Tame chickens **PICS**

[Arcane Araucana]

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where is the "how to tame" thread. I'd love to read it!

 

[DebsChicks]

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where is the "how to tame" thread. I'd love to read it!

It's noodleroo's BYC page:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=55921

 

[girlychick]

Aw your chickens are so sweet!
One of our chickens is like that...the other well...

 

[Arcane Araucana]

Quote:
where is the "how to tame" thread. I'd love to read it!

It's noodleroo's BYC page:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=55921

Thanks! Great advice. I must have channeled noodleroo's methods because that's basically what I did to my 7 araucanas when they were babies. They are all very friendly, and I would even say affectionate at times.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

What an adorable little girl! Those are some sweet photos

 

[M To The Maxx]

 

[noodleroo]

Thank you all for the compliments. I grew up as an only child out in the country so if my pets weren't really tame, I didn't have anybody to play with. So I just figured out what was calming to any animal so that they would be tame. Take your time, move slowly and always be very gentle. The key is figuring out what you can do to make the animal feel comfortable with you. None of mine would ever dream that anybody would hurt them.

My chickens will come to anybody, adult or child, and sit on their lap or let them carry them around. Some are more affectionate than others and thats just how it is. I wanted mine to be really tame, but some people may not want them that tame. Its great if you need to pick them up to inspect them for parasites or medicate them, but not so great if you want to have a picnic in your backyard without 4 chickens in your lap thinking whatever you have must be for them. Also, if people have some sort of balance problem, its not really good to try and walk AND not step on a chicken!

I'm sorry I don't have a tutorial with pictures; I never thought about it before. I put my taming method on my BYC page when I saw so many requests for how to tame chicks. Actually, I was worried that the Moderators would think I was spamming! Anyway, next time I have chicks I'll try to put together a tutorial with pics. If anybody has any specific questions or problems, you can always PM me. I'll try my best to help you.

 

[noodleroo]

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I start from day one. Just like any animal that has been domesticated, genetics play a part. Some inherit their ancestors genetics and survival instincts and thats not necessarily a bad thing - they just may not be destined to be lap chickens. You didn't mention how old your chicks are but if you can still make the 'egg' shape around them with your hands, the warm air technique should calm them down. If you can get them really relaxed in your hands, you can use your fingers to find the 'spot' on their neck and ears that they like to have rubbed. Just remember, no quick movements, no grabbing from over the back (they'll think you are a predator) and no chasing with your hand around the brooder.

Oh, and your little stinker that bit you - tell her that a good chicken wouldn't do that; not a good one....

 

[Kuvasz]

Hi, and thanks for sharing the pics and your taming story! I have been doing something similar with my chicks (doing puppy type socialization with them!), they are only 2 days old. They aren't the least bit afraid of me or my chihuahuas, and let me easily pick them up and snuggle with them. In fact, they are acting like puppies! I have a question. What about hand feeding them? Sounds like from your post it might not be the best thing to do in the long run? Is your granddaughter feeding them in the one picture? Is that just for the picture, or are they gentle since they are so tame so as not to peck her too hard?

When I was a kid my grandmother used to always caution me not to get too close to her chickens for fear they would peck me in the eye! ouch! I listened, believe me! LOL but, I don't notice my chicks trying to peck my eyes out..... ? lol Is that a concern?

I've started with Brahma's, chosen specifically in the hopes that they would be very tame loving pets as well as good layers.

Would love more of your comments!

 

[chickp]

Me too; I have tried my best but I think maybe we "chased" them too much without meaning to. My kids love to hold them and we were very careful and gentle, but they run from us now when we put them on the porch to play and eat bugs (they are 4 weeks old, not yet in the coop). It is hard to get them back in without making it a little bit of an issue, even with food! Not sure what to do, we really would like for them to be pretty calm around us. Any advice appreciated!