Where do I start...

[HennyPenny83]

Hi everyone not sure how to start so I will just lay it out. I don't like my wyandottes. I have two SLWs, one boy one girl, amongst all my others. They are not friendly, cuddly, won't come if called even when all the others crowd around for food, they are just not nice chickens like everyone says this breed is! The only good trait is they are pretty. They are about 18 weeks. What is wrong with them!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

She'll mellow once she starts laying. I prefer cockerels to get well out of my way when working in the run so he sounds perfect.

 

[HennyPenny83]

Thanks, not sure about them,
They are both so skittish! Drives me mad the older girls don't care but these two....
Worse than toddlers on a mission! I hope they calm down.
My boy isn't nasty I hope he will behave.

 

[peecock]

They may Mello and they may not that's just a risk you take when you have animals on the other hand they my get older and love you but you've had them this long i would just wait and see

 

[pdirt]

Some of our chickens are more friendly than others. Some have grown more friendly over time. Most are generally fairly skittish though. Training can help (try foods like corn) but genetics do play a role in temperament.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Most breeds get less skittish as they age and understand both that you are the one that brings treats and that you aren't going to eat them.

I never found wyandottes to be more skittish than other breeds. But I did keep them with a variety of breeds and many were Mediterranean breeds that tend to be skittish.

Everyone is different. For me, they're livestock rather than pets. I love animals but never longed for a cuddly chicken.
I now raise exclusively Black Penedesencas and they are calm after about a year and if free ranging but they won't let you touch them. If they're confined and you try to occupy their space, they try to burst through walls to get away.
Their wariness and aloofness makes for both predator proof chickens and roosters that don't attack humans.
I turn all the flocks out in the morning and they all return to roost for locking up and I never hover over them but they're all there at the end of the day.

 

[pdirt]

Most breeds get less skittish as they age and understand both that you are the one that brings treats and that you aren't going to eat them.

I never found wyandottes to be more skittish than other breeds. But I did keep them with a variety of breeds and many were Mediterranean breeds that tend to be skittish.

Everyone is different. For me, they're livestock rather than pets. I love animals but never longed for a cuddly chicken.
I now raise exclusively Black Penedesencas and they are calm after about a year and if free ranging but they won't let you touch them. If they're confined and you try to occupy their space, they try to burst through walls to get away.
Their wariness and aloofness makes for both predator proof chickens and roosters that don't attack humans.
I turn all the flocks out in the morning and they all return to roost for locking up and I never hover over them but they're all there at the end of the day.

Even our "cuddly" chickens are nothing like any of the dogs or cats we have owned. Some chickens look very cute and cuddly, but my experience is they don't really match that reality. They may tolerate being held or even seem to relax, but they just aren't cuddly like most cats or dogs. Perhaps part of the difference is that I may someday choose to eat them. I never intend to eat our cats or dogs. I grew up eating chicken and enjoy it, so it doesn't seem weird to me to eat our chickens. I didn't grow up eating dog or cat, but if I did, I imagine I might feel about them the way I do about chickens. I would far rather eat our own chickens than 99.999% of the chicken you can buy from any store. I know they were raised humanely and fed well, but can't usually say that about store bought chicken.

 

[peecock]

I agree anything you grow your self is better for you and your family I have no problem eat my chickens

 

[Chicken girl 15]

My chickens have a 2 year life expectancy. Year one to start laying , year 2 start breeding for next set of layers by the end of year 2 freezer camp. Don't get me wrong the 2 years will be happy and healthy and spoiled , but they in the end are my dinner.