Mean Chickens!!!

[Relheok]

How often should you have to handle a chicken for it to become more friendly and to stop biting and scratching? Maybe the problem is the breed I have?

 

[sunnyllama]

I am glad you brought this up, I am interested to know the same thing! What breed do you have? I have a batch of Americaunas that are so mean and I dont know why. They were all handled a lot as chicks and they started off very nice and docile but now, they are about 2 months old and just so mean!
I have some Orpingtons and Welsummers that arent like this, they are evil chicks

 

[cooped up]

I have never experienced chickens being mean to me. My chickens know that I will take care of their needs first, then when they are satisfied they will be docile enough to handle.There are alot of ways to train chickens to get the desired behavior like talking softly when feeding or putting to roost, I snap my fingers when I want them to leave the run and go to roost.

With the chicks, I take care of needs moving slowly and talking softly, when they are satisfied, their curiosity will bring them to me. Instead of trying to grab them try to hold and turn them around and pet them while their feet are on ground. This will calm them so that they can be picked up.

i know others that have a "room of shame" in their brooder/ coop , if a chicken is miss behaving they seperate the mean bugger. I guess what you are telling the chick is that you are at the top of the pecking order. I have a hen that is seperated right now because I want her to know her place when I introduce my chicks to the rest of the flock.

If working with the chickens doesn't seem to change..... freezer heaven...