one of my delaware hens is eating from my hand

Hi,

That's great! I have six older RIR's that I got full grown and they were really scared when I first got them, wouldn't come near me when I tried to offer them food. But, eventually, one started to eat out of my hand and now they're all over me when I bring them food.

I can barely walk without worrying about stepping on them and they jump up to my hand just because they THINK I have something for them.

So I'm sure yours will come around sooner or later. They usually wind up copying the first one that takes food from you. Good luck! Genie

 

I have a Dutch Blue bantam hen that eats out of my hand, and so does her rooster. I can go in saying "bite, bite?" and they are all over me. They are the only ones out of 11 that will. The rest are breeder rescues that have not had much personal contact. They will let me in to feed them and change the water, but after that, they begin to get restless and annoyed with me! I have named them all and they know their names, but we are not buddies like the two smallest and I are! I have a slikie splash rooster, a blue silkie hen, a barred rosecomb rooster, a black hen with a mulberry colored comb, don't know just what she is but she looks like a small crow, a red and black silkie mix rooster, and a black silkie hen. The dutch has 2 chicks, and the splash and blue have a splash pullet.

 

Isn't it great!
I have 19 4 week olds that all want to be held and well all 19 of the gang rush for attention and I just love it!
I also have a brooder full of 2 week olds and there all learning the tricks of the chicken trade! The kids say there all spoiled rotten like the dogs and all the other animals!
I called Ideal to see about letting them have crickets when they were three weeks old and somehow got to talking about how they were so smart! And I can't remember what lady it was that i was speaking with but she said quote " Chickens are not the smartest birds in the Avian family" Hah goes to show what she knows! A very nice lady though, but she did say that it must be there momma (ME) that they had a good teacher! LOL
So you must be a very good momma too! Have fun with your babies, good luck /Sandy

 

Yeah, I thought it was cute too, until they started acting like sharks in a feeding frenzy and trying to eat my hands as well as the food! Hurts like heck, and they get too excited to wait for me to put the treats in their dish now! The other day one of them ripped off a hang-nail, can you imagine how loud I cursed?

 

I have Delawares, Black Sex Links and Red hybrid layers, and the Dellies are far and away the sweetest, gentlest, friendliest birds... and good layers to boot!

 

I love my Delawares. My hens are very friendly and can be picked up and held.
They are great layers. Haven't tried them for dinner yet.

I have 13 Delawares hatching today from my flock and just received Delaware eggs from Whitmore Farm today.
I'm taking a liking to the heritage breeds.

None of those fancy breeds for me.

 

Quote:Your right I haven't got that far yet but I try not to give them too many treats right now cause there really young yet, just hold them alot.
maybe later ill regret making them too friendly but right now they're little cuties. Sandy

My Delawares 2 girls are only 2 wks old right now but I hope they turn out as sweet as yours.

 

Mine are like sharks, too. But it's so FUN! I sit down and they even jump up into my lap to see if I have anything to share with them. If I don't, sometimes they'll just hang out on my lap and let me cuddle them. It warms my heart!