why don't my chickens want to be held and touched?

[corahq]

I don't usually hold my chickens. I will around them and talk to them and a few will follow and others will keep their distance. I try to not stress them out or myself out by causing feathers to fly so to speak lol.

 

[Happygirlme]

Chickens are prey animals, being held is something to be feared, I get some pretty friendly chickens that get up close, come running for treats and follow me around all without any real handling. I prefer to not handle unless necessary and when I do I try to be kind and gentle. I have found that chickens seem to be afraid more when under a year than they start to be more friendlier as they mature, those handled a bit more younger are more forwarded, so it's possible you might just have to wait a bit until they get older and more confident.

Its so good to read this, i hate these videos and posts that say- make them know who is boss! We are like giant monsters to them, time and patience has to be te right way.

 

[LavenderMotherHen]

Out of all the babies I’ve had, our lavender Orpingtons have been the most chill about being held. They relax into our hands and sometimes take naps! I’ve never had that before. Our older buff Orpingtons are super friendly but always dodge me when I try to pet them, but they don’t mind being held. Lol- they didn’t get as much attention as our chicks do now that my kids are older and I’m not tied down to a nursing baby. We’ve got some Easter Eggers and they are super skiddish, but I think they are slowly warming up to the idea of being held. They are 7 weeks old.

 

[Mas8611]

Go out after dark, take them off the roost to a place you can work with them. i've never had a problem getting one tamed.

What do you do after you take them off the roost to get them more tame?

 

[Mas8611]

What do you do once you get them off the roost to get them used to you. Just pet them for a while?

 

[TexasBlues]

What do you do after you take them off the roost to get them more tame?

 

[Mas8611]

View attachment 3879691

Huh

 

[aart]

Huh

The post you quoted is from 2015 and the member who posted it hasn't been here since 2017, so you won't likely get them to answer.

 

[Loving my girls]

I always start the taming process when I first get them.
I sit with them for about 30 mins every day reading a book out loud.
Then as they get used to my voice and my coming and going I introduce food. I start sprinkling things like mealworm on the floor around me, still reading out loud, and gradually feed the bravest by hand.
I also call each by name and take their names totally different sounds like Tilly and Dylis. After that comes the gentle stroking of their feathers.
I usually find that by the two weeks segregation before they are merged with the grown ups they are eating out of my hands and sitting on my knee and happy to be handled.
I keep this up when they are older, coz I love having them around me, and of course when they are poorly it makes things a lot easier too.