How to tame a one year old chicken?

[beaks]

One word. Treats. Actually two words. Treats and Patience.

The way to a chicken's heart is through its stomach. The way to build trust is to be patient and gentle around them.

Start by being trustworthy in your movements around them. Do nothing to force or startle them. Always bring a yummy treat bucket with you.

Begin by simply tossing (gently) the treats onto the ground and letting them get them. Eventually somebody will be bold enough to attempt to get the treat directly from you. Let them bucket or hand feed. Over time, others will want to come to you to get a treat directly too.

Sit down in their presence, either on the ground or on a chair, and let them see you as non-threatening. Continue to feed yummy treats.

In time they will come running whenever they see you. As they become comfortable in your presence you can begin to reach out and touch some of the bolder ones. If anyone is unhappy with that, back off.

Not all chickens like to be cuddled, but some are quite personable.

Do be careful to not let them become demanding of you or rude. Don't let them peck at you or harass you for their treats. You still must be flock leader...just a gentle leader.

In time, one or two, or most, depending upon breed and bird, will enjoy your company and several may become rather affectionate.

My suggestions.
LofMc

Perfect advice. My chickens see me and come running. Not because they love me but they see me as treat lady. But they are very tame and only one or two that no matter what still does not like to be held or touched. Yes it's all thru their stomach

 

[Dawnclucks22]

One word. Treats. Actually two words. Treats and Patience.

The way to a chicken's heart is through its stomach. The way to build trust is to be patient and gentle around them.

Start by being trustworthy in your movements around them. Do nothing to force or startle them. Always bring a yummy treat bucket with you.

Begin by simply tossing (gently) the treats onto the ground and letting them get them. Eventually somebody will be bold enough to attempt to get the treat directly from you. Let them bucket or hand feed. Over time, others will want to come to you to get a treat directly too.

Sit down in their presence, either on the ground or on a chair, and let them see you as non-threatening. Continue to feed yummy treats.

In time they will come running whenever they see you. As they become comfortable in your presence you can begin to reach out and touch some of the bolder ones. If anyone is unhappy with that, back off.

Not all chickens like to be cuddled, but some are quite personable.

Do be careful to not let them become demanding of you or rude. Don't let them peck at you or harass you for their treats. You still must be flock leader...just a gentle leader.

In time, one or two, or most, depending upon breed and bird, will enjoy your company and several may become rather affectionate.

My suggestions.
LofMc

My girls trust be enough to take treats from my hand but don't run up to me. I've had them for a couple years, is it too late to get really close to them? I love them to death and I would love them even more if they loved me back just as much! <3

 

[Lady of McCamley]

My girls trust be enough to take treats from my hand but don't run up to me. I've had them for a couple years, is it too late to get really close to them? I love them to death and I would love them even more if they loved me back just as much! <3

Some birds are simply more shy and standoffish. A number of breeds are known for being more "skittish." Birds are individuals just like people are. Some don't like to be "hugged" or have a lot of body closeness.

However, consistency is the key. Change up your treats to something that they really, really, really, "I'd walk over hot coals to get" like. Then simply always have some of those treats and continue to be in their presence in a positive way. As stated before, slowly, gently increase your time with them.

For really skittish birds, I've taken them off the roost and given them food treats as they settled. They will never be lap pets (and honestly, that isn't what I have chickens for), but they are very calm in my presence now.

I trained my rooster with frozen corn kernels...his absolute to die for treat.

Keep your expectations simple (birds think with their stomachs and comfort rather than emotions) and treat with consistency. You may be surprised at how well you do.

LofMc

 

[centrarchid]

Lady at McCamley's advice is sound. In addition I spend time around my birds without paying direct attention to them. I service equipment, tend fish and other critters, and just do general surveys on a daily basis without doing anything directed at the chickens. I also restrict when possible the handling of birds until after dark and do so in a manner that does not stress the birds. No grabbing in particular.

 

[Fluttering-about]

Well, it depends upon your goals and whose "comfort" you are seeking....yours or the birds.

Using a large fish net is actually much less traumatic to bird (and owner's back) than other means.

However, a good treat bucket rattled at the right time will produce a Pied Piper moment and results in more harmonious feelings all around...my experience.

LofMc

Wait.... are you serious? Like, I'm not being sarcastic.....an airhead maybe.... I am new to raising raising chickens..when it comes to wing clipping time, I swear that they KNOW.

do people honestly use a fish net????? Honestly ..... I kind of think it would work...but wouldn't my girls have a heart attack of something????

 

[MalMom]

Wait.... are you serious? Like, I'm not being sarcastic.....an airhead maybe.... I am new to raising raising chickens..when it comes to wing clipping time, I swear that they KNOW.

do people honestly use a fish net????? Honestly ..... I kind of think it would work...but wouldn't my girls have a heart attack of something????

I honestly use a fishnet. I won't use it on the hens, but my roommate use to. They started out as hers and then she decided she didn't want to put in the effort so I enshrined them. The hens usually come to me, or at least don't put up much of a run.

My chicks on the other hand are hard to catch. I try not to use the fish net, but sometimes it's necisarry. After I catch them I hold them for a while talking sweetly to them and petting them. I'm trying to get the chicks tamed down some but I'm not having a lot of luck. I'm hoping once they can be with the big girls I can treat train all of them.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Wait.... are you serious? Like, I'm not being sarcastic.....an airhead maybe.... I am new to raising raising chickens..when it comes to wing clipping time, I swear that they KNOW.

do people honestly use a fish net????? Honestly ..... I kind of think it would work...but wouldn't my girls have a heart attack of something????

Yes...seriously. It works really, really, well if you have the right net. (I'll link the one I bought off of Amazon below.)

I use it on small chicks and large birds when I have to...you know those times when you really, really need them to get out of somewhere or go somewhere or need to be treated for something...and they linger...just out of reach...and wait...until you almost touch them...then skitter away while you grasp at thin air. I nearly ruined my back trying to catch "friendly" hens that my chiropractor told me to do something else or blow a disc.

They actually get quite calm as the net lowers over them. I too hold and reward them with a treat as I pick them up.

A good fish net makes life so much easier (and MUCH healthier for your back) when the little darlings want to play hard to get.

I like this net as it has a soft leading edge that prevents hitting the bird with a hard one. It also is so big that they can easily walk into it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FM6WJ0Q/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

LofMc

 

[Chicken lover 123]

I don't really want to use a fish net because I don't need to catch them or anything and I think it would ruin their trust of me or something

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I don't really want to use a fish net because I don't need to catch them or anything and I think it would ruin their trust of me or something

No, you shouldn't, except for an emergency capture, your goals are different. You are working on building trust and comfort in your presence so that your birds are tame enough to handle and eventually hold to cuddle as pets.

Other poster was in management expediency of wayward birds.

Totally different goals.
LofMc

 

[Chicken lover 123]

I am also thinking of leash training my chickens so if I start now will they be to scared or will they make progress?