Need Help ! How do I Bond With My Hen?

[Plymouthroxgal]

Okay all The Chickens Are afraid Of Me Now Because i Took The two crowing Roo's and Traded them for a game Hen. So They think they are next. How do i bond without scaring them more im bonding a bit with the game hen but not much i get a hold of her then gentley stroke her til she calms down then i gentle set her down.


I think shes a bit afriad because she was abused as as baby hen because the man was throwing her around by her legs its just that i dont like how people handle their chickens legs like a dog leash .


please help Me !

 

[blurose]

Patience, time, more time, more patience, even more time and even patience. That is the recipe.

Throw in some treats and you've got it. Just go out and sit amounst the chickens for starters, offering treats and do this everyday. They will soon calm down and accept you I'm sure. Move slowly and quietly, talking to them softly all the time. These are just suggestions that have worked for me in the past. Let them come to you and eventually they will. Good luck

 

[HidingInTheHenHouse]

I put a chair out in the chicken run, and just sit there and watch the chickens, or sometimes read. Then the chickens get used to you being there. Also, my chickens love treats, so I always try to handfeed them something at least once a day - stale bread, superworms, scraps from the compost bucket, or weeds I've pulled up. I always hold the treats in my hands so the chickens have to be willing to eat directly from my hand to get the treat. It didn't take too long before they knew who had the good stuff!!

I still have a few shy ones that won't eat out of my hand, but most of mine pratically mob me now, and some will even jump up into my lap.

 

[arlee453]

Yep. Food bribes.

Chickens are very food-motivated critters. They learn very quickly who brings the treats and who doesn't.

That being said, patience and lots of sessions with bearing treat gifts will help you with 'bonding' but some chickens will never be lap-chickens. A lot has to do with individual temperment.

 

[pattee]

The same exact thing happened to me today! I had to re-home 2 chickens today (very very sad) and when I went home the hens were besides themselves! They wouldn't let me anywhere near them as if they thought "I'm next!"

I think when you remove chickens from the flock everything goes hay wire until a new pecking order is established.

Does anyone think that could be true?

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Take a seat on the ground and start handing out treats. Pretty soon you will be everyone's favorite friend.

-Kim

 

[coffeelady3]

Mine are typical girls. Occasionally I let them free range out in the yard. If I ignore them they stick near me like glue. If I turn to give them some attention, they bolt. What's up with that!

 

[basicliving]

I find mine will pay a lot more attention to me if I sit inside the coop with them while they are closed up. In the coop - they jump on me and fly up to my shoulders and just act like I'm the greatest. Once they hit the yard, it's party time and they act like I have cooties. They'll come over to me, but absolutely do not want to be held or petted. I figure it's like the age kids go through where they don't want anyone to see them hugging their parents.

I haven't lost or removed a rooster or hen yet, so I'm sure it's a bit different as they re-establish a pecking order. But if you close them up in the coop, try sitting in there with them and talking with them and feeding them out of your hand.

Penny