4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Cloud9]

Hi all,

 

Firstly apologies - I seem to be posting an awful lot but that's due to my little experience of chicken keeping and my increasing fascination for them, especially as my phobia has completely gone!!

 

I just wondered, as the title of my post suggests, do chickens like being picked up for a cuddle? I've just been out in the garden with hubby to administer some Arnica gel on poor Emily's leg (she doesn't seem to like being picked up much) but both youngsters came running up and Buttercup crouched down immediately and Daisy hung around as if to say "me next" and she was!

 

Are they coming for cuddles or is it just that they are young and it's an instinct? They are both so friendly - hubby said they were climbing behind all his tools, etc and sitting on the lawnmower when he was looking for something in his shed yesterday.

 

Ali

[mrsm_jones]

I have 2 that seem to like cuddles , and 2 that just run off when you try to stroke them! I have heard stories of chickens leaping onto people's laps and having a wee snooze! Guess some of them like it then. Think it depends both on breed, and temperament of the individual chook!

[moomin]

I have one that likes a cuddle and one that runs off too!!

 

The one that runs off is such an effort I have almost given up although I know it makes sense to persivere as if you can pick them up it's easier to adminster medicine and do health checks etc. I am waiting until I get a walk in run and I am going to corner her!

 

The one that likes cuddles jumped up and sat behind me on the back of the bench the other day, she snuggled up and got so close I could hear her breathing! Then she started gently pecking the clasp on my necklace, and then pecking my hair like she was grooming me (or maybe she was looking for nits!! )

[mrsm_jones]

I have one that likes a cuddle and one that runs off too!!

 

The one that runs off is such an effort I have almost given up although I know it makes sense to persivere as if you can pick them up it's easier to adminster medicine and do health checks etc. I am waiting until I get a walk in run and I am going to corner her!

 

The one that likes cuddles jumped up and sat behind me on the back of the bench the other day, she snuggled up and got so close I could hear her breathing! Then she started gently pecking the clasp on my necklace, and then pecking my hair like she was grooming me (or maybe she was looking for nits!! )

 

Hee hee. She find any???

I'm waiting for my walk-in run too. The size of our garden I'm never likely to catch the two cuddle-haters!

[moomin]

No she didn't!! Or maybe she was checking out my split ends!

 

Yep a walk in run is my only hope with my naughty little chook - I think she takes great pleasure in coming up really close, and then at the last minute she'll run off - just as I reach out my hand!!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Mine'll happily sit on my lap if I have treats . If we catch them while they're crouching they seem quite happy to be held and stroked but they don't really come up to us and ask for it .

[cluckbok]

Matilda loves a cuddle but lets you know when she's had enough, she starts fidgeting around. We just put her back down and off she goes. Love cuddles!

[surferdog]

Can only catch one of mine even in the walk-in run and that's because she crouches. Once I put her down she completely shakes herself as if to say ' Yeeeuuuuk!'

[hilda-and-evadne]

Hilda seems to find it hilarious being picked up and gently "thrown away" a few feet, as she runs back to me "again, again". When I try to pick up Evadne, her reaction seems to be "How dare you touch my regal personage!"

[Pinkybijou]

Surferdog (love the name btw) - I have one like that too! It really must ruffle her feathers to be picked up because she has the biggest shake and puffs herself all up when I put her down again! The other one absolutely loves a cuddle and is used to my 5 year old walking about with her under his arm.

[Chooks Aloud]

All of mine seem to love cuddles - Dolly will actually jump on your lap, when you pat your legs, she snuggles down and purs. It's lovely.

 

Karen

[Tara.F]

one of our girls, madam Bloolay, is faster than roadrunner and impossible to catch........unless you are my daughter Sophie who catches her instantly every time

I have come to the conclusion that Bloo likes being squeezed by a grubby five year old more than being stroked and fed treats by me (sniff)

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Hilda seems to find it hilarious being picked up and gently "thrown away" a few feet, as she runs back to me "again, again". When I try to pick up Evadne, her reaction seems to be "How dare you touch my regal personage!"

 

[Snowy]

They all seem to do that 'fluff up the feathers and shake' thing, but I don't think they are saying yeeeuch! It seems to be the after effect of being jumped on by a cockerel!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Think I'd do the same .

[Cloud9]

Thanks all. I shall endeavour to try to pick the youngsters up every day so that they get used to it. They certainly don't seem to object

 

Ali