Tomorrow is finally CHICKEN DAY!! [And I have a secret . . . ]

[Mtn Laurel]

I waited months for the county to change laws so I could have a few chickens. Then another year while I pestered, fussed, and nagged at my husband to build a chicken tractor. I had to get a little gruff . . . when Mother's Day rolled around last month, I told him I wasn't interested in any gift unless it was clucking or laying an egg! He got the idea and the chicken tractor was finally finished last week. It sits ready with straw in the nesting boxes and the waterer is filled. We pick up "the gal's" tomorrow evening - two red star and two black star hens. The reds have started laying and the blacks are about to start. As I'm new to this I didn't want to begin with chicks. I might progress to that but thought I'd start with girls that were already established.

Here's my secret . . . I'm kinda' scared of chickens. Always have been. Love them, but a bit frightened by them. This Love-Hate relationship goes back to me being 4 years old and running, running, running to my great-grandmother's hen house to see if there were any eggs. Of course, I'd go in there knocking stuff over and disturbing the hens and grabbing for eggs and I'd get pecked. Then I'd go back and get pecked again. The birds didn't know who this crazy kid was - all they knew is that I was disturbing them!

50+ years later I can rationalize that in my mind but I'm still a bit skittish. My hope is that I'll get over this as I actually get to know these girls and we'll become fast friends. But, I'm a bit worried that they'll figure me out and get the upper hand! Fingers are crossed that they can't smell fear . . .

Obviously, I really want this to work out and am looking for any hints that might help me in dealing with the girls. Best way to approach them. Things to do to make them feel at home and at ease around me. I need to be "hands on" so that I can adequately take care of them. Husband was raised with chickens but this is my project and I want to be able to win them over.

Any suggestions much appreciated. I've been hanging out at this forum for weeks now and really appreciate all the good advice that I've found here. It's great to have such an active and knowledgeable community to come to with questions.

Thanks a bunch!

Sandy

 

[Kimbroe1981]

One way I got my girls to really 'bond' with me was, I went to petsmart and bought live mealworms and fed that to them just about every day. They love them. They like the freeze dried ones from "Happy Hen Treats" too, but the live ones they LOVE even more. Now every time I (or anyone for that matter) go outside they come running up to see what's they get. They don't always get something, sometimes i just go and grab a handful of scratch feed and throw it out and they gobble it right up too. I do still try and go get live mealworms every couple of weeks. Good luck with your girls!

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Thanks so much for the advice. I've got scratch waiting but will pick up some mealworms. Anything to make a good first impression!

 

[GardenGal]

Yogurt is a really good treat as well, also scrambled egg. We got our first chicks when they were 2 and 4 weeks old, and I was afraid they were going to peck me. They quickly became my babies I'm sure once you spend time around your gals you'll get to be really comfortable. You picked great, mellow breeds.

And both of you,

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Thanks for the hints. Glad you think I did okay picking the gals. I used the breed database that's on this site! I was looking at Leghorns and Rhode Island Reds but I read so many reviews where someone said they were a bit flighty or temperamental that I reconsidered and began looking at Star's. I'm also trying to stay away from overly-noisy as our area has just begun to allow chickens so I didn't want to irk any neighbors. I'm definitely shooting for friendly and easy-going.

Gonna' be hard to sleep tonight . . .

 

[GardenGal]

I think you did great Just wait, in a couple weeks you'll be known as the crazy chicken lady in your neighborhood. Your neighbors will see you digging up your yard to find them worms, talking your chickens as if they were people - wait, they are little people - and generally behaving like a chicken fanatic. I don't ever do that Good luck, get some sleep!

 

[peepacheep]

Yep, meal worms are will make a great first impression! I keep a few of the blue and white containers the meal worms are sold in. If I ever need to get the hens in the run in a hurry all I need to do is show them the container and they come running. ( or pick up a shovel, means we are going to hunt for earthworms) Cantaloup, water melon are also big favorites as well as can cat food. Enjoy your new flock!

 

[lclough1998]

Welcome! Mine love Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (BOSS)

 

[nikki1]

At first, if you're a little cautious about hand feeding, try the lawn chair approach. Sit yourself in a lawn chair in a nice, shady spot, and sprinkle some treats around. Then, your chickies will be near you without being ON you, and you can all get used to each other.

Have fun with your girls! Chickens are a blast!

--Nikki

 

[brahmakid11]

so what your saying is you have alektorophobia