Update: First Time Chicken Owner (No it is NOT all poop clean up after all!)

[smartgirlchic]

Hello All!

I wrote a post awhile back asking the community if there was anything more to chicken raising than poop clean up. (I was having a crazy frustrated day with my chickens.) A lot has changed since my original post!

I cared about my chickens, but I now feel totally in love with them. They have been a tremendous source of joy in my life. They make me laugh every single day and I've really grown accustomed to our mornings of peace together. (Lately I sit outside and drink my coffee while they forage around.) I believe chickens are a wonderful therapy for people battling depression, anxiety, and or PTSD. They are truly delightful.

Here's the real update:

My chickens now sit next to me on the porch while I enjoy my morning coffee. They will literally hop up onto the chair next to me. Heart melting for me. Well worth the patient effort I've put in to becoming their friend.

They don't run screaming in the opposite direction when I introduce a new food anymore!

They actually seem curious about what I'm doing in the yard now, instead of wary.

They "clean" me off like they do the other chickens. Adorable.

Here's a question though (as part of a story so bare with me):

I did not have a proper roost for them in their coop. We made one for them, but it wasn't what they needed exactly. Partly we found it wasn't "the highest point in the coop", so it was not acceptable for them. Instead they would all pile up on top of the nesting boxes. So yesterday we tried creating a better roost for them. The dumb thing failed and the chickens were ready to go to bed. As we contemplated what we would do, they were QUITE upset about wanting to go to sleep. (And I assume afraid because they couldn't get up high?) Anyways, one of them (Saltine) jumped up onto my shoulder! Pretty soon the others looked to want to do the same and frankly I haven't that much shoulder so I bent forward, which was clearly a mistake, because now there was a larger surface for them to jump (my back). Pretty soon all 4 chickens were ON MY BACK! It was cute in a way but also disconcerting. Certainly I couldn't stay like that all night so my husband had to remove them from my back.

Anyone else have chickens jump on them while they're standing? Is that odd or just cute/sweet? I'm not totally sure what to make of it? Lol!

And here's one more crazy cute pic before I move onto other work:



Thanks to the community for all your past replies. This forum is awesome!

 

[b.hromada]

Awwwwwww! They love you!

They just figured that you'd be their new perch! Keep enjoying your chickens, they're the best!

 

[scratch'n'peck]

It's wonderful that you and your chickens have come to enjoy each other's company so much. My chickens perched on me more when they were younger. I recently read a post with pics of chickens perching at the same time on their person pretty similar to your experience, so it is not uncommon. You must make them feel safe. Check out the link:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1005403/my-husband-the-chicken-roost#post_15570634

 

[Ballerina Bird]

How wonderful that it's going so well! I am so glad to hear this. They really are heart-melting; I say that all the time, too. It sounds like they love you.

Mine did jump on me when they were little and still not able to manage climbing their ladder up to their coop and roost by themselves. They haven't done it since they became big girls, but I thought it was so cute.

 

[rsonl541]

I agree.. Chickens are awesome to have. Fun to watch all day!! They are always doing something..
:

 

[BantyChooks]

oh yeah..... if i bend over my pullets will jump up and i just have to hope they didn't step in you -know -what!! LOL I

my chickies....
so glad your happy with chickens now!