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

[KimM]

I have 1 out of 10 that actually seems to like it. The rest either run from us in terror or begrudgingly squat for a few minutes (when in laying season). These are chickens that were handled constantly as chicks. Go figure. I just tell the kids: that's why we got you a dog!

 

[CMV]

Some do, some don't. Depends on them. They are more inclined to try it than my waterfowl, though. The ducks would rather die than be handled. Makes caring for them fun.

 

[Chickenkate17]

My girls are fine being pet, but have different toleration levels for holding.

 

[chick-in-florida]

a few of mine like to be held. i even have a couple roosters who let me cuddle them. oddly enough it seems like the chickens i have with green feet are the friendliest. all of mine are mixed breeds.

 

[Marion565]

I've got one RIR that will come up to my DH and the only thing she doesn't do is out her wings and say "pick me up", she loves to be held and even gets jealous if he catches and picks up another hen

One of my buff orps will come up to you and let you handle her, but all the others much rather run just out of reach.

 

[igotchickens]

They all let me pet them, though I'm not sure if they like it. They assume a weird position where their shoulders kind of haunch. I was petting my EE today like a cat and her butt went up in the air when I got to the base of her tail, just like my cat. As far as being picked up, I had one that seemed to want me to pick her up all the time, while the others wouldn't allow it. However, it seemed like she told all the others how great it is because they all let me do it now!

 

[maggiemooscluckers]

Mine were very lovable when they were little. Then they seemed to go through a phase where they were a little stand offish. Now that they are laying they are back to being lovable. When I go into the coop they all stand in line for their lovins! Even the roo.

 

[chickiedoo]

I only have 3. One runs away but then actually likes being held and really loves when you rub the back at her head right where her neck begins. My RIR is pretty ok being held but doesnt seem to love it. My black sex link does not want to be held until you pick up the RIR and then it goes into some weird seperation anxiety freak out and wants to be with the RIR so will stand still and let you pick her up.

 

[farmer_lew]

Some of our girls will squat for us and let us pet them, but only so much. Our Brahma just started squatting, and we were excited about that. Our Game Bird cross won't let us touch her unless she is on the roost at bedtime, and the same for our OE. Our BCM, however, is a different story all together. Since pictures are worth a thousand words...see my avatar pic. She LOVES to be held and will practically jump into our arms if we let her.

 

[HHandbasket]

Quote:
What Farmer Lew said. Henrietta, the BCM, runs to us and practically jumps up into our arms when we go outside. And once we do pick her up, she shimmies right on up to our shoulders (like he said, see his avatar pic LOL). That's a daily occurrence here. We just love her! (We love them all but this is one cool bird.)