Will they ever let me hold them? Please say yes!

[Rooster76]

I've had 2 batches and will get my 3rd later today. First off the barred rocks are the best/most friendly for sure(at least from Meyers).

I have come about 180 degrees in my thinking about how to tame them. You really are better off to be a bit more assertive then super passive. I like most of you guys would sit there for hours with my hand out there hoping that they would come up and be friendly. Treats help this technique. Some are just naturally friendly and will like to be messed with. My attitude now toward taming the rest is that you need to be a bit more dominate when dealing with them. Basically I will try to pick up each one and hold it until it quits squirming around. Then I will go to the next one. I try to be gentle and soft with them, but firm enough that they know they are not going to get away. Some clearly don't want to be picked up or held. Those are the ones that need to be picked up the most in my opinion. Just after you pick them up and they are freaking out a bit don't let them go or break away. They are not super fragile, you can be somewhat firm with them. Wait until they chill out and accept being held. Then try to place them back down where they just sort of wander away not freaked out.

Of course treats always help them friendly up. If you haven't given them a worm yet, then you absolutely must go dig one up immediately, and see worm football.

 

[robynz]

This makes sense to me! My 5 bantams are by far the most skittish, but I've had to clean their bums a couple times, and they seem to like me more now - one of them will even hop out of the brooder door and 'visit' with my toddler.

And I do agree that establishing alpha is a good thing I don't mind if some aren't super friendly, but I don't want them to start being aggressive either!

I've had 2 batches and will get my 3rd later today. First off the barred rocks are the best/most friendly for sure(at least from Meyers).

I have come about 180 degrees in my thinking about how to tame them. You really are better off to be a bit more assertive then super passive. I like most of you guys would sit there for hours with my hand out there hoping that they would come up and be friendly. Treats help this technique. Some are just naturally friendly and will like to be messed with. My attitude now toward taming the rest is that you need to be a bit more dominate when dealing with them. Basically I will try to pick up each one and hold it until it quits squirming around. Then I will go to the next one. I try to be gentle and soft with them, but firm enough that they know they are not going to get away. Some clearly don't want to be picked up or held. Those are the ones that need to be picked up the most in my opinion. Just after you pick them up and they are freaking out a bit don't let them go or break away. They are not super fragile, you can be somewhat firm with them. Wait until they chill out and accept being held. Then try to place them back down where they just sort of wander away not freaked out.

Of course treats always help them friendly up. If you haven't given them a worm yet, then you absolutely must go dig one up immediately, and see worm football.

 

[Aeropennchick]

Yes I too snuggle mine "against their will," haha. I have also started sitting on a towel on the ground outside with them instead of on a chair, and luring them up onto my lap with mealworms. The more skittish ones that I used to throw treats to now take them from my hand. I think it's working!

 

[Battlechicken]

I agree, hold them anyway and they will get used to it. some are definitely friendlier than others. we have BO's and a RIR that don't mind so much, two called Sagitta that seem to like it, and a SLW that really doesn't like being caught! Buffy here doesn't seem to mind!

 

[Nsampsel]

I have posted this a couple times now & this is how I got mine "tamed" in the run. Some were never inside in the brooder as they were older when I got them.

Unless it's raining, I give myself plenty of time for feeding most days. I will go out & sit down in the run right inside the gate (put something under you unless you want covered in poop) and spread a little feed across my legs & lap. My chicks come over & snack off of me. At first they were pretty wary (they seem to get a bit of anxiety once outside) at first but now almost all of them come running when I come in & some I even have to shoo back so I can open the gate to step inside.

However, that being said, this method does NOT work well for my 5 yr old. He doesn't have the patience to sit still & wait for the chicks to come to him & tries to chase them. I just wait for them to come to me...they all eventually do, especially if they are hungry (they tend to clean up all or most of the feed each day & are ready for more when I come out) and I don't give up until I have at least petted most of them. Some will let me hold them, others duck away when I reach for them. It just takes time for them to get used to you & patience on your part in giving them that time.

Most of my chickens (all but the 3 that were 6-12 mos old when I got them) will come over to at least eat off of me or grab the stuff that falls to the ground next to me. Several climb all over me. A few of these let me hold them & pet them. A couple will let me pet them a couple times & take off if I try to pick them up. Those 3 older ones try not to get too close, but are doing better than when I first brought them home 2 weeks ago. They ran from me when I came in the coop then.

I have 43 chickens ranging from 3-4 days old to around a year old. I can catch all but those 3 older ones pretty easily most of the time when I need to. Also, I have a wide range of breeds as well. Other than the 8 Tetra Tints, I don't have more than 1-2 of any other variety/breed. This produces a very wide range of personalities.

As for chicks still in the brooder...they get handled daily by me & my kids. My 5 yr old constantly has his hands in the brooder & carts chicks all over the house.

 

[Masschickens]

I have four barred rocks. One out of the four doesn't mind to be held and sometimes enjoys it. The others don't want to be touched but are very comfortable around the whole family. I think ts a crapshoot, good luck

 

[Sarahej]

I am so excited! Last night, Spot, jumped in my lap!

And, within a few more seconed she moved to my hand and she actually layed down! She even stayed there when my husband walked in room! Thank you all for your assurances, suggestions and guidance. I now try and move in the room like a Tai Chi master, not easy, but worth it!

 

[BeulahBreezes]

I agree with Rooster76. My RIR's are much more friendly then my CuckooMarans. The Cuckoo's are 5 weeks old now and even after my regular petting visits for the past 5 weeks, they are not very receptive to my picking them up, they run awa when I try to get them into their henhouse at dusk...ugh! My 6week old RIR's are much calmer and have been since they arrived, so I thought it was perhaps due to the breeds! All and all, I enjoy my chicks! ~Beulah

 

[Izzymoon]

mine were really skittish to start and now at 3 weeks I can pet them, they aren't too fond of getting picked up, but as they move around I put them in the dog kennel, and when I go to take them out they are very happy to see me and don't complain at all. I've moved them 3 times now, and each time they get friendlier

 

[Mzkynd]

I have found that my 7 week old barred rock is actually pretty friendly. I call her Fran because she is the only one out of my eight chickens that I can tell apart from the others. She was not the friendliest at first, but I think she is becoming the most social. She lets me scratch and rub her under the breast. Some of my RIR's are pretty friendly. My black sexlinks will only eat out of my hand but will not let me touch them. They are so skittish at times, very unpredictable. But I can pick most of them up and they'll calm down in a short time.

Yay for Fran coming around I have one that has been identified as a possible Black Sex Link that just does not want anything to do with me. He ( I say he because seems to act very roo-like though if it is a He I doubt it is a BSL maybe an ameraucana? ) anyhoo he will jump on my lap for a split second and then off he goes.