My Ameraucanas are drama queens!

[4erika]

I have two Ameraucanas which were hatched and raised (along with a Light Sussex) by my Buff Orpinton. In addition to the three "babies," I have 5 chickens which are one year older. The older chickens were purchased as day old chicks and raised by us. The older ones are fairly calm, and come running for treats when I go outside. The Ameraucanas are so skittish, that I'm wondering if it's a breed thing or the fact that they were raised by a chicken. Since the Light Sussex isn't as nervous, I'm thinking it's a breed thing.

If I go outside, they go running away from me as if I'm after them with an ax. God forbid I accidentally corner them, because they'll jump over fences or try to go through or under any obstacle to get away. If I toss out food, they act like I'm throwing rocks at them. When anyone (human or chicken) touches them, they squawk like they're being beaten. I love the blue eggs, and the birds are gorgeous, but if this is a breed thing, I don't think I'd get them again.

Those of you with Ameraucanas...Do they lean towards being a nervous wreck, or is it just my birds? If I get more, should I try to handle them more as babies to get them used to us? I did my best with these ones, but their mama wasn't having it.

 

[americana-lover]

I think it is just your birds, because I have 5 Americanas too, and they come running when ever I whistle "their tune"

Its so funny. But I raised mine as pets from when they were 10 days old, so they know that I wouldn't hurt them. If you do want them to be the kind of chickens where you can pick them up anytime, I recommend getting them as chicks.

 

[4erika]

Yeah...I started looking around today and the difference seems to be hand-raised vs. broody-raised. The consensus seems to be that chickens raised by a hen rather than by people tend to be much more skittish.

 

[gryeyes]

Yup.

But when chicken math hits and you end up with 50-some chickens, it's pretty nifty to have the super-friendly birds come running to hang out with you and NOT THE WHOLE FLOCK!

 

[4erika]

Good point...I won't sweat it. We're in the middle of building a new chicken coop and i was just mentioning to my husband that we could probably fit 20 chickens in there. He wasn't amused.

 

[americana-lover]

Good point...I won't sweat it. We're in the middle of building a new chicken coop and i was just mentioning to my husband that we could probably fit 20 chickens in there. He wasn't amused.

 

[Chickenmama97739]

I have two Ameraucanas which were hatched and raised (along with a Light Sussex) by my Buff Orpinton. In addition to the three "babies," I have 5 chickens which are one year older. The older chickens were purchased as day old chicks and raised by us. The older ones are fairly calm, and come running for treats when I go outside. The Ameraucanas are so skittish, that I'm wondering if it's a breed thing or the fact that they were raised by a chicken. Since the Light Sussex isn't as nervous, I'm thinking it's a breed thing.

If I go outside, they go running away from me as if I'm after them with an ax. God forbid I accidentally corner them, because they'll jump over fences or try to go through or under any obstacle to get away. If I toss out food, they act like I'm throwing rocks at them. When anyone (human or chicken) touches them, they squawk like they're being beaten. I love the blue eggs, and the birds are gorgeous, but if this is a breed thing, I don't think I'd get them again.

Those of you with Ameraucanas...Do they lean towards being a nervous wreck, or is it just my birds? If I get more, should I try to handle them more as babies to get them used to us? I did my best with these ones, but their mama wasn't having it.

Ditto, so funny reading your post because my Ameraucana are the same way! I raise them and my 2 speckled Sussex. My speckled Sussex are completely opposite they are so chill and the let me pet them and pick them up