No Progress: Is Chicken Raising Just Endless Poop Clean Up With NO Rewards?

[eggsontheway]

Hang in there. I only have 1 of 10 chickens who does not act like I am going to kill it even though I have cared for them for them for over a year. My serama chickens on the other hand are very friendly.

 

[wamtazlady]

My first chickens never got cuddly. I never held them or pet them. One let me feed her but heck, I do miss those girls. When we would get home in the car one girl would come to my side of the car (as I always got out first) and told me all about what had happened while we were gone. Once I was out of the car she'd run to Gary's side to tell him everything she'd just told me. It was so cute.

We're snowbirds so I leave my chickens with a neighbor during the winter. All spring, summer, and early fall I'd say "here, chicky, chicky" every time I fed them or gave them treats. In May we got home after being gone for 6 months. I noticed the neighbor was free ranging all the chickens, his and mine from the year before so I called "here, chicky, chicky" and all 6 of my girls came running home to me.

What I'm trying to say is even though they might not ever let you cuddle with them, they can and do know who you are. Give them time and they'll let you know in some way that you mean something to them. Plus there is nothing better to watch than chicken TV.

 

[broomrider]

I'm new to layers this year and mine are only about 13 weeks old. I really don't care if they let me pet them; I just don't want them to be extremely scared when I go in the coop which they are not. I enjoy watching them free range which I just started letting them do. They don't go much more than 5 feet from the coop since they don't have a run yet do to our extremely wet weather. They run back into the coop when a sparrow flies by and tries to grab a bite of the milo I put out for them to coax them out. I could just watch them for an hour or two and be easily entertained. You don't know what poop is until you've raised Cornish Cross! It doesn't even seem like my layers poop compared to them. I don't even notice an odor. I deep litter at the present and use PDZ about once a week. They are diggers so I don't even turn the litter but once a month because they do it for me. I can't wait for them to lay eggs!

 

[herbsandspices]

That is a really nice summary that mimics my experiences. I love my dogs, because they are smart and have emotions other than fear. I like my chickens because they are pretty and funny to watch.

I actually had one of my dogs raise an adolescent chicken that I brought into my flock. She was too little to defend against the older chickens, and my lab/shepherd mix adopted her and let her cuddle close so the big girls couldn't pick on her. She grew up to be mama hen to the flock. My darling Rosemary, mama hen and a "people" chicken, died last week of natural causes.

 

[Graciesing2us]

Just read your story, they're a bit like kids i suppose you can do everything for them and get little back, lol. I've got 3 blue ranger hens (13wks), 2 speckaldys and 2 black rocks (6 wks). I've been suffering with depression and my partner thought they would be theraputic for me and he was right. I've spent a lot of time with them and talk to them like they're humans (which my family and neighbours think is hilarious, and possible think i should see a psychiatrist ha). It took a long time for the older ones to trust me but they do now, they're still nervous but that's just their breed the little ones are far braver. Don't feel dissheartened, i'm sure they appreciate what you're doing. Take it easy

 

[Attila the Hen]

I actually had one of my dogs raise an adolescent chicken that I brought into my flock. She was too little to defend against the older chickens, and my lab/shepherd mix adopted her and let her cuddle close so the big girls couldn't pick on her. She grew up to be mama hen to the flock. My darling Rosemary, mama hen and a "people" chicken, died last week of natural causes.

I am sorry about your Rosemary. My senior hen from my first flock died last week also while I was away on vacation. She was 5 years old and was the last one of that flock. She was also the only one who didn't' mind being picked up. She would come into the house and go to the draw where I kept the peanuts. Those were her favorite. A sweet girl.

 

[souriasia]

I have my chickens as pets, and I'm with everyone else -- I love their happy chicken sounds, their silly antics, and I love to see them run. They're so funny and cute when they run. And the way they make the ground thunder when they do! Mine run toward me when they think they're getting treats, and when they think they are they usually do, because it's a great way to ensure they come to me when I want them to. If we're hangin' outside they'll hang out with us. If we're working outside they'll find us wherever we are. If we haven't let them out yet and they hear us near the coop they'll holler at us to come here and let them out! They'll eat out of our hands and they just pretty much always have. They'll crowd around and snatch food from our hands until they get bored, then they drift off to find something more interesting and tasty!

I sprinkle DE in my coop, it dehydrates the poop and helps with smell, flies, lice, etc. Sweet PDZ is good too, and I also use Sweet PDZ in my cats' litter boxes.

Just enjoy their chicken-ness. Don't worry, they'll be making you smile all the time.

 

[souriasia]

herbsandspices and Attila, I'm sorry for you losses. So sad to lose those sweet, funny girls. When my senior hen, Camilla, died, the other girls called and searched for her all day. The sounds they made seemed like they were crying and mourning. That made it harder. I was really glad that their memories are short.

 

[pattywac3]

My hens are under my feet all the time. I almost fall down carrying in their food and water. When they free range I call here chick chick and they all come running. Some jump up on my utility sink while I am washing their dishes. I have to shoo them off and out of my way. But if I go to pick them up they run. Some squalk when I pick them up, some don't. A couple will let me pet them and they close their eyes and fall asleep. Silkie's are most friendly.

 

[GretaGarboFirst]

Hi There,
Glad today is better for you. My chickens love it when I feed them corn on the cob by hand. I will also hold some yogurt in a cup for them. Thats a messy task ////watch out for flying yogurt!

I hold my chickens close to me and sit in a chair. If the others leave the one I am holding worries and sqawks quite a bit. I also talk gently the whole time I am holding them.. Give it a try.!