just a question about chicken imprinting?

[peep this]

i raised my four Easter eggers from day old chicks they lived in my room until they were big enough to move into the coop. im in high school so i did my home work with them crawling all over me! now there big and fat and live outside there probably about a year or so old. the thing is when anyone other then my in the family gose out and talks to them they kinda walk ouver and look at them if they feel like it. but when i go outside they run over to the gate no matter what there doing and start talking and pacing around the fence. the escape artist trys to jump on my head like she did when she was small. me and my mother have an argument over this. what id like to know if at all possible is:
is it because they think of me as one of he flock?
is it because they want food
or is it because of somthing else?
i really dont know why they do this XD but id like to try and understand it
-please and thank you
peep and her mum

 

[Judy]

Most likely looking for treats. Unless you were there when they hatched, they are probably not imprinted on you.

 

[pgpoultry]

I agree with the previous post.

I have a very large solo chick, the result of a poor hatch from eBay eggs, and he is truly imprinted on me. He sits on my shoulder, preens the back of my hair, perches on my arm when I'm typing (too heavy for that now) and makes contented little noises when he is there. If I reach down to the floor he shoots over thinking I have food for him. I think it is going to be difficult teaching him to be a chicken!

 

[incubatingisfun]

i used to have a chick that did that to me her broodermate died and soon after she loved to hang out with me

 

[tammyd57]

You're their Mom. Of course they prefer you over anyone else.

Chickens CAN imprint on you even if you were not there the first time they opened their eyes.

 

[tuesdays chicks]

they know where the food comes from who spoils them and there is a possibility of treats from you, my dh had the hardest time getting my girls to go back in the run while I was away, they usually learn real fast.

 

[BWKatz]

I think it's probably a combination. My chicks are curious and will come to the fence for others but to be held I usually pick them up first and hand them over. Then they feel safe.

 

[Pinky]

Quote:
I agree with tammyd57. They must feel something more for you.

I bought my first two chicks from a feed store along with a baby turkey and they still react more excited and friendly towards me than any one else that goes out to see them.

 

[tammyd57]

My DH feeds and treats the chickens just as much as I do. But if he goes in their pen and sits down they look to see if he has anything in his hands, if not they go about their business. When I go in the pen and sit down they crowd around and hop all over me even if I have nothing for them. It's obvious they like me more. I'm not sure why. Maybe he is a little more nervous because he never had chickens before and they know he's nervous?

DH is the one who wants them to be pets so I tamed these to be handled.

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
They very likely recognize you as an individual where they can distinguish you from others. Even my fish can do that and they know if feed is to be had when I enter a room through door 50 feet away. They are not as dumb as they look.

I suspect they regard you as flock member that is a reliable provider of food. Food may not be only reason they move to associate with you.

Some of my birds have been trained to respond to my calling their names which they rapidly approach expecting foods. Even when in a fed state they will associate with me as a perch or place to sleep. They do not treat other humans in this manner although they will follow the feed pail. In my case, possibly like yours, the birds respond to me as more than a food source or way to get at it. I am a source of warmth, windblock and predator detector / deterant. These latter points are part of what bonds groups of chickens together.