*Sigh* What am I going to do with chicks with a bad attitude?

[FlockEweFarm]

My son is convinced that all the chickens hate him, and I tell him that its because of his technique and approach to them, he grabs them up and never seems to get a good, safe, hold on them that secures their wings and supports their feet. He never lets them approach him, where I will go out into the run, sit on a low bucket and just wait and talk softly, and the next thing he knows, I am buried under chickens, including the sketchy ones, the mean ones and the ones that seem to ignore everything but food. My "mean" rooster, Strangle, follows me around, and often sits down and goes to sleep at my feet when I go out and do this, and my cochin roo, sits on my shoulder and peeps at me. Its all in developing a ,"Balanced Pack" or flock. (I watch waaaaay to much of Caesar Millian) I think that with time and the right approach, all of the bad ones can be redeemed. I followed Rooster Reds advice for my problem rooster, and it seems to be working, so its all a learning process that gives us a few nicks and scratches and occasionally a really good dinner along the way.

 

[Jenlyn9483]

I have 3 barred Rock pullets and they seem to be of the more inquisitive sort and are easy to catch and dont try to get away when caught, This is also tru with the 3 black sex link pullets I have. The 3 Aeracauna's and the araucauna roo want none of this. I have 4 buff Orpington pullets who seem to be in the middle. My three White leghorns however are like the aeracaunas, hard to catch. I also have a pair of young games in this Big Run at this time and the Rooster (an Aseel I believe) is the only one out of the 23 Standard chickens that has ever offered to bite, and that is when caught. The 27 new standard chicks I have just recieved from Murray McMurray on monday all seem to be very very tame and unafraid, much better so than the previous 25 purcased from feed stores in the spring. The little White cornish Rocks are the only ones that seem to want to peck at me sometimes, but i think they are just inquisitive.

For anyone who wants automatic docile pets chickens who dont have to be held every day to stay that way, my #1 recommendation is Silkie Bantams...Bonus, they are great little incubators and mothers

 

[pattee]

My silkie bantam doesn't want anything to do with me...

And I'm sure my EE rooster was trying to establish his place in the "hen" house... He'd come flying at me land, pinch/hold onto my skin.

And I've held my chicks since they got here 1 or 2 days old. Did the whole hand in the brooder thing....

And when I'm outside they don't even look my way...

this isn't what I thought my chicken experience would be

On the other hand I do believe they are all different.
Oh and yes how do you hold them individually?

Mom to one 22 yr old son a very supportive husband,1 siamese cat, 1 Millle d'Ullce (sp) 2 Wyandotte golden and silver, 1 buff silkie bantam, 2 Polish silver laced and golden laced.

 

[LynneP]

camjack- try dipping your fingers in clean drinking water for those little ones in the brooder, they use their tongues to drink and it gentles them...

 

[gritsar]

Just like human children go thru phases....have you tried kissing your pre-teen son in front of his friends?....so do chicken "children". They love you one day, can't stand you and think you're a dork the next. It's our job as parents to continue to show them love, patience, and gentle handling and eventually they'll come around.
My roo is the biggest baby on most days. He loves me regardless of whether my pockets are full of treats or not. Still, yesterday he bit me. He's cranky, they all are, because of the heat. In return I showed him what a stock pot looks like. It didn't change his crankiness, but it made me feel better.

 

[steffpeck]

Quote:
I LOVE my Golden Comets!!! My one and only broody I have had is a Golden Comet and she was beyond awesome!! Great setter, great mom, never picked at me or bit me when I picked her up to remove eggs that others had layed, she lets us play with the babies, hold them, anything. She is one of the best ones I have!! Not to mention they lay HUGE eggs!

 

[pattee]

I WANT A GOLDEN COMET!!!!!

 

[LilBizzy]

We have 4 red sexlinks that we adopted at 6 weeks old. Every night after work, I'd go sit in the run, and talk to them, and hold them each for a few minutes. One did NOT like to be held. I gave them treats, but didnt let them eat out of my hands. Now they are 12 weeks old, and when they are out roaming, I call them and they come running. They are the sweetest chickens Ive ever had. Even the neighbors granddaughter was able to let them eat out of her hands and pick them up.

Now we also have some RIR's, whom I have picked up and handled from day 1. But, I also let them eat out of my hand. And now that they are 6 weeks old, they don't want much to do with me, except to peck my toes and run. They are not as friendly as the big girls. I think cause I haven't held them as much.( I never know if I keep picking up the same ones all the time LOL) Now that we traded the roos for more hens, Im going to commit myself to spending more time with them all in order to get them to come around. I think I will NOT let them eat out of my hands anymore, so they dont see me as a big moving feeder.