How to tame older chicks(ens)

[Chicabeaka]

I need some help.

I was so excited to receive chickens from my wonderful husband and kids last Christmas. (They actually surprised me with a bag of chicken food and because I am sharp, I figured out that I would be getting chickens.)

I brought my first day olds home in mid-April and enjoyed every minute of them while they were in the house in their brooder. I handled and held them everyday.

We moved them out to a coop and run and they remained very friendly and loved to be around us. We had one that was a little reserved but still friendly.

Fast forward to the end of July when we lost 5 of the 6 of them. We still do not know what happened to them. They were there, then just gone. Sad, sad day.

I did have one survivor (the reserved one) and she acted very lonely so I decided to get a handful of chickens her age and a little younger.

I have had them for a month now, am out in the coop with them all of the time. I give them treats, and sit out there with them but non of them are friendly and want to have anything to do with me. They will eat out of my hand but refuse to be touched or held in any way. I tried giving them their space and just sat there without trying to touch them. I have tried to slowly move towards them and finally I just gave up, chased the littlest on down and held her. She still doesn't like me.

How can I tame these gals. I miss the fun and interaction with my first group. I am trying to be patient with them but nothing I do seems to work. Any ideas?

There are six of them ranging from about 2 months to 4 months. Black Copper Maran, Easter Egger (my only survivor), Australorp, Silkie, a lavender something and a Mille Fleur d'Uccle Bantam.

I would appreciate any help or advice!

 

[nchls school]

I need some help.

I was so excited to receive chickens from my wonderful husband and kids last Christmas.  (They actually surprised me with a bag of chicken food and because I am sharp, I figured out that I would be getting chickens.)

I brought my first day olds home in mid-April and enjoyed every minute of them while they were in the house in their brooder.  I handled and held them everyday.

We moved them out to a coop and run and they remained very friendly and loved to be around us.  We had one that was a little reserved but still friendly.

Fast forward to the end of July when we lost 5 of the 6 of them.  We still do not know what happened to them.  They were there, then just gone.  Sad, sad day.

I did have one survivor (the reserved one) and she acted very lonely so I decided to get a handful of chickens her age and a little younger.  

I have had them for a month now, am out in the coop with them all of the time.  I give them treats, and sit out there with them but non of them are friendly and want to have anything to do with me.  They will eat out of my hand but refuse to be touched or held in any way.  I tried giving them their space and just sat there without trying to touch them.  I have tried to slowly move towards them and finally I just gave up, chased the littlest on down and held her.  She still doesn't like me.  

How can I tame these gals.  I miss the fun and interaction with my first group.  I am trying to be patient with them but nothing I do seems to work.  Any ideas?

There are six of them ranging from about 2 months to 4 months.  Black Copper Maran, Easter Egger (my only survivor), Australorp, Silkie, a lavender something and a Mille Fleur d'Uccle Bantam.  

I would appreciate any help or advice!

Your hens are feeding off each other's fear. How long did you hold the one? It takes time. When I have an older bird I wish to tame I get a beer or a cup of coffee, grab the bird and then just sit down on the patio, bird in lap, and enjoy the drink. As the bird calms I offer treats. Usually, once the chicken knows it is not being hurt, they relax and start taking the offered treats. This can take a number of days to work. I use our patio but any place that is new to the bird will do. You will find that in a short amount of time you will not have to hold the bird. Fear of you will disappear faster than the fear of strange surroundings so, most of the time, the bird will sit in your lap instead of leaving.

Once you have won over one hen it will be easier to work with more; monkey see-monkey do. It takes some patience and understand your new chickens may never be as tame as those that were handled as chicks. Below is a picture of a young serama rooster. He was not handled as a chick. I used the process I wrote of above. It's not possible he could be tamer. Once he was hopping on my arm, some of the others soon followed suit. It also helps that he is the dominant rooster. When I feed him from my hand the rooster actually calls the hens to come and eat. Its gotten to the point that I am tripping over chickens when I'm doing chores in the coop.

 

[Folly's place]

More time, some treats, and then more time. I don't expect my birds to enjoy being picked up, and my broody raised chicks are definitely not that tame. I enjoy the birds for what they are; not lap cats, at least here. Maybe handling them briefly at night on the roosts would help too. Ask the people who show their birds, because the show birds must be tame enough to hold at the shows. Mary

 

[centrarchid]

Mealworms (live) are very effective tool for the taming arsenal.

See linked videos for what I can do. Most efforts below started with hen reared chicks but hen was brooder reared.

[VIDEO]

[VIDEO]

[VIDEO]

[VIDEO]

 

[aart]

Your hens are feeding off each other's fear. How long did you hold the one? It takes time. When I have an older bird I wish to tame I get a beer or a cup of coffee, grab the bird and then just sit down on the patio, bird in lap, and enjoy the drink. As the bird calms I offer treats. Usually, once the chicken knows it is not being hurt, they relax and start taking the offered treats. This can take a number of days to work. I use our patio but any place that is new to the bird will do. You will find that in a short amount of time you will not have to hold the bird. Fear of you will disappear faster than the fear of strange surroundings so, most of the time, the bird will sit in your lap instead of leaving.

Once you have won over one hen it will be easier to work with more; monkey see-monkey do. It takes some patience and understand your new chickens may never be as tame as those that were handled as chicks. Below is a picture of a young serama rooster. He was not handled as a chick. I used the process I wrote of above. It's not possible he could be tamer. Once he was hopping on my arm, some of the others soon followed suit. It also helps that he is the dominant rooster. When I feed him from my hand the rooster actually calls the hens to come and eat. Its gotten to the point that I am tripping over chickens when I'm doing chores in the coop.

Exactly!!

Tho they are prey animals....and not really cuddly like dogs and cats.

Once they will eat out of hand comfortably, I start picking them up.
Hold down wings, and don't let them get their feet to purchase on anything, so they can't struggle and they will submit.
Hold for a short time, one hand on wing and other wing against your body, calmly talking and petting them all over.
Then put down slowly, again keep wings clamped, place feet on ground and hold for a few seconds before letting go.
I put my hand in front of the chest and pet the back for a few beats, then release.
They should just calmly walk away after a few of these sessions.
Some will never be calm about it, some will let me hold them up with just one hand under their belly.

I only do it so they are easier to handle if necessary, not a chicken cuddler myself, don't like dirty chicken feet on my clothes.

 

[Alison Pony]

I have been having the same problem I want to show my chicken at the county fair but it is tame but not tame enough to hold i also don't know how to show does anyone know how to show a chicken

 

[centrarchid]

Get a pen that is like the pens used to show them in. If such not available then look up drop pens. Each day place bird in that, ideally with bird being a little hungry. Then give it little bites of food through wire. After a bit then begin reaching in from side and touching bird from side with back of your hand offering a tidbit after each contact. What you are looking for is bird to stop running from you. Avoid looking directly at bird during this. When actually grabbing bird scoop up by palming breast rather than going after legs, wings, neck or tail. This is a repeated effort. I like to get birds so they will step out of pen onto my risk for eats by time of show.

 

[Alison Pony]

What are some of chickens favorite treats?

 

[centrarchid]

Live insects are handily preferred above all else. When considering availability, shelf-life and ease of handling I prefer mealworms (grain beetle larvae). Cultured crickets a distant second. Yogurt and similar process food items used by some but I assure you the insect fare will be preferred by all chickens.

 

[Leihamarie]

thank you for this thread. I'm starting out w/ 5 week old chicks and they are terrified of me. I have them in a brooder for the next couple of weeks even though they're fully feathered so my cat, dog & I can become part of their reality before moving them to the coop/run. Any tips on taming 5 week olds? I feel intrusive about just grabbing one (gently of course) and holding her til she settles down but I'm willing to if that'll work!