SLW chickens

[Davery1019]

The lady at the feed store said that SLW were very friendly. I find that my chicks are very flighty when I have my hand out. Other times they like to sit and poop in my lap. One likes being on my shoulder. Are these still good signs that they may be friendly? All we really wanted was some lap chickens.

 

[coastingangel]

I have 4 SLW, yours sound much friendlier than mine. I find if I incubator hatch any chicks are definitely friendlier than if the chickens do it. The more time you spend with them the friendlier they will get.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

SLWs are flighty.I spent personal time with slw cause I thought she was cool and she never came around.

 

[aart]

My SLW are pretty 'friendly' to me as chicks and as adults.
But they are kind of aggressive with the other birds,
found that with some other GLW mixes I had in the past.

If you want lap chickens, no matter the breed, put them in your lap every day as often as possible.

 

[Hensndoes]

I've had had 6 or so breeds now raised to adult in my mixed flock and the wyandotte were the most standoffish of them all. The only time one willingly came up to me was when she was laying her first egg. She kept running out of the coop, past the rooster, and jumping up on the bench beside me squawking. Then running back to the coop. Eventually I ruffled her back and she ran in and laid her egg with no further fuss.

The wyandottes were great freerangers though. Always on lookout. If you want a friendly lap chicken maybe try speckled Sussex. They are food motivated and always under my feet. I just got faverolles chicks cause I heard they are very sweet but they are too young to know how they will be as adults.

As for hand raised vs hen raised- hand raised will be friendlier because you handle them probably daily. So cute how can you not! But hen raised will integrate into the older flock much much easier. Effortless for me the 2 times I have gone this route

 

[PirateGirl]

I agree with @aart my SLW has been at the top of the pecking order since the day she was introduced to the flock even though she was one of the 2 new girls. Also I go back and forth with what I think, but I'm not sure if she is friendlier than my other birds towards me or just braver. I lean towards the latter.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Hen raised chicks can be just as friendlier.I successfully raised three very super friendly roosters even friendlier then my hand raised chicks and roosters I buy from tsc.You have to be willing to spend just as much time with them as you would with store bought ones.

I've had had 6 or so breeds now raised to adult in my mixed flock and the wyandotte were the most standoffish of them all. The only time one willingly came up to me was when she was laying her first egg. She kept running out of the coop, past the rooster, and jumping up on the bench beside me squawking. Then running back to the coop. Eventually I ruffled her back and she ran in and laid her egg with no further fuss.

The wyandottes were great freerangers though. Always on lookout. If you want a friendly lap chicken maybe try speckled Sussex. They are food motivated and always under my feet. I just got faverolles chicks cause I heard they are very sweet but they are too young to know how they will be as adults.

As for hand raised vs hen raised- hand raised will be friendlier because you handle them probably daily. So cute how can you not! But hen raised will integrate into the older flock much much easier. Effortless for me the 2 times I have gone this route

 

[Hensndoes]

Hen raised chicks can be just as friendlier.I successfully raised three very super friendly roosters even friendlier then my hand raised chicks and roosters I buy from tsc.You have to be willing to spend just as much time with them as you would with store bought ones.

My roosters are the friendliest of my broody raised lot. But I couldn't get near them until they were fully feathered as mama was a fierce protector. She is normally very sweet but had no issues ripping your flesh off any exposed body part. I was hoping she would go broody again this spring but instead I have a 5 x 3 box in my garage