Imprinting question

[Heathero617]

Do chickens expierence imprinting like other species of birds do? I have my doubts and I havent looked for the info outside of this question. I hatched my lil nigget last week and well...he/she really doesnt want anything to do with me even though i was the first living object he saw. Which makes me think perhaps they do not imprint like say ducks or geese. Anyone have thoughts on this?

 

[dsqard]

From what I have read on here and experienced with the chicks I have hatched, I don't think chickens imprint.

 

[Heathero617]

Thanks, I don't think so either with what i'm seeing with this one chick. So...I'll just have to force him/her to accept me LOL

>here chickie chickie chickie<

 

[centrarchid]

Yes, they imprint at multiple levels.

Chicks imprint on hens, hens on their chicks, chicks on each other and where conditions are correct rooster and chicks on each other. Naturally, hens and roosters imprint on each other as well if social groupings are to remain intact as birds forage in free-range setting. My birds also imprint on roost site which ensures they go back to same roost each night.

They can also imprint on you or dog.

 

[lynxs1981]

I don't believe they do either. I think the whole mother hen/chick bond is just one of those things of nature.

 

[centrarchid]

All three of you need to get a hen, have her mated to rooster, then let her hatch a clutch of eggs and rear them her self. Watch interactions as they extremely strong evidence for imprinting. Also read up on imprinting in poultry. This a basic concept that if not considered limits your abilities to properly care your charges.

 

[dsqard]

If I could re-state what I meant. I meant that I don't think that chicks will imprint on people like ducklings, goslings or poults do.

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
Yes, again.

I have two trained adults that were imprinted in same manner. They follow me and only me. Bond strong enough that as chicks they would fly 100 feet across feild just to be with me.

Imprinting not as discrete in chickens since social environment more complex than with waterfowl. It is on pare with turkeys.

 

[dsqard]

Quote:
Hmmmmm, didn't know that. You learn something new every day. I know my older chickens will follow me around some but it is mainly because they are waiting for the treat bucket. How did you get the chicks to imprint on you?

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
Hmmmmm, didn't know that. You learn something new every day. I know my older chickens will follow me around some but it is mainly because they are waiting for the treat bucket. How did you get the chicks to imprint on you?

Immediately following hatch I spend lots of time near brooder. They see me and associate me with happy thoughts. I talk to them a lot in human (say respective names a lot) and chicken (clucks, tidbit calls, purrs). Tidbit calls used to indicate I have feed and especially quality morsels like an insect. Very quickly they learn to fly to me and follow me about house. When time to transition to outside they will follow me around yard to forage giving contact calls. My constant talking serves same purpose as clucking. They follow only my voice ignoring even a passing hen clucking to her chicks.