My chickens hate me!

[User395221]

they don't like it at all if I stand over them and bend over to pick them up.

The thing I found/find it hardest to overcome is my tendency to pat. From having had dogs and cats, they're there, out comes my hand to pat them. At first, I would do it automatically with the birds. They're there, out comes my hand. Freak out! It was hard to restrain/retrain myself not to automatically do that. Hand over the top of the head, no-no. My cocky and my big girls will let me do it, they are quite tame, but it isn't really something birds like, so I go for the neck scritches instead. It's hard to get it into your head that there's nothing "wrong" with them when they don't appreciate you are "just being nice". It's pretty cool that birds can get tame at all, when you think of the level of trust they have to have to "risk" what our interactions mean to them.

 

[jwyles]

It's a wonder I get anything to eat, ever, what with my dogs giving me "the eye" and the chickens doing it, too. I (usually) deliberately don't eat everything so that I've got some leftovers for the dogs and/or the chooks.

Haha! I'm a sucker for mine too! I have three dogs and they have no shame in begging. My chickens haven't learned YET! But I'm sure it's coming.

 

[jwyles]

For me with this last flock, sitting on the ground with my legs stretched has resulted in up to a dozen bantams perched on me. No treats in hand, just a few quiet minutes and even my shyest chooks stop by to say hello. They seem to be getting more and more trusting with it too. You almost have to ignore them, that's my secret at least .
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I only have one thing to say about this: AWWWWW!!!!

 

[jwyles]

View attachment 1094250 Hanging with the girls for a bit... mine don't have issues with my flip flops, could be they are not noisy like some brands or since birds little always see me in them. They got treats earlier hand fed by me when I let them out, so they came running to me when I came out again... they also followed me around this morning, but I am deliberately slow and calm around them too and sometimes I walk calmly besides them or behind them just like another hen would do. I am trying a calmer approach as suggested by pet bird training videos, testing were their limits are with movements such as hands and it has paid off with friendlier, calmer and more confident hens around me. I also when opening the coop stand near the exit so they must pass me daily... I think this helps them understand I will not just swoop in and grab them per say. Many people say this breed is flighty and not friendly... they are friendly and not flighty at my house unless I move fast or try to capture them by chasing them, the light hen will always stop and drop around me too.

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Those are some pretty EE you got there! I love the ones with the black faces like that!

 

[User395221]

I have three dogs and they have no shame in begging.

One of my cats (Maine Coon) sits up and begs.... It comes from all quarters.

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

Those are some pretty EE you got there! I love the ones with the black faces like that!

Thanks I try to keep them healthy and happy.

 

[jwyles]

One of my cats (Maine Coon) sits up and begs.... It comes from all quarters.

How cool! I love those cats. I've often heard they're the "dog of the cat world".

 

[User395221]

How cool! I love those cats. I've often heard they're the "dog of the cat world".

She's very strange..... She's the only cat I've ever had who hisses. She hisses the minute she doesn't like something. And the "begging thing" is unusual.

 

[jwyles]

She's very strange..... She's the only cat I've ever had who hisses. She hisses the minute she doesn't like something. And the "begging thing" is unusual.

Sounds like she knows what she wants and doesn't want and isn't afraid to tell you.

 

[jwyles]

Thanks I try to keep them healthy and happy.

Looks like you're doing a good job!