So, there is a particular little Buff Orpington chick that has taken a liking to me, and I couldn't be more delighted.
It's the only chick that will hop into my hand without being coaxed by food, and it really seems to enjoy perching on me. Sometimes it will run to the front of the brooder when it sees me, anxious to "hop aboard" my hand or arm.
It likes to climb up my arm and will give me a good looking-at. I wear a surgical mask (I have asthma and my mom developed bird cough after having a parrot for 10 yrs, so I'm just being safe.) I have to wonder if it thinks it's a big blue beak.
It likes to cuddle down for a nap.
Then, sometimes it opens its beak, then looks over to the waterer, then looks at me. When this happens, I know it's a thirsty bird, so I move my arm slowly over to the waterer, where it takes a few drinks, and then usually settles back in for a nap. My husband observed how well this little chicken has me trained.
Settling back in for another nap:
I'm trying to build trust with the rest of the flock by letting them eat out of my hand. It is only when I have food in my hand that some of the other chicks will hop into my hand or onto my arm. My little buddy was observing this from the other side of the feeder, and apparently decided to "stake its claim" to me by making a very dramatic flight from the top of the feeder over to my arm, where it cuddled in for a nap in the crook of my elbow. It was completely uninterested in the food, but it seems it did not like those other chickens climbing on me.
We've already decided, if this ends up being a roo, it's going to be our roo. I was hoping for a Welsummer roo, but I will not get rid of this little Buff if it's a boy - so we will just have to wait and see. This little chick has me charmed.
It likes to climb up my arm and will give me a good looking-at. I wear a surgical mask (I have asthma and my mom developed bird cough after having a parrot for 10 yrs, so I'm just being safe.) I have to wonder if it thinks it's a big blue beak.
It likes to cuddle down for a nap.
Then, sometimes it opens its beak, then looks over to the waterer, then looks at me. When this happens, I know it's a thirsty bird, so I move my arm slowly over to the waterer, where it takes a few drinks, and then usually settles back in for a nap. My husband observed how well this little chicken has me trained.
Settling back in for another nap:
I'm trying to build trust with the rest of the flock by letting them eat out of my hand. It is only when I have food in my hand that some of the other chicks will hop into my hand or onto my arm. My little buddy was observing this from the other side of the feeder, and apparently decided to "stake its claim" to me by making a very dramatic flight from the top of the feeder over to my arm, where it cuddled in for a nap in the crook of my elbow. It was completely uninterested in the food, but it seems it did not like those other chickens climbing on me.
We've already decided, if this ends up being a roo, it's going to be our roo. I was hoping for a Welsummer roo, but I will not get rid of this little Buff if it's a boy - so we will just have to wait and see. This little chick has me charmed.
