dadgumn leghorns...

[warhorse]

Thanks, I was able to pick them up regularly while they were in the bathtub "brooder" but I moved them into the 4x8 "brooder" on the backporch and it all went to xxx again.

I can really tell all the little EE and australorp and sexlink babies are like "wha? what's all the comotion about? oh.... you all are zooming around like ninnies, we should probably do that to... "cheep, cheep, cheep"

They will all eventually be down at the barn in a solid 6x36 area and just for egg production, so... (sigh)

**edited by staff**

 

[Mahonri]

... and what is worse is, I have a Light Brown Leghorn and a White leghorn that were giving me huge eggs almost every day. Now, I haven't seen an egg from either of them in over two weeks.

They better start paying rent!

 

[JennsPeeps]

I considered getting a leghorn b/c my mom won't eat brown eggs. Then I foudn out she just won't eat *my* eggs.

She can get her own leghorn if she ever wants a fresh egg. To heck with her. I'll eat the brown eggs from my calm breeds instead.

 

[CovenantCreek]

My Leghorn girls are 8-9 weeks old and still run when I open the door to their stall. Taking them out of the brooder and putting them on the floor of the stall has helped though -- now I can go in and sit with them till their curiosity gets the better of them. I have 5 (of 23) who are almost always around me, a couple of them even like sitting on my lap.........as long as I'm not moving too much. Those 5 all have leg bands now, so I won't accidentally sell them. This morning one of them managed to fly into the stall next door -- with the 13 Delaware and DelawareX chicks. I'm hoping maybe they'll have an impact on her flightiness. If it works, the other 4 will be getting moved soon.

 

[warhorse]

They are somewhat less flighty out on the backporch in their brooder, but still far from friendly. I'm guessing... are they probably not best for "free ranging" with a 5-6 foot fence? Or, might they be calmer in a larger area?

 

[msgenie516]

Hi,

I have 3 white leghorns that I had from the time they were day-old chicks and I can definately say that time is about the only "cure" for them. When they were young, they wouldn't come near me but after a while, they learned to eat out of my hand and even jumped on my lap to get treats.

But that was only me, when DH went into the run, they absolutely panicked and flew all over the place and crashed into the fence. It was awful, especially since I was worried that they would hurt themselves. But he only went in there every now and then and I tended to them every day.

But after more time passed, they got used to him, too. I don't think they will eat out of his hand but they don't fly around like crazy when they see him, either.

Now, when they hear me coming toward the run, they are at the gate waiting for me to see if I have anything "good"! I have actually seen them RUNNING to the gate in anticipation of what "goodies" I might have!

Just give them a lot of time--this can take months--and they should be okay. Maybe not like most chickens, but okay.

Good luck!

Genie

 

[Sparrow]

Mine have always ran when they see me, too...in my direction. lol I got them as young chicks, and I have always just treated them with lots of kindness and gentleness. They are my friendliest hens.