Why are my blue orpingtons not friendly?

[BlindLemonChicken]

Sounds like it might be a learned behavior. I’ve had very few chickens go for the back of my ankles and never repeatedly. do they do this before you feed them? I wonder if they associate with feeding time because I’ve had chickens jump up toward me/food at feeding time like they are impatient but I don’t tolerate they and they figure that out quickly. If you are getting pecked by multiple chickens then putting food down I would think you have positively reinforced the ankle pecking.

If they’re just doing it at random times but learned it from the other ones then I suspect they are testing you because you didn’t discourage it with the others. How do you react when they peck you?

 

[FarmerGirl101]

when they come near I usually try to pick them up or let them perch on me... most of them will but these ones won't let me near them really

This might be part of the issue. If they are nervous around you and you keep trying to pick them then they can become defensive or increasingly nervous.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

This might be part of the issue. If they are nervous around you and you keep trying to pick them then they can become defensive or increasingly nervous.

Exactly. And the harder you try to pick them up, the more they will fear you. Do uou have a kightweight folding chair? Take it out with you and just sit. Either ignore the chickens or just talk to them but don't reach toward them. Eventually they may jump on you, that's good. One day your blue Orps may follow suit. Or not. You never can tell with living snimals. None of my chickens sit on me, but I don't expect them to.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Slower movements also helps. If I need to grab a water bowl that they are drinking out of, I go slower so they don't get too freaked out.

 

[FunClucks]

Some chickens are just mean, and sometimes it's genetic. I've had several mixed flocks now, and raised chicks multiple times a year, and the chicks, hen or roo, that will come up and purposely attack you (aggressive pecking) at 3-4 weeks only get worse from there. I'm not talking about curious pecking, or do you have food pecking, or what is this pecking. I'm talking about objecting to my existence in strenuous terms when I come to feed them, and they know what's going on. A 3-4 week old chick should not be raising its hackles at me or drawing blood.

I've probably had 60-70+ chickens all told (only counting the eggers), and I've only had about 3 hens show human aggression, two as chicks. I've had two roos show aggression at that age as chicks. I rehomed them all, the roos about 5-6 weeks, and the hens around 8 months - I thought they might settle or get nicer after they started to lay, and they didn't. No sense in keeping a hen or roo that destroys my peace and upsets the flock. Always solve for peace in the flock, and for what allows you to continue enjoying your chickens. I have small children, and absolutely no tolerance for an animal trying to hurt me or my kids.

That being said, I do everything I can to interact with them peacefully, only moving in a non-threatening manner, calmly, giving plenty of treats, sitting with them patiently, etc. If I'm scary, I can't blame them for being scared. However, if I've done my best to show I'm not a threat, and everyone but one or two chickens believes me, then I'm not the issue, the aggressive chickens are. I figure they'll do better under someone who has a different management style, and isn't as interested in friendly chickens as I am.

It doesn't make you a bad chicken owner, or mean you loved them any less. It took me a long time to rehome my first aggressive chickens, and I tried so many things to change their behavior. No luck.

 

[Beau plus penny]

I have a mixed flock with many different breeds of chickens, I have noticed that my blue orpingtons are not very friendly at all... I had three but one ended up being a very mean rooster. My blue orpington hens will peck me and try to fight me and make a ton of noise whenever I try and pick them up. Is it me?

it depends on personality yea orpingtons wont be friendly with you if you dont handle them as babies

 

[thecatumbrella]

Here's some unorthodox advice, but it's what works for me.

I only pick up chickens for 2 reasons: health checks, and if they take a cheap shot at me. Not all pecks are aggressive or have ill-intent behind them, but I will not tolerate having my clothes or skin aggressively sampled by little dinosaurs. So if you peck me unprovoked, you get picked up for 30-60 seconds.

Be sure to watch some videos about how to properly hold a chicken. If done wrong, you can do some serious harm. Their lungs are a bit different than ours and are easily suffocated. You also want them to feel secure during their "punishment".

But yeah, that's all there is to it. I have a very high success rate in training my birds this way. I do give a verbal warning with "Gentle!", and they will learn what this means over time. They definitely understand the correlation between biting me and being held. Also, don't pet them. Just give them a secure hold until they calm down. I much prefer this to pecking them back, or trying to do a rooster-style pin down, etc. It's nonviolent, effective, and gets them slightly accustomed to being held for health checks.

Other than that, you've gotten good advice on how to build trust. I let them come to me and don't touch them if they dislike it. I've gotten a surprising number of lap chickens this way.

Good luck!

Edit: I want to clarify something. I DO allow them to gently peck or even beak (closed mouth drag) on me. I only correct open mouth bites/chomps that are not related to feeding or treat time.

 

[HolyHenHouse]

it depends on personality yea orpingtons wont be friendly with you if you dont handle them as babies

I handled them all as babies very frequently. There are 5 kids in my house and a dog and cat and the chicks were exposed to all of this from day 1. All have done well except my blue orps.

 

[HolyHenHouse]

Here's some unorthodox advice, but it's what works for me.

I only pick up chickens for 2 reasons: health checks, and if they take a cheap shot at me. Not all pecks are aggressive or have ill-intent behind them, but I will not tolerate having my clothes or skin aggressively sampled by little dinosaurs. So if you peck me unprovoked, you get picked up for 30-60 seconds.

Be sure to watch some videos about how to properly hold a chicken. If done wrong, you can do some serious harm. Their lungs are a bit different than ours and are easily suffocated. You also want them to feel secure during their "punishment".

But yeah, that's all there is to it. I have a very high success rate in training my birds this way. I do give a verbal warning with "Gentle!", and they will learn what this means over time. They definitely understand the correlation between biting me and being held. Also, don't pet them. Just give them a secure hold until they calm down. I much prefer this to pecking them back, or trying to do a rooster-style pin down, etc. It's nonviolent, effective, and gets them slightly accustomed to being held for health checks.

Other than that, you've gotten good advice on how to build trust. I let them come to me and don't touch them if they dislike it. I've gotten a surprising number of lap chickens this way.

Good luck!

Edit: I want to clarify something. I DO allow them to gently peck or even beak (closed mouth drag) on me. I only correct open mouth bites/chomps that are not related to feeding or treat time.

Thank you I will try that!

 

[nuthatched]

Chickens are individuals, personalities vary from bird to bird.
Don't encourage your birds to perch on you, it's not a habit you want them to have.