When do hens become friendly?

[Diggidy]

First time chicken guy here. I got 2 Buff Orpingtons and 1 RIR 4 days ago and they seem to be afraid of me and wont set food outside their run even if i leave the door open and walk away. I have even tried to bribe them with water melon, which they pull back under their coop to eat. They are 4 months old give or take a week. Any ideas how to tame them?

 

[4CHICKSforMays]

No hovering, get on their level.
Sometimes, no talking... it eases the fears.
When they start to come closer without watching you every move, try to mimic the behaviors you see. Sounds silly but they react well to it.
Don't chase or try to pick them up, they hate it.
After a daily routine of this, in a week or so, they may spread their wings and let you ruffle their feathers!

 

[harlechshens]

I'm working on the same issue! Let me know if you have any success. I have two silver laced Wyandotte and a white frizzle hen and rooster. None will do much but tolerate me from a distance right now. I've been sitting just outside the coop for a week, with occasional visits in with food. Will try sitting quietly inside now, too!

 

[thepouts]

My silkies are the friendliest chickens. They follow me around and come running when they see me come outside. It just happened. I give them treats and I cluck to them haha. When they hear that sound they get excited and come running

 

[theoldchick]

Temperament can be a matter of breeding. However, no matter what we want in a chicken, they will always retain certain instincts. They will run from anything above them, scatter at approaching people, and fear anything new or different. Some breeds are worse than others, and some individuals are worse than others.

If you want tame chickens I recommend buying from a breeder who has easy going stock. Stay away from folks who breed numerous breeds and find a person who sticks with one or two breeds. In my experience these kinds of breeders serious, know their stock, and can tell you what to expect from their birds.

Since you already have your birds there are a few things you can do to ease the terror they feel every time you suddenly appear out of nowhere. Approach slowly, avoid hovering, and drop to a squat or sit in a chair. No big floppy hats as you'll look like a large raptor swooping in for a kill. As you give them food try to mock the chicken talk. Or if you have neighbors who might declare you insane if they see you clucking to your chickens, use a soft whisper as you talk to them. Use the same consistent 'talk' while you feed your chickens so they'll learn to associate your voice and appearance with food. While you might not have a flock who jumps in your lap, you will eventually have them stay near you as you sit with them.

Remember, chickens are chickens. They have not been bred to be pets until recently and many of them still have certain instincts that keep them alive. Don't take their lack of kinship toward you personal. It's not you. It's not them. They only want to survive as best as they can.

 

[4CHICKSforMays]

Treats help a lot. They love food, so take some seeds, veggies, etc. soon you'll have them eating out of your hand... Literally!

 

[Mrs Hutcherson]

About half of mine are very friendly, I got them at a day old, which is probably why they love me so much. Never knew anyone else . 2 of my roosters will jump up on me to be petted and talk to me, literally anywhere they can, leg arm back shoulder, they dont care. The other half I got at 7 weeks old and it took them a while to not run at the sight of me. But some will join the roosters on my lap etc. others sit and watch from about 4' or 5' away
Food is the way to win a chickens heart!
It takes time, new place, new people. They will adjust.
In my experience the younger the chick when you get them, the more likely they will want to.be loved on.
I cluck to mine and mimic them, sometimes the chickens give me strange looks! Lol

 

[nab58]

Only two of mine will let me touch them. The othe r four will take treats from my hand and come running to me when I show up, but do not like to be picked up. I handled them a lot when they were little but it was hard to tell who I was handling because they're all identical. I now have color bands on them so I can tell them apart and see individual personalities.

 

[Diggidy]

Good advice. They are slowly coming out of the run now. The RIR is bigger than my Orpingtons and corrals them a bit. When we first got them they didnt mind being held so i think in time they could be very friendly. I will get some meal worms this weekend to try and bribe them. Meanwhile I will encourage the wife and her funny chicken impressions.