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

[lizbeth]

I have read lots of advice on this site about handling chickens etc but am still struggling! Not having any luck with picking up either Miss Hetty or Delilah. My OH tried to stroke Delilah about 15 mins after they had gone in to roost the other night but she just pecked him! They are more than happy to eat out of our hands but that is about it. Just wondering if anyone had any advice? xx

[wooky]

Are they laying yet? One of our chooks was quite skittish until she started laying. Now she's changed quite dramatically and crouches down when you approach... I wonder if they just need a bit more time?

[quickcluck]

They will calm down abit after they have started laying. In the mean time just carry on petting them after they've gone to bed. They will get used to it, or will at least tolerate it

[Gem_Seb]

Mine are 10 weeks and are exactly the same! theres 2 that dont mind being picked up but the rest make such a racket i worry about the neighbours!! Ihave taken to just stroking them while they are sleepy when i go to shut them in on a night! They are getting braver as before they would even run into the house when we appraoched the run but they do stay out and suss you out a bit now!!

[BocBoc]

I'm still not quite sure if I'm doing it right - I'd love our chickens to be more pets than just egg laying creatures from the garden but we only pick them up to do their weekly healthchecks - after a few seconds they are flapping and making noises so we just put them down as soon as they are all checked.

 

I guess we'll just have to persevere. Good luck!

[redranger]

The more you interact with them, the more relaxed you will be. Ours didnt like being picked up initially. Now, I can easily pick them up whenever I want, and hold them to my chest and stroke them - they're very happy like this. Often, I can be sitting in the garden reading, and one (sometimes 2!) will jump up into my lap! I think it all changed once they started, or were about to start, laying - they started crouching down (into the mating position - nice ), instead of running away

[Porkypie]

One of mine would peck and squark and flap about if I tried to get near her to begin with. Three months on I can't say she 'loves' being picked up but she tolerates it and sometimes even starts to fall asleep as she relaxes whilst being held. She no longer pecks either. I would sit on the ground and get them to walk on me to get corn and when I finally was able to pick her up I would give her some corn once I put her down hoping she'd associate me with food/treats.

[vikpow]

im having exactly the same problem- had my 3 girls for 3 weeks now and ive been picking them up every day but they seem to hate it! even when i wait until they're roosting they make such a fuss about being handled! they're only 16 weeks old so im hoping they'l get used to me eventually

[Guest]

Hi

 

I am new to the chickens but mine were chase me and catch me to begin with (grab from above) and it is true I asked what crouching was as I had not got a clue. But they sort of squat prior to coming into lay and mine were about 24 weeks and suddenly they now do this all the time and its like they freeze on the spot and crouch so I can pick them up any time these days. I use to take a chair in with me and sit with some corn in a pot(got fed up with the hard pecks ) and they will jump up on your lap etc.

 

Be patient it will come

 

indie

[Egluntyne]

Why not take them out of their Eglu at night? They won't go flapping off into the darkness as they don't see well after the light has dropped below a certain level.

 

It will get you used to handling them, and them used to being handled.

 

Take it slowly , by just stroking them and talking to them at first, and then try holding them after a few days of this.

 

I find it works well, and as has been said, once they start crouching, it is much easier.