POLL: do your chickens like to be touched or held?

[Blisschick]

I'm not sure about imprinting and chickens. I do know it makes a heck of a lot of difference with turkeys (absolutely curious pests) that, as tiny poults, won't shut up if you leave the room, and as chuffing galomphers won't leave your side as you go about your chores.

Ain't it the truth! I had one Blue Slate hatch out of a batch, so I stuck him in with some chicks, but handled him a lot since he was my one and only. When he was about 6 weeks old, he got fowlpox, so I babied him a lot. He didn't like to be picked up too much, but he didn't protest it too loudly either. Due to his illness, he lost an eye, which furthered my assistance to help him adjust to his situation. Now, almost 2, he allows me to pet him (begrudingly) and to pick him up without protest. All his offspring, however, don't want to be touched or cuddled, since their mother raised them. Biggest nosey troublemaking monkey birds that I've ever owned!!! It's like having a herd of 3 yr. olds following you around the yard. I don't know who created the myth that turkeys are dumb, because they're anything but! It's almost like they look for things to do to test your patience.

 

[jeaucamom]

Quote:
This is Bitsy my daughter Jessica's light brahma. All our chicks were extensively handled as chicks but only a few will tolerate it now. And it seems the most friendly and cuddly as chicks are the most skittish now. But Bitsy is still a cuddle bug. And Baby my frizzle silkie/cochin is a sweetie who likes to be pet and held. Nona my GLW is positively wild. My RIR are unfriendly, but my BR are nice. Who knows???? They were all raised together and the same way.

 

[ivan3]

Blisschick, I've said it before. Chooks have their own ways but will sometimes include you in their circle. Turks think your ways are theirs - after a fashion...


Jeaucamom, nice shot! Looks like a hypnotist!

 

[schmoo]

I have one out of 21 that runs up to me to be loved on. In the morning I go throw some scratch in the run and while they are all outside I clean the coop and do their water. Well my little sweetie runs in to hang out with me instead of eat scratch.

 

[Zenbirder]

On Sunday I had a couple of girlfriends over for the last warm lazy fall afternoon sit-out-on-the-porch-and-chat-fest. All the hens were free ranging. In no time I had one RIR, Miss Henry, come up and jump on my lap. She just settles right down to be petted and be a part of the party. In about 10 minutes Margo RIR walks up, looks at my friends, then jumps up in my lap. They stayed another 10 minutes or so, then wandered off. Next to visit was Emma RIR, fresh from the henhouse egg laying. She is the noisiest chicken I could ever imagine. No one in a city would be able to keep her. She also looked my friends over and then jumped in my lap.
She lasted about 3 minutes before I booted her off and shooed her away, we couldn't talk over her ruckus

I find it interesting that the chickens only jumped in my lap, not my friends. Of the flock ther are 4 (all the EE and BO) who do not like to be picked up and will squirm. There are about 5 who seem to injoy being held, and the rest tolerate it.

 

[chickbea]

Quote:
Sadly, this is true. That's why when a marauding dog comes through, it's always our favorite hens that we lose - they are less wary.

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

We handle our chickens as little as possible.

 

[harv681]

Cheewee will stand in front of me and block my path until I pick her up. The other five will tolerate limited attention only.

 

[skeeter9]

Our Australorp loves to be held and loved on. We also used to have a Buff Orp that loved it (RIP). The rest of our flock tolerates handling, but doesn't particularly like it. I do have one young roo - a cross between some kind of long-tail and some kind of red hen - who is very affectionate and loves to be messed with. Oh, I almost forgot, I also have a 4 week old Welsummer roo who is a lap dog so far. I can just put my hand out and he climbs into it, moves up my arm, and snuggles into the crook of my elbow to ride around while I do chores, etc. Don't know how long that will last, though - he's just a baby and doesn't have any other chicks to play with.

Lori

 

[PDXChickGirl]

My chickens are 10 weeks old now. All four like to sit in my lap and be petted.

One of them (the Australorp), is shy about jumping, so she is only comfortable getting into my lap if there is a lot of space for her - ie, I have to move three to one leg so she can have the other leg to herself. My Ameracauna will sometimes chase the others off if she is feeling particularly possessive!

They seem to jump in the laps of most people who visit. I hope they stay this way!

They do not like being picked up, though. It startles them and they freak out.