HOW TO RAISE CUDDLY CHICKS!!HELP🐣🐥

[Vanessa_monte]

Anyone know how to raise loving chickens?I want to start a new flock of hens that are very cuddly since my old flock is very skiddish from me. I have loved each and every hen very much but they don’t like to be held or they run away when I try to pick them up(not all the time). I have new chicks so any tips on how to get them used to affection at an early age is very much appreciated

 

[RubelliteRose]

We spent HOURS with our chickens when they were babies. We started letting them eat from our hands after the first couple of days and when they were older, let them climb into our laps as we sat beside the brooder(we brood in giant dog crates, so we left the door open and sat beside it. It is best to come in from the side too instead of over them as that is scary.
All our hens are friendly and can be picked up. Do know that there are individual differences though. A few love to be cuddled and will hop on our lap every chance they get. Some prefer to snuggle up beside us and some just hang around but don't particularly like snuggles. Also even though they can all be picked up and handled, they don't always want to be picked up and will still occasionally run away.
Your baby is adorable and I hope she becomes a lap chicken for you

 

[nuthatched]

Chickens aren't really lap animals, but some individuals might be more friendly. They are prey animals and are naturally wary. Use an eye level brooder that has clear wall so they can see you coming so you won't be the hand of fate. Mine never got used to my hands, I plan on raising them eye level this year

 

[Poultrybonkers]

My speckled susses chicks where my friendliest birds other nope skittish but once they mature they seem friendlier

 

[nuthatched]

My speckled susses chicks where my friendliest birds other nope skittish but once they mature they seem friendlier

So were mine! my rocks were plain nosey, though.

 

[SueT]

Don’t reach for them from above. Put your hand(s) on the brooder floor and let them approach, and walk on the hand if they want. They will lose fear of hands and then you can try touching them from beneath them. You can eventually lift them by slipping your fingers under them. Treats always help.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

So were mine! my rocks were plain nosey, though.

The most skittish ones for me where true ameraucanas and orpingtons worst ones ever

 

[RubelliteRose]

My speckled susses chicks where my friendliest birds other nope skittish but once they mature they seem friendlier

Interesting, my speckled Sussex is definitely in the last group- I'll hang around you and handle me if you must, but I'm not going to snuggle
My lap birds are EEs, Dominique, BCM and a Silver Leghorn.

 

[Vanessa_monte]

We spent HOURS with our chickens when they were babies. We started letting them eat from our hands after the first couple of days and when they were older, let them climb into our laps as we sat beside the brooder(we brood in giant dog crates, so we left the door open and sat beside it. It is best to come in from the side too instead of over them as that is scary.
All our hens are friendly and can be picked up. Do know that there are individual differences though. A few love to be cuddled and will hop on our lap every chance they get. Some prefer to snuggle up beside us and some just hang around but don't particularly like snuggles. Also even though they can all be picked up and handled, they don't always want to be picked up and will still occasionally run away.
Your baby is adorable and I hope she becomes a lap chicken for you

Thank you so much for the tips!I will definitely try this for my hens

 

[David61]

raisins, my chickens ate them like candy at one week old. roll them with your fingers until they bust open. I would pet them while they pecked away. I put cardboard sides on the dog kennel and put it by my bed and talk to them. Hold them, pet them, feed them treats many times a day for the first 2 weeks. I would take dixie cups and put live bugs in them , sit the cups around the yard and call the chicks over. Then tip over the cup. Chickens never like to do anything unless it's their idea. I tried to pet one of my buff's this morning. she went to run so i picked her up. She was a little fussy so i put her on the poop board and petted her up. After that she sat there for more petting and the others came to get some petting too. I call, they come but they take their time before getting petted. unless i have raisins. I could be swinging a meat clever and they would still dance around my feet waiting for a raisin.