My chickens hate me!

[jwyles]

She might be..? I'm not too sure because my Australorp is also very shy, but she's friendly. I'll try being with her more often but it's very difficult because she really doesn't like being around me unless I have treats, so I guess treats are the way to go!

Yes from reading these replies food is THE WAY to your chickens heart.

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

Pretty good advice so far.

Beware of presenting yourself accidentally as aggressive or a threat... birds have instincts, body language and great eye sight.

All birds have unique personalities, some behaviors are inherited, instinct and others learned. Thus lines and breeds may react differently.

Treats combined with simple commands or sounds can help you communicate with them better. Yes you can train chickens to voice commands... whistle recall like a dog, or go in your house, or other things. They can be clicker trained, they can learn target training just like a parrot and more.

Patience, patience, patience... you are building trust. Let the birds work up the courage.

Calm, slow movements, slow breathing on your end can help.

Watch videos on training pet birds especially by people who emphasize understanding the bird versus imposing human will.

Koodos on changing brooder height or how to approach babies from the side, very true they are afraid of death from above.

An idea I plan to try is recording my voice & hubby's voice making calming sounds to play to babies when not around... try to impress the sounds of us on them while abscent this is a future experiment with next batch.

Study the sounds your birds make... try to learn happy versus upset sounds, this is a big indicator of if they like you even if they run away if they make a happy sound when you approach before booking it.

The following is for training pet birds but I found the advice can be applied to chickens... I found these guys useful in making me rethink my interactions with my chickens even though they are parrot guys. If you watch body language videos on parrots and then observe chickens you will see parallels... coop = cage. Keep in mind there is a lot of one on one training going on here, adapt as best you can.

 

[jwyles]

Y'all know how they say "The way to a mans heart is through his stomach!"? Well how about this "The way to a chickens heart is through us gizzard!".

 

[Krazyquilts]

My husband encouraged me to join for years to join, and now that I have I think he wishes I hadn't. Spending more time here than ever. LOL

Mine keeps threatening to block BYC and Craigslist from my iPad.

 

[Coturnix Quail]

I guess I'll read through this whole thread when I have time.

 

[jwyles]

Pretty good advice so far.

Beware of presenting yourself accidentally as aggressive or a threat... birds have instincts, body language and great eye sight.

All birds have unique personalities, some behaviors are inherited, instinct and others learned. Thus lines and breeds may react differently.

Treats combined with simple commands or sounds can help you communicate with them better. Yes you can train chickens to voice commands... whistle recall like a dog, or go in your house, or other things. They can be clicker trained, they can learn target training just like a parrot and more.

Patience, patience, patience... you are building trust. Let the birds work up the courage.

Calm, slow movements, slow breathing on your end can help.

Watch videos on training pet birds especially by people who emphasize understanding the bird versus imposing human will.

Koodos on changing brooder height or how to approach babies from the side, very true they are afraid of death from above.

An idea I plan to try is recording my voice & hubby's voice making calming sounds to play to babies when not around... try to impress the sounds of us on them while abscent this is a future experiment with next batch.

Study the sounds your birds make... try to learn happy versus upset sounds, this is a big indicator of if they like you even if they run away if they make a happy sound when you approach before booking it.

The following is for training pet birds but I found the advice can be applied to chickens... I found these guys useful in making me rethink my interactions with my chickens even though they are parrot guys. If you watch body language videos on parrots and then observe chickens you will see parallels... coop = cage. Keep in mind there is a lot of one on one training going on here, adapt as best you can.

Wow! Yet another! This was so informative and I honestly never would've considered training them with techniques used for pet birds! What a great tip. Thank you for the videos as well. And I love your idea of the recorded voice for the chicks. Please tell us on byc about your results!

 

[jwyles]

Mine keeps threatening to block BYC and Craigslist from my iPad.

 

[jwyles]

I guess I'll read through this whole thread when I have time.

You def should! This is some some seriously good stuff!

 

[jwyles]

To jwyles: I have a question for you? do you keep your feeder full all the time? My birds are on FF, so when I go to visit them in the morning, it is to fill their feeders. I feed them again later in the day if they need it. I get mobbed. They act as though they haven't been fed in weeks, instead of it only having been 8 hours or so. Between feedings, they are most often free ranging, and their crops are almost always full. They come on the run when ever they see me. You might consider letting their feeder get empty now and then. I don't intend for my birds to be lap chickens, and some of them freak out when I pick them up. However, there are those that come and stand on my feet, and beg to get picked up. No matter the disposition of the chicken being handled, They all get a facial massage before I set them down. Usually, after such attention, they will stand and stare up at me. I'm guessing that they are asking "Was the humiliation of getting picked up and handled by the human worth that incredible facial massage????"

I meant to tell you last night that I went in the coop and loved on each one and talked to them that I rubbed a few of their faces for them. Winnie my EE who is most relaxed around me really seemed to like it.

 

[jwyles]

Actually..i use both. I raise my own mealys cuz I got 40 birds. I start training them w mealys when they r chicks. All of my chickens are named one name, "chicken". Anyway..i say chick chick to them when i give bugs/treats/feed so they always associate the words with food. Anytime i want them to come..i call out "chick chick" and they come a running. I put them on lock down at night, so I also use the manic words to bring them all n2 the coop and give them live mealys for a treat. Naturally..they prefer live ones..but i use dried ones to..alot cheaper. They will come to my back door and stand thereookin in waiting for me..anyway..sometimes i just hang out and sit..call a few over and gently touch them as they r pecking at treats.(They r preoccupied w/food). So..use a magic word to call them for treats.once u have them common when u call to them, just sit there and toss treats. Then toss treats sparenly getting them to come closer. After a few days start to hold offer treats by hand (They might peck hard)or with ur fingers..or at ur feet if u dunt want to hand feed them..just gradually build up in steps. Mealys r irresistible to chickens..won't take long for them to figure out u r the best thing since pnut butter!

I love this! Very helpful! Thank you!