I’ve had it!!

[HuffleClaw]

Remember, these babies have only been on this earth for 3 weeks!
They have alot to learn, how you treat them, behave around them, interact with them will determine how they feel about You!
Seems like to me some folks are being kind of harsh to them right now.
My chickens are happy to see me. I always try to have something for them when i go out.
Some wilted grapes from the fridge, a couple crusts of bread, pealings from the vegetables from the soup i just made....you get the idea.
Soon the sigtht of you means something good is about to happen.

I’m not sure if you caught on but I’ve had several bantam breeds over the last 3-4 years... I am not being harsh, I am rather saying I don’t think bantam chickens are for me... no offense to the people who love bantams, and yes I’ve met nice bantams before, but none were actually my bantams. I understand the ones I’ve put outside are young and yes I will give them a chance, I know it’s a bit scary to experience new thing but still... suicide?? (Well the suicide part was from fear...) I hope I haven’t insulted anyone by saying bantams aren’t cut out for me, and if I have I’m sorry.
Oh and as for my large fowl, they LOVE people!! So please don’t think I have miserable birds!! I try to feed them treats and make them get a bit closer to me when feeding (obviously taking it slower on the 3 week old so I don’t have any more suicide attempts)
Thank you

 

[HuffleClaw]

I'm so sorry! Do you have any places for them to hide? Mine like to hide at first and then they'll slowly come out after I've been out there for a bit.

Yes, a medium sized hutch type thing, though they won’t actually use it yet...

 

[True Patriot]

I raise mine for eggs, so no bantams here. Mini chickens= mini omelettes. That being said, I have worked with a lot of different animals throughout my life. The trick to taming anything, is patience. Chickens are a prey item for nearly everything. That makes them skittish and flighty. To them, you are the giant that's there to eat them. We all know that's not true. They don't. You have to teach them to trust you. Starting in small steps is the right approach. The bucket idea is good. I personally would go one step further. Each time you go to the coop, just sit still for a couple of minutes. No treats, no calling them just be still. Let them learn that you aren't the enemy. After some time they will get curious about what you are. Once they start getting comfortable being around you, then I would start with the treats. You absolutely have to do this in their time frame. If it takes a day or a month of doing nothing then that's fine. You will get results with patience and consistency, have faith.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Dangitt Kayla I’m so sorry. I’ve never had them myself what heartache!! I can just imagine what it would feel like to want something (chickens) that adore you as much as you adore them and then to have THIS! I feel for you....so sorry.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

Mine are happy with just a box with an opening cut in it, anything they can run underneath would work though. I put the box in with the after they weaned off the heat plate. They hide from me every time I change their water lol, but after a minute or two they slowly make their way out. Usually one at a time.

Yes, a medium sized hutch type thing, though they won’t actually use it yet...

 

[3riverschick]

Hi!,
Well this is just the right time of year to sell them and pick up some nice started large fowl. Many folk out there missed the Spring chick season and now are looking for started birds so they can stay on track for grown birds by wintertime.
Plus, the breeders are busy separating the keepers from the selling stock in their coops. Should be a nice crop of comely started birds coming on the market now. Pick your breed and look around. With some nice started birds you can stay on track for having bird the right age to hatch eggs next Spring.
Best,
Karen in western PA, USA

 

[dotporter]

I adore bantam chickens. They do not adore me. Yet, my daughter (starting at age ten or so) managed to have bantams that loved her and loved to be petted and held. Hers were some weird ones that were black with little yellow faces when they were chicks. They grew up to be fat round solid black birds.

To this day I will swear it was the breed. But honestly I agree with you that perhaps bantams just aren't for everyone. I still keep some..... but on the condition that I'm not allowed to go near them. They do their own thing. They raise their little babies. I adore them from afar.

 

[Macchickenman]

Today, I put 10- 3 week old bantam chicks outside... I went inside their pen to add more feed and change the water... they were so scared of me one killed itself trying to fit through the wire, the rest of the acted like I was some killer on the lose... now left with nine bantam chicks...
Ever since they hatched I’ve held them all hoping for nice bantams.... nope, they weren’t having it!

Ever since I got my bantams 3 years ago they’ve been nothing but trouble (except 2 or 3). If it wasn’t aggressive roosters it was aggressive hens (I know, sounds weird but...). I know people have and love bantams but I just don’t think bantam chickens are really meant for me... I much prefer the standard sized birds, and probably always will!

I am new to this and have four hens about 4.5 months old.... Black Austrolorp, Cream legbar, Ameraucauna and buff orpington.. I go out with them almost every day and read a book sitting in a chair, and as time has gone by they see me as a friend.. Today they came up and two of them jumped up in my lap and then when they jumped down one other jumped up and let me pet her for 5 minutes, during which she fell asleep... Most rewarding chicken day ever!!!!!!!

 

[HuffleClaw]

I raise mine for eggs, so no bantams here. Mini chickens= mini omelettes. That being said, I have worked with a lot of different animals throughout my life. The trick to taming anything, is patience. Chickens are a prey item for nearly everything. That makes them skittish and flighty. To them, you are the giant that's there to eat them. We all know that's not true. They don't. You have to teach them to trust you. Starting in small steps is the right approach. The bucket idea is good. I personally would go one step further. Each time you go to the coop, just sit still for a couple of minutes. No treats, no calling them just be still. Let them learn that you aren't the enemy. After some time they will get curious about what you are. Once they start getting comfortable being around you, then I would start with the treats. You absolutely have to do this in their time frame. If it takes a day or a month of doing nothing then that's fine. You will get results with patience and consistency, have faith.

Thank you so much!!

 

[HuffleClaw]

I adore bantam chickens. They do not adore me. Yet, my daughter (starting at age ten or so) managed to have bantams that loved her and loved to be petted and held. Hers were some weird ones that were black with little yellow faces when they were chicks. They grew up to be fat round solid black birds.

To this day I will swear it was the breed. But honestly I agree with you that perhaps bantams just aren't for everyone. I still keep some..... but on the condition that I'm not allowed to go near them. They do their own thing. They raise their little babies. I adore them from afar.

Thank you for sharing!