How to tame a chicken?

[chickenlover432]

Heyhey peeps!



So I wanted to know how to tame a chicken?

My Loupe(my chicken) is not all that tamed, Plus she is the fastest, strongest one, so it's just a bitttttt hard to catch her.


Pepi(who died a while ago) was a beautiful chicken! she was very easy to tame, and very gentle around people. But I'm not sure how I tamed her.




So how do you do it?

 

[drumstick diva]

It's mainly a personality thing - some birds are very laid back and friendly, others are very flighty and reserved. The best way to a chicken's heart is thru food. Don't overdue treats because they will stop eating necessary food. Maybe twice a day you could give small amount of goodies like meal worms, or crickets, or a little boss etc.

Try to give it at the same time each day - rattle a can or something to get their attention and talk to them. Your reluctant one will start to look forward to your visit and in time will try to climb over you(if you sit still) to get treats quickly. That leads to her realizing you are good and not going to harm her. You can't really remake personality but, you can give reasons not to fret when you come around.

P.S. with treats she will learn to come to you and you won't have to chase her and scare her.

 

[TwoCrows]

Drumstick Diva X2! Go out and sit down on the ground. On her level. Get some goodies and toss some around you. Let her come to you. Stay quiet and don't make sudden moves. Do this every day and toss the treats a bit closer each time. A week from now, extend your hand with the treats. See if she will eat from your hand. Hopefully she eventually braves up and gets on your lap.

Raisins are to die for or dried crickets! Even stale bread. But work slowly but consistently. If you persist, over time she should come around.

Good luck!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! X3 on drumstick diva and TwoCrows' advice, with adult chickens, food will usually work eventually. It just takes patience. Especially when you are first trying to tame them, try never to chase them, if you have to handle them, take them off the roost and do it at night when it is least stressful.

 

[gander007]

 

[chickenlover432]

Yeah, she does come when I sit down. But, when I let her out of her cage(half of the backyard is their cage!) I can't catch her again! (maybe she's just cheeky and wants to stay out)
and with the treat idea, it doesn't seem to work outside her cage at all...any ideas on what to do with that one?




and Drumstickdiva, nobody scares Loupe!

 

[sourland]

Feed is the great equalizer. The more you try to 'catch' her, the more wild she will become. Chickens are prey animals, and the desire to flee possible predation is necessary for their survival.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

 

[chickenlover432]

Well thanks for that, I will try all of your advice, and hopefully Loupe won't be quite so stubborn

 

[Berry Chechy]

I have the exact same problem.

I went to the poultry exchange and got an Old English Game Bantam, because they are "docile and friendly and broody". Well not this OEG. What a spaz!!!! You should have heard her scream when she was transferred to me. That really was my first clue that I just wasted $20. anyway, she has gotten away several times. The other chicken I had was just killed by a raccoon, she was the sweetest chicken, but biggish and heavey and couldn't escape easily, Esme (the OEG) on the other hand, can fly. I've had a hell of a time explaining and apologizing to neighbors (because she got loose when the raccoon killed my other chicken) So, Esme (think Esme Watson from Country Practice) gets away and was in the back yard (it's wooded) for 4 days, finally she came back and I found her in the run. I figure since she's been alone a while now (and chickens don't like that), that I'll give her treats so she can bond (in her stupid chicken way) with me.

Long story short, try isolating her for a few days and be the only company loaded with treats that she has contact with. It might work. That's what I'm doing. But I reckon this chicken can never be tamed.