My chickens hate me!

[Ursuline Chick]

To jwyles, sorry for the time lag, computer issues. Any way to answer your question New Orleans. Now you understand why I have to live with the silly idea that a rooster is an exotic animal and can't be kept and it's ok to keep up to 4 hens as pets.

 

[jwyles]

To jwyles, sorry for the time lag, computer issues. Any way to answer your question New Orleans. Now you understand why I have to live with the silly idea that a rooster is an exotic animal and can't be kept and it's ok to keep up to 4 hens as pets.

Don't feel bad... no Roos for me either. The funny thing is though, the ordinance on chickens here seems to be an urban legend as everyone just sort of does what they want. My neighbor even has a rooster and I considered it but I don't want to risk my flock over 1 bird.

Btw I love NOLA. My hubby, the kids and I try to visit at least once a year. Usually spring is when we come tho bc we love city park and the botanical garden.

 

[Oolala]

I have found that my Rhode Island red has always been very easy to pick up and loves a cuddle, she just trusted me from day one but was also the most confident, but being so greedy and curious she is like my shadow when I am working in the garden, the other two have now gained a lot of confidence from her and will crouch down to be stroked but dont like to be picked up but are more than happy to peck at me and get close to me when working in the garden, its like I cant work fast enough for them to pull some weeds out to see if there is some tasty treat ready to be eaten, they also chatter away constantly, although I must admit I do too, just hope the neighbours cant hear me talking to them.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Boy, am I telling on myself, I wasn't going to give anything remotely personal out, but that's our neighborhood. And we kept a rooster for years, with all our neighbors consent, and we had some new people move in that I didn't realize until it was too late. I had been in the habit of bringing a dozen eggs to those new to our neighborhood. I didn't realize I had new neighbors down the block. All the men loved the rooster, but they were all up earily, construction jobs and medical people, what a mix~!! Any way we had to re home our roo. My backyard is louder now because we have no roo to break up hen fights. So neighbors, be careful what you wish for. Why wont they let you have a rooster? I am showing my ignorance, by I thought Vadalia was pretty rural. I was envious all night!

 

[Boudicea Farms]

Meal worms are a chicken moms best friend that and a 5 gallon bucket or something to sit on. I raised 67 chicks this spring and had a large enough area to sit and hand feed meal worms it only takes 1 friendly hen to teach the others your not going to harm them, curiosity is your best weapon as if one will eat out of your hand the rest will want treats as well. Some breeds are more inclined to be friendlier than others ( not all birds of the breed will be friendly but as a rule are calmer ) I have Delawares that beg to be picked up and were the easiest to tame, Jersy giants , Langshans and Buff Orpintons are nice birds as well as Welsummers. Hens that are laying will squat so are usually easier to catch than ones not laying. Patience and treats are the way to go, I spend a few minutes everyday at feeding time just to sit with the birds pretty soon your just a flock member and they will stay calm around you.

 

[jwyles]

Meal worms are a chicken moms best friend that and a 5 gallon bucket or something to sit on. I raised 67 chicks this spring and had a large enough area to sit and hand feed meal worms it only takes 1 friendly hen to teach the others your not going to harm them, curiosity is your best weapon as if one will eat out of your hand the rest will want treats as well. Some breeds are more inclined to be friendlier than others ( not all birds of the breed will be friendly but as a rule are calmer ) I have Delawares that beg to be picked up and were the easiest to tame, Jersy giants , Langshans and Buff Orpintons are nice birds as well as Welsummers. Hens that are laying will squat so are usually easier to catch than ones not laying. Patience and treats are the way to go, I spend a few minutes everyday at feeding time just to sit with the birds pretty soon your just a flock member and they will stay calm around you.

Awesome reply! Thank you! I can't wait to be one of you knowledgeable ones with loads of experience under your belts. Did you purchase live or freeze dried meal worms? Or does it even matter?

 

[jwyles]

Boy, am I telling on myself, I wasn't going to give anything remotely personal out, but that's our neighborhood. And we kept a rooster for years, with all our neighbors consent, and we had some new people move in that I didn't realize until it was too late. I had been in the habit of bringing a dozen eggs to those new to our neighborhood. I didn't realize I had new neighbors down the block. All the men loved the rooster, but they were all up earily, construction jobs and medical people, what a mix~!! Any way we had to re home our roo. My backyard is louder now because we have no roo to break up hen fights. So neighbors, be careful what you wish for. Why wont they let you have a rooster? I am showing my ignorance, by I thought Vadalia was pretty rural. I was envious all night!

Haha! I understand! I'm pretty careful too. And you don't think you'll offend me by not giving more personal info. My hometown is about as personal as I'll get as well. That stinks you lost your roo! I honestly don't see why people get to put their feet down in regards to roosters yet loud barking dogs are expected to be overlooked. I've got neighbors that just let their dogs go on and on and I find it so disrespectful however a rooster crowing is offensive??? Um ok!!!! Anyway. The "spoken" rule I keep hearing is no rooster in city limits. Yes Vidalia is rural but their are slot of established neighborhoods here so they implemented livestock ordinances at some point.

 

[abraga]

I think some chicken breeds r flightyer than others. I'm there when They hatch..hand feed them mealys..pick every one up everyday tk talj ti them..then they hit a teen age stage and act like I'm a monster! Then as they get older..they settle down. When i pick them up..i usually give them a mealy bug b4 putting them down..so they associate being held w a buggy treat. Some seem to enjoy petting..others just tolerate it.

 

[jwyles]

I think some chicken breeds r flightyer than others. I'm there when They hatch..hand feed them mealys..pick every one up everyday tk talj ti them..then they hit a teen age stage and act like I'm a monster! Then as they get older..they settle down. When i pick them up..i usually give them a mealy bug b4 putting them down..so they associate being held w a buggy treat. Some seem to enjoy petting..others just tolerate it.

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?

 

[azygous]

The most people friendly chickens are those that are handled from the side, as opposed to from overhead, as baby chicks in the brooder. I noticed that with the first day-olds I had. They were terrified of me as I reached down into the brooder from above.

After I joined BYC and ran into a thread where folks were all discussing why their chicks were terrified of them, something clicked in my brain. Of course, chicks have a predator reflex, running from something swooping down on them.

So my subsequent brooders all were placed on tables and had side accesses. I had tame chicks from the beginning, and they all grew into easily handled adults.

When I let a broody sit and hatch eggs, I want friendly chicks, so I select the most people friendly broody. When she begins bringing her chicks out of the coop, I begin handling them, but I always include the broody in the cuddling. Those chicks are adults that come willingly to me to be picked up, and they adore snuggles.

You can still tame adult chickens with treats and patience, letting them approach you in their own good time. But for the most friendly adults, you need to handle them right as babies.