed to have chickens that never want to be held/pet?

It makes me discouraged because I feel like everything I'm doing is wrong and that all this extra effort is worthless.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Don't grab them is the first thing.

Chickens don't like being picked up. It causes them stress. They do eventually get used to it but it takes time. What causes the highest level of stress is having their wings restricted.

Oh lordy, then my husband has gone BEYOND terrorizing my chicks then.

 

[Shadrach]

Oh lordy, then my husband has gone BEYOND terrorizing my chicks then.

Time to get a new husband then.