My chickens hate me!

[jwyles]

My little wingman!
View attachment 1092661
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Hey @summerb123!!! What a cutie he is! Wait... let me guess the breed... crele OEGB???

 

[jwyles]

I have a similar problem with my Blue Cochin. She runs away when I even lean towards her! Meanwhile my other hens beg for my attention. They're about 3 months old. I raised her as a day old and played with her often! The only time she'll sit with me is when I hold her in my lap away from the other chickens/coop. Can anyone help?

Have you read through the responses on this thread? There's a lot of good advice to help. I feel like I actually know what to do now. Not to mention finding out this behavior is normal for the ages of the chicks we have!

 

[Chickassan]

This is Negan, I took this on one of the days I didn't stink.

 

[jwyles]

This is Negan, I took this on one of the days I didn't stink. View attachment 1092685

Ahhh I love them! Their coloring is just !! How old is he here?

 

[lucylola]

Some of my chickens are friendlier then others. My silkies love me. I think it partly depends on the breed. It helps to start holding them when they are babies. I just pick one up and carry it around awhile. They love when I rub their heads and necks and give them treats.

 

[PastaChickenBoo]

Some previous commetners have said to sit down with treats and wait for your chickens to come to you. That's probably why they hate me - I chase them too much

 

[wvchics]

I hand feed and pick up my chickens all the time. The key is to start doing it when you get them and never stop. Of course, they all still have their own personalities, and most of them don't care much to be held, but they will tolerate it. Chasing them just creates a predator prey atmosphere, and they most likely are terrified. I don't run after my chickens. If they don't want held I calmly follow them around until I can pick them up. I can walk out and stand in the middle of my flock and they will just make room for me and hang out. I talk to them constantly also in a soothing voice. It just takes time more than anything.

 

[BantyChooks]

In my opinion, many of these issues stem from not knowing an animal's body language. I see more flock owners than I can count moving in a predatory fashion and wondering why they can't catch their chickens, I suggest stopping the next time you're with your chooks and evaluating your body language. Everything from the position of your fingers and hands to how square you're standing impacts the response of the animal. Combined with Lazy Gardner's suggestions, this produces chickens that behave well for handling and are generally comfortable around their handler. Yes, even Leghorns---mine are positively pesky with their demands for attention.

 

[abraga]

I love it! Not that I'm glad yours treat you like a monster but yay further proof that it's just a stage! I'm for sure getting meal worms and I am def going to start the whole process of associating being picked up with special treatment! Geeez why didn't I think of that???? seriously! But do you use freeze dried or live meal worms?

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!

 

[User395221]

I talk to them constantly also in a soothing voice.[/QUOTE]yes, me too. If I pick someone up and she goes a bit "flappy", I just say "it's all right, settle down, nothing to worry about" and she does. She doesn't understand what I'm saying, but she understands the tone and realises she's not on the menu for dinner.