my 3 month old Araucana does not like to be bothered

[Arcane Araucana]

Quote:
Oh, that makes me so sad for you! My chicks all have "stockholm syndrome" because I forced myself on them from birth. Have you tried just taking a chair out and sitting there until they get curious? Then toss out a meal worm if any get close. They will all come running to see if there are any more so be prepared to toss out a few and make sure they see you do it. Remember the ones that are more curious and start cultivating your friendship with them. Chickens are very "chicken see, chicken do." If the others see that the curious one survived the wolf, they will start to learn not to be afraid of you.

I know this sounds really weird but I have noticed that sometimes my clothing will scare them. Once I wore a hat into their run and you would have thought I was Freddy Kruger come to ax them all. They were terrified of me. It took me a minute to figure out it was the hat. As soon as I took it off they all looked at me like - oh, its you! Now I always wear an apron and the same "chicken" shoes. The apron means it's lap time and I'm not just in there checking water or food. They all gather around and wait for me to sit down and pat my lap. Then they can come up if they want or not. But as soon as one gets comfy, the other 3 want to come up too. It can be a free for all since my lap is getting smaller by the day. Hope that helps!

 

[beachchickie]

She will come around. I have an EE that ran from me and hated to be handled until she started to lay. She is very sweet and likes to be handled now. I would have never thought she would ever let me touch her she was so wild. I have seen her be protective of me. I know that sounds strange but when one of my hens was trying to go broody and would act a little aggressive towards me she ran over and raised her head above the other hen as if to say "I don't think so". The broody hen slowly walked away and the EE stood there until she was away from me.

 

[edithbunker]

Quote:
Kano, I see you are in Chile. I am sure your comment is just a cultural misunderstanding and that you did not mean to be rude. Many of the people on this board are raising chickens not just for their eggs and meat, but for their companionship as pets. I positively believe that my 3 month old araucana "Kitty" cares for me, not just because I feed her but because I have raised her as a pet since she was hatched. I am the only mother she has ever known. I taught her and her siblings how to drink and what is good to eat, how to sit on frozen water bottles to cool off and to go in the coop when its bedtime. And the reason she is named Kitty is because when she was just a little fuzzy butt she would lay in my lap and make the most wonderful little happy chortle like a purr. I originally started to raise chickens for their eggs, but I am surprised at how attached I have become to them and how affectionate they can be towards me. I know it is not just because I bring the food, but for my company as well. All 4 of my birds will sit in my lap and rub their face against my hand to have their neck rubbed. This is my Kitty at 11 weeks.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/60506_11_weeks_006.jpg

Your chick is soo cute!

 

[newlyweds]

I have one EE Penny, that was so very skittish, ran from me and was scared of me, but then she has now started laying and literally seeks me out, hops in my lap to be petted and is so very sweet. So hopefully once she starts laying she will get over the skittishness. Oh and treats always help!

 

[SmittenChicken]

What a great thread!
I've been wondering about this myself - 2 of my EEs and 1 of my SS have been very skittish for the past couple months. They're at 15 weeks and nobody's laying yet, but they are starting to warm up a bit. The other day my unfriendly Sussex let me pet her - at first I mistook her for her sister, who is the friendliest chicken! The EEs still won't let me touch them, but they follow me around now. So I have hope

 

[kano]

The sense of my coment is that I feel that chickens (in general) dont like to be petted, like cats or dogs do. I also love my chickens.But I think is not a reciprocate love. I don't eat them, (eggs, are diferent) but as all my other birds (canaries, finches, agapornis) I can see that they suffer if I intend to chase them to scratch their heads. There are some exceptions to this rule also. I've got 2 G. comet who are very friendly and when I grabbed them, they do the "mate posicion" and don't run away.....(perhaps this is lust)

 

[tinytina]

Very interesting thread!

I was just wondering this morning about how to interact with my chicks. I am a new mama and my chicks are only 3 weeks old. They don't seem to want to play with me… they are just busy doing what chickens do all day. So how do you play with your chicks?

 

[sreihart]

Quote:
Kano, I see you are in Chile. I am sure your comment is just a cultural misunderstanding and that you did not mean to be rude. Many of the people on this board are raising chickens not just for their eggs and meat, but for their companionship as pets. I positively believe that my 3 month old araucana "Kitty" cares for me, not just because I feed her but because I have raised her as a pet since she was hatched. I am the only mother she has ever known. I taught her and her siblings how to drink and what is good to eat, how to sit on frozen water bottles to cool off and to go in the coop when its bedtime. And the reason she is named Kitty is because when she was just a little fuzzy butt she would lay in my lap and make the most wonderful little happy chortle like a purr. I originally started to raise chickens for their eggs, but I am surprised at how attached I have become to them and how affectionate they can be towards me. I know it is not just because I bring the food, but for my company as well. All 4 of my birds will sit in my lap and rub their face against my hand to have their neck rubbed. This is my Kitty at 11 weeks.

Wow, she sounds just like my Henny Penny! Even when I put treats down for them (watermelon yesterday), she climbs up on my lap to be petted. There are actually two like that but the one more than the other. I never would have believed that you could get so attached to chickens, and I do understand how muggles can look at me like I've finally lost it.

 

[Happycowdog]

no Problem, understood, But I have had people say that to me and I cannot stand it. They are my babes, it took years to be able to have them and I have always wanted them so Im quite attached...lol


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Newbie at raising chickens and couldn't be happier!


Edith, you are so sweet!!

I am getting my first peeps tomorrow!! I am getting an Easter Egger female, two white Brahma females, and a white Brahma male. I am so looking forward to this!! These are my first and I too have waited forever to get them! I chose the Brahmas because of their good nature. The lady at the hatchery said the Araucana will be friendly too. We'll see! Good luck!!

 

[edithbunker]

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Aw thanks! I hope you post pics of your newbies! I cant get enough of mine!
Good luck and happy raising!