why won't my hen let me touch her

[chickengeorgeto]

can't touch hen.eats out of hand

Considering that we kill and eat over 8,000,000,000 chickens each and every year I think that it requires an exceptional brave or else a foolish hen to get close enough to eat out of your hand.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I think that it requires an exceptional brave or else a foolish hen to get close enough to eat out of your hand.

Good thing mine are fools! I just switched feed, the chickens are staring at the feeder (same old feeder) like it's an alien but are willing to take the new pellets straight from my hand. Go figure.

 

[Abriana]

Mine usually struggle if I pick them up, which I don’t do too much, unless for medical reasons. If I let them come over to me and get on my lap or lean against me they are willing to have some pets. Just sit out with your hens and they will grow accustomed to you and figure out that you’re not dangerous. I’ve had skittish pullets grow into wonderful hens that follow me everywhere.

 

[Hobbits Mommie]

I raised mine from chicks, and none of them really like to be picked up. They will come close enough for me to pet their chests, sometimes rub my hand down their back. Sometimes they'll tolerate it for a minute or two, run away, and come back for more. Some days, they just don't want to be bothered. As one of the other posters mentioned, there's not a carnivore out there who doesn't enjoy the taste of chicken, so it's in their best interest to be on the look out. Don't take it personally, it's just part of what makes them so interesting.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I raised mine from chicks, and none of them really like to be picked up. They will come close enough for me to pet their chests, sometimes rub my hand down their back. Sometimes they'll tolerate it for a minute or two, run away, and come back for more. Some days, they just don't want to be bothered. As one of the other posters mentioned, there's not a carnivore out there who doesn't enjoy the taste of chicken, so it's in their best interest to be on the look out. Don't take it personally, it's just part of what makes them so interesting.

Look at it from the chickens' point of view. To a chicken you most likely look like King Kong. Now we have this big, ugly, alien looking creature who is most likely dressed in a different outfit every time the chicken sees its keeper. I find it odd that this hen will approach you close enough to eat out of your hand. Couple this with Old King Kong groping and reaching for the chickens with those 10 strange Hydra looking things growing out of your hands and tell me how would you act?

 

[Compost King]

None of my chickens let me touch them. I do have a Serama that will sit on my shoulder like a parrot though.

 

[Shadrach]

Look at it from the chickens' point of view. To a chicken you most likely look like King Kong. Now we have this big, ugly, alien looking creature who is most likely dressed in a different outfit every time the chicken sees its keeper. I find it odd that this hen will approach you close enough to eat out of your hand. Couple this with Old King Kong groping and reaching for the chickens with those 10 strange Hydra looking things growing out of your hands and tell me how would you act?

The possibility that to a chicken it must look like a human changes its feathers every day is usually completely over looked. Many of the people I know who are serious about studying chickens wear the same clothes, I wear overalls when dealing with chickens.
It is also a great help to adopt a call sign, a sound you make every time you approach a chicken. All these things help the chicken identify you and keep them calm.

 

[aart]

The possibility that to a chicken it must look like a human changes its feathers every day is usually completely over looked. Many of the people I know who are serious about studying chickens wear the same clothes, I wear overalls when dealing with chickens.
It is also a great help to adopt a call sign, a sound you make every time you approach a chicken. All these things help the chicken identify you and keep them calm.

True, maybe, but.....my voice lets them know I am who I am.
Am not going to 'dress' for the birds. tho I do slow my movements if they are startled.
I have seen them be startled by my appearance(clothing?) or something I'm carrying(for sure), but once they hear my voice they calm down. But then I am not a chicken cuddler, and rarely need to handle/examine a bird during the day.

 

[Mimi13]

The possibility that to a chicken it must look like a human changes its feathers every day is usually completely over looked. Many of the people I know who are serious about studying chickens wear the same clothes, I wear overalls when dealing with chickens.
It is also a great help to adopt a call sign, a sound you make every time you approach a chicken. All these things help the chicken identify you and keep them calm.

Innocently enough I do a lot of these things you mentioned, especially during cold weather since my outer wear (coat, gloves, hat, boots, jeans or sweats) are always the same. And luckily enough I sing to the chickens as I approach the run, which during cold months is completely covered in opaque plastic, and also when I enter the coop after dark. However, I still feel very fortunate the majority of my birds are excited and more than willing to be not only petted, but cuddled. I’m thankful.

 

[whit246]

prissy dosen;t seem to like her food(egglands best) any suggestions?