taming chickens

[prairiemeadow]

Welcome!
To get them used to you, you first must make yourself boring, then show that you are the bringer of treats and other good things and perhaps are a good perch (if you don't mind a grown hen perching on you that is. Watch your eyes if you do let them on your shoulder). Works for chickens and many other animals

I do agree about upping protein and not overdoing it on treats. I tend to be more generous with treats when taming birds, but they really should mainly be eating their feed. If you want a healthy treat option though, take some of their food and soak it in water. They'll think they're eating an amazing new treat but it's really just their usual food

some great suggestions once again. I think it's best to keep them confined in the run until they get bonded to me before i let them out free range again, right? i don't know how i would accomplish taming without keeping them in close.

 

[prairiemeadow]

Welcome! I find mealworms have done the trick, but know that taming can take a loooong time, and that not all hens will be cuddly. Some are naturally aloof, even if they're a "friendly" breed.

yes seramas are considered friendly, and when i went to the place where i got them, the owner handed me a 5 month rooster and he was very calm and i petted him for a long time, didn't squirm at all. But now he won't get near me. And i've been trying to entice them with fruit and weeds that they should like. but I'll definitely try mealworms.

 

[prairiemeadow]

Hello and Welcome to BYC. Glad to Have You here in this Poultry Loving Community.

what a great site -i'm curious where these quotes come from, is it automatic when you send a reply? or is it up to the sender to include the quote?

 

[prairiemeadow]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!

Scrambled eggs does the trick here. I use mealworms too but most times we've got extra eggs.

i'll try that once they start laying, i'm really looking forward to my first egg! That won't encourage eating their own eggs i hope. I read that is a problem in some flocks if there's a cracked egg in the nest and they start eating their own eggs.

 

[prairiemeadow]

Welcome and good evening. My chickens get good feed - mashed (with water in it) in the morning and they get real food and treats in the afternoon, as well as free will dry feed. I keep track of needed vitamins, minerals, calcium needs, etc... Mine were aloof at first and I thought treats were a great way to connect, and know mealworms are very good for chickens.

But, as others have said, just sitting with your chickens, not trying to pick them up - not even paying attention to them unless they come up to you - was the most powerful connection I made with my chickens.

i see you have some green eggers, i would like to get some of those - i understand they are a cross between two breeds and the color genetics produce a green egg. your starlight variety - is that a good one to begin with?

 

[prairiemeadow]

Welcome and good evening. My chickens get good feed - mashed (with water in it) in the morning and they get real food and treats in the afternoon, as well as free will dry feed. I keep track of needed vitamins, minerals, calcium needs, etc... Mine were aloof at first and I thought treats were a great way to connect, and know mealworms are very good for chickens.

But, as others have said, just sitting with your chickens, not trying to pick them up - not even paying attention to them unless they come up to you - was the most powerful connection I made with my chickens.

what does handicap hen mean? is she injured or just an old hen that doesn't lay anymore?

 

[triciayoung]

what does handicap hen mean? is she injured or just an old hen that doesn't lay anymore?

1- did not have splayed legs and curly toes fixed - they were going to cull her. I took her at 15-weeks - too old to fix the splay. She is now 1-years old. She cannot walk and has to be fed and given water. She stays in the house. 2. Broke a C-1 and live through it. She is semi-mobile, and can eat and drink on her own, but cannot do many other things by herself. Pics attached

 

[FrostRanger]

some great suggestions once again. I think it's best to keep them confined in the run until they get bonded to me before i let them out free range again, right? i don't know how i would accomplish taming without keeping them in close.

Yeah, I'd wait until they're used to you before free ranging

 

[Debbie292d]

some great suggestions once again. I think it's best to keep them confined in the run until they get bonded to me before i let them out free range again, right? i don't know how i would accomplish taming without keeping them in close.

A few weeks before you're thinking of free ranging, get them used to you saying something when you give them the treats, like most of us its "Here chicky chicky." I used to put scratch in a paper bag and shake it, calling them while I shook it and threw some down. That worked the best.

Now, they chase after me if I have anything in my hand...a plate, a bag, a bucket, etc. without me saying a word. If I'm trying to get them to come a distance, more incentives are needed.

 

[fluffycrow]

Looks like I'll be a bit of the devils advocate here...

Most of my birds free range all day. A very distinct few let me touch them, but some, most, will come near me with no fear, and no further than that. They are more likely to approach me when they're free ranging, while they're more likely to run away when they're in the coop and run. I imagine it's because they know they have a choice to get away from me.

In a new setting, much like the one your birds have found themselves in, it's a good idea to keep them confined so they can trust you. Problem is, they learn to trust you in a very specific way. Sometimes birds that are very friendly in an enclosed setting revert to a more wild state when free ranging. That is to say, you might have to do this process twice, although the second time (if it happens at all) will probably be much easier. Seramas are a wonderful breed, whether or not they will ever become extremely friendly, I'm sure you'll enjoy them.

Breed doesn't guarante that they'll be friendly, although most are. My lot are relatively friendly. Still, one hen in particular that currently happens to be raising chicks, will not let me anywhere near her chicks. All of them have they're all individual personalities, and all of them are cute.

I am sure you will enjoy keeping them, and hope you have a pleasant time here on BYC!