Getting chickens used to handling

[georgiashens]

Hi everyone! I have three 14 week old chickens and I’m just wondering if anyone has any tips on getting them used to handling? One of them, my light Sussex is completely fine with handling and and will even fall asleep on my lap. She’s honestly like a small dog. We got them when they were 10 weeks old and they were all terrified of us but within no time, they follow us around and come when called. However, my welsummer and buff Sussex hate handling. I can occasionally stroke them but they regularly dodge our hands and get annoyed! I have handled them a couple times but they are really loud, scratchy, and stressed. I’m wondering if I should just do it every day starting with a few seconds and build up the time until they eventually get used to it. I’m not sure if that will make them worse though. I really want to be able to handle them as it’s safer incase of an emergency, health checking etc. Thank you!!

 

[Tonyroo]

There is no sure technique to tame chickens other then being repetitive around them.

I don't necessarily tame all my birds there just naturally friendly.

As for doing health checks grab them off there roost at night.

 

[Sally PB]

When I was trying to get my chicks used to being touched, I'd stroke their wing feathers with the back of my index finger, barely touching them. I say, "Safe with momma, safe with momma." Two of them like stroking, two are okay, and the fifth is just barely okay with it. She -- Robin -- has gotten on the arm of my chair in the last two days... that's new for her. I stroked her while she was preening. That was a distraction, so I think was the difference.

 

[georgiashens]

There is no sure technique to tame chickens other then being repetitive around them.

I don't necessarily tame all my birds there just naturally friendly.

As for doing health checks grab them off there roost at night.

Thank you! I think they are tame, they nap next to us when we are with them, come running when called, eat out of our hands, follow us everywhere but they just hate being picked up. We spend 2-3 hours a day with them

 

[georgiashens]

When I was trying to get my chicks used to being touched, I'd stroke their wing feathers with the back of my index finger, barely touching them. I say, "Safe with momma, safe with momma." Two of them like stroking, two are okay, and the fifth is just barely okay with it. She -- Robin -- has gotten on the arm of my chair in the last two days... that's new for her. I stroked her while she was preening. That was a distraction, so I think was the difference.

That’s what i am doing now and they seem okay with it. My buff Sussex is the most skittish but loves to fly up into chairs to try get more treats!

 

[Sally PB]

but they just hate being picked up

Being picked up is similar to being grabbed from above by a hawk. It will take some time for them to get used to being picked up, as it's instinctual to be afraid.

 

[Bawkbok]

Our young pullets were freaked out by our presence and handling so to not further stress them, I would just sit in the coop door to get them used to my presence, smell and voice and new surroundings. I have a treat cup that I started shaking to lure them in the coop at night. They quickly learned momma has good stuff and started following me around the yard. As they would go into the run, I would lightly touch them on their side or wing. Honestly, it wasn't until they started laying when they strike their mating pose; squatting with wings slightly out, when I could easily pick them up, gently hold them and talk, sing to them, pet their wattles. We've been friends ever since. Good luck.

 

[Loving my girls]

Whenever I get new babies (point of lay) they are separated from the big girls of course. During these two weeks I go into their little area everyday with a book for 30 minutes or there abouts. I sit on the floor and read out loud. After a couple of days they are taking food from my hands and after 10 days or so they are sitting on my knees and don’t mind being handled. Of course I need to keep this up but often sit in my little garden with them so that works.
Calm + Serenity = Hens