beach chick Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 our girls arrived on Weds, and I've been reading some of the funny things chooks do, and that they like being stroked and so on.... ours seem quite happy (eating, drinking, pooing!), and move about pretty much as a 4-some, but when we go near they do move away from us (in basic eglu and run at the mo', waiting for omlet fencing to let them go further next week). so far, I have sat quietly with them, and offered stuff like dandelion leaves through the run, and also scattered a few pellets (most in feeder), but they don't seem keen to come and get to know me better. what do I do next???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted May 11, 2007 Author Share Posted May 11, 2007 sorry, tis me again! but I keep reading about sweetcorrn being such a good treat and therefore good bribe... do you mean tinned? raw and s"Ooops, word censored!"ed off the cob? uncooked (and if so where do you buy it ?) questions, questions, never realised life was so complicated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 Get some tinned sweetcorn. Start putting a few bits on the floor through the door and then start offering it in your hand as you put your hand in the door. They will soon eat out of your hand. If you buy mixed poultry corn (you can get organic about £5 for huge bag)and put it in a plastic cup or a tin and rattle it they will get used to the noise and will follow you anywhere to get some. You can then start having the tin/cup on your knee when you are sitting in the garden they will happily sit on your lap or shoulder to get their treats. I rattle the cup and slap my leg and they come running from where ever they are - it's so easy to get them to go in their run this way - once theyve followed you to the run entrance throw some corn in and just shut the door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 You can get mixed poultry corn from where ever you buy their pellets from. It's dry and just like grain and dry sweetcorn and popping corn all mixed in a bag about the same size as the pellets. In fact the last bag I got was the same brand as the organic pellets from Omlet. I feed my 4 chooks up to 1 plastic water cup size per day. If tyou feed them too many treats they wont eat their pellets and then they dont lay eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted May 11, 2007 Author Share Posted May 11, 2007 thanks jaime - OH demanded tinned sweetcorn as essential risotto ingredient, so have 3 tins in now... methinks he will have to get used to playing 2nd fiddle to the girls!!! (as we have 2 girl children he must be used to it by now....) have ordered omlet corn at vast expense as part of next delivery, so can get cracking (boom boom) with it! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 Tis the same stuff I bought - I didnt realise Omlet sold it. I am certain that I only paid a fiver for the same amount at my local horsey place - perhaps they charged me wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted May 11, 2007 Author Share Posted May 11, 2007 £10 @ omlet!!!! but I did research their fencing prices via google, and found that to be quite reasonable (given I have no diy skills, etc etc). and if you are paying a delivery charge anyway.... that's my excuse! how many kids and what sort do you and OH have? - coz I've read about your birds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 I give mine tinned sweetcorn.....but I always rinse it first as it seems to be in sweetened brine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 We have a little boy 18months. We share care with his Mummy. This is Daddy Martin (OH) at Chatsworth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted May 11, 2007 Author Share Posted May 11, 2007 bless! my girls now 10 and 8... they grow up so quickly, but however old they are they are still your babies! (and actually, 10 and 8 not that old - weird mix of worldly wise and littlies !) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted May 12, 2007 Share Posted May 12, 2007 What a gorgeous little boy Jamie As for the hens, I have two that are already ultra friendly which is good since they have only been here since Tuesday, however Ria is not quite so keen although she is slowly getting more confident. For the past couple of days I have been waiting for them to go to bed and then going out and gently lifting Ria out through the egg port for a cuddle. She does moan the whole time but I have noticed an improvement during the day so that might be worth a go. Sweetcorn is a good bribe too-she is very greedy and can't resist eating it out of our hands if that's the only way she can get some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted May 12, 2007 Share Posted May 12, 2007 They eat corn on the cob or tinned sweetcorn. Bribing with food and cuddling at night can help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
braden01 Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 ..I can certainly say that they become very tame very quickly and agree that food bribes work well! Our two now come rushing up to us as soon as we let them out and are fairly easy to catch. They will stand still for a few moments to be stroked and follow us around everywhere. At first, they were much shyer and were less happy about being picked up. We're actually amazed at how quickly they get used to us and what a difference a couple of weeks can make - have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 our girls are certainly fearless but not entirely tame They will all come over for food etc but each has a different attitude. Madame Bloolay likes to be picked up, none of the others do. Frizz is a bit skittish, Lacey is just plain rude, Bouddica is aloof (which I s'pose you expect from royalty) and Guinevere makes it clear that she only tolerates us if we have food she really wants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted May 19, 2007 Author Share Posted May 19, 2007 update: 10 days in, they will come running when they see me (the food lady!), but they definitely dont want to be stroked/caught/be closer than 3 feet away. what do I do now? I have been opening the eggport once they're all in for the night for a stroke, which they now just tolerate, but they are nowhere near wanting to know us!! any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted May 19, 2007 Share Posted May 19, 2007 Have they come into lay yet? Cos when they do they will prob crouch for you when you go towards them and a re alot easier to catch. I pick mine up reguarly (had them about 2 months) and they like to be near me and help me in the garden but I dont cuddle them alot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted May 19, 2007 Author Share Posted May 19, 2007 no, not laying yet, only 17 weeks. will continue softly softly approach then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted May 19, 2007 Share Posted May 19, 2007 If they are not yet laying then they will be the equivalent of human teenage girls - stroppy and uncommunicative! Once they start laying it all changes and they start following you around, squatting when you approach them and generally being much more amenable. Keep giving them the treats and you will be rewarded trust me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted May 19, 2007 Author Share Posted May 19, 2007 thanks snowy, will stick with it! their personalities are starting to emerge - Tara is Boss Chick definitely. they make me laugh when they do that thing with their necks at each other and ruffle up the feathers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
