Can you train for friendlier chickens?

[greylee]

Hi all,
I just picked up some new pullets ranging from 9-12 weeks. They are a bit skittish. I've always adopted adult hens before that were pretty standoffish, but I've always wanted a hen you see in those videos that love to lay on your lap.

I know that it may just be down to the temperament of the chicken but is there anything I can do to try to get them to be friendlier while they're still young?

Thanks.

 

[FrostRanger]

Spend a lot of time with them. You don't have to necessarily interact with them and it's better at the start especially if you just sit there and ignore them. Go sit in their run and play on your phone or read a book or something. You can also wet some of their feed and feed that to them as a healthy treat. Do that and you are more likely to have friendly birds. Not necessarily lap birds as chickens as a rule generally aren't crazy about being held or pet, but they'll show their affection in other ways such as picking at your clothes and following you around. If you do want to handle them, go slow and make sure they associate getting picked up or petted with something good also respect that some birds will just never want to be handled and some birds are going to be standoffish no matter what you do as well. Just love them anyways

 

[rosemarythyme]

You'd probably have slightly better odds if you started with much younger chicks, by 9-12 weeks they're probably going to be skittish anyhow due to teen hormones and such. But one of my friendliest hens we got at 7 weeks, so it's not impossible to tame older chicks either. Just keep in mind that ultimately some birds never really want to be handled, and others will be friendly even if you don't go out of your way to handle them - luck of the draw in that regard.

You can try and get them to be more accepting of you by offering high value treats when they interact with you, and by spending a lot of time around them so they get used to you (you can grab a chair and a book and just sit in the run or range area).

 

[Squawkers]

As said, simply sitting with them and ignoring them is one of the best ways to gain their trust. They won’t like the person that always tries to touch them and “hug” them. Let them come to you. Also as said, treats are a big factor! Teens are definitely one of the most timid ages, so it will most likely be harder to tame them, but not impossible! I have a Jersey Giant that I’ve had since day two. I was most excited to get her because I’ve heard so many times that they are super sweet lap chickens. I got a complete dud. She for the most part lets me pick her up but I have to carefully approach her sideways and quickly grab her. She is my least tame and it makes me sad, because I thought she’d me my sweetie. Today I was sitting in the run for a while and paying the chickens no attention. I eventually noticed she was right at home in between my legs. She was very comfortable and let me reach down and pet her without protest (never happens) it was pretty obvious then that she doesn’t mind me, but it has to be on her terms. She got my feet covered in dirt

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree, do not try and catch them. If you do, they will go docile, but not because they like it, that is a reaction of a prey when captured by a predator.

Sit with them for twenty minute - throw down scratch away from you, wait and leave. Next day, repeat, but throw the scratch a little closer to you and do it a little sooner. Next, sit down, drop a little scratch close to you and do not move as they approach. Wait and go.

One day as you take your seat, they will be coming to look for the scratch, get them to eat out of your hands. One day, one will jump in your lap, looking for the treats.

I did this one summer with a wild bunch, but come to find out, I really didn't like them in my lap. Now, I just prefer to watch them. I very seldom handle them.

Mrs K

 

[Sally PB]

I've found that when petting them, stroking them very lightly on a wing (side) was much less stressful for them than if I stroked them on their back. To them, that was Scary Thing Coming At Them From Above. They are prey animals, and something coming down toward them is instinctively scary.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

My chicks i handle since the second they are born or the minute they come into our home. Most of my chickens are friendly. They will let you pick them up or will eat from your hand. During that 9--15 week area they get standoffish and i only hand feed. The ones that wanna be picked up with jump onto my lap. Mine are molting right now and it goes the same. And treats get fed from my hand. They learn i give treats which equals im ok. They might see you as a predator for awhile but will eventually accept you.
I spend around 20 minutes a day with my chickens just sitting. Certain breeds (for me my bantam cochins and Orpington) are more friendly. Wheras my Russian Orloffs, brahma and australorp i can pick up but they really dont want to be.

 

[Guybythelake]

Hi all,
I just picked up some new pullets ranging from 9-12 weeks. They are a bit skittish. I've always adopted adult hens before that were pretty standoffish, but I've always wanted a hen you see in those videos that love to lay on your lap.

I know that it may just be down to the temperament of the chicken but is there anything I can do to try to get them to be friendlier while they're still young?

Thanks.

I use special treats like mealworms or soldier fly Larvae. For young chicks I start at 1 week old.
For older pullets adopted, I will sit with them and toss treats. They get more and more comfy with getting treats closer and closer.
I also will pick them up and put them in my lap. Giving them treats while I gently pet them. They start to associate being in your lap, getting petted AND getting treats.
90% of all my ducks and chickens will approach me to eat treats from my hand. Probably 30% of my chickens will jump up in my lap. Another 40% of my chickens will sit in my lap after I pick them up.
It really doesn't take much time to spoil your chickens... lol

 

[Bawkbok]

We also acquired 12 week old and 16 week old pullets. I trained them to the shaker treat cup to get them back in the run. Within 3 days they came running to me and I had them feeding out of my hand. The only time I handle them is for health checks at coop time. Otherwise, I sit in the run with them and ignore them and I am always sitting outside when they range, never far from them. I went from following them around the yard to them now following me -- without the shaker cup. I don't try to pet them or pick them up, just being near them so they learn to trust me. Also, while they are molting, they do not like to be handled much as those pin feathers can irritate them.
Our Australorp, who is the most standoffish, now comes up to my feet while I'm sitting in the yard. This is a huge improvement.
Our Orpington will never be a lap chicken, as I've read many of them are. It's just not her personality. However, she likes to perch on a log in the run right next to me and we are eye to eye at that point, our faces about 8 inches apart. I speak softly to her and she cocks her head looking at me. Tender moments are priceless, even without touch.

 

[Sally PB]

A few of my chickens will jump up on my lap. Several will sit under my chair or near me. Two will come "visit" me as I clean the coop, and chatter the entire time.

I realize they are not like dogs, and never will be, so I accept them as they are.