catgirl Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Hi Have just got my first chickens - 2 Pekin Bantams and 1 white bearded Silkie! They are very nice but a bit nervous at the moment. What is the best way to tame them - they are approx 14 weeks old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Congrats on your new girls! Great choice of birds too! To be honest I would leave them alone (watch from a distance) to let them settle in as it can be a big step especially for young girls when they move house! And yours do sound very young. After a couple of days I would offer them corn from your hands and stay still and quiet. You'll be surprised how quickly they get used to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Congratulations, you're beginning a journey that you'll never regret! I agree, give them a day or two to settle in first. (I know, I know, you've waited ages and now you want to play with them!). Food is definitely the way to a chicken's heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
52fish Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Congratulations! Once they've settled, let's have some photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryKate Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 I collected my two Warrens four days ago - my first ever experience of keeping chickens and I am not who was more nervous - the chickens or me (incase I did something stupendously stupid). They spent their first two days sorting out the interior of the eglu - it sounded like renovations were going on inside! Maybe I have been too eager to let them free range - I extended their run using netting today and they have flown over three times! It's been a bit like 'Chicken Run'! Tomorrow, they will be a little more confined. I think I still have a lot to learn and the chooks are way ahead of me already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 24, 2011 Share Posted April 24, 2011 Welcome aboard MaryKate. I would leave them confined to the Eglu run for a few days, just to get them (and you! ) settled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammiboo Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 weclome you most be soo excited!! I recently collected some ex batts and i was just as excited as i was when i collected my first chooks! Dont forget to post up some piccies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 - I extended their run using netting today and they have flown over three times! It's been a bit like 'Chicken Run'! Tomorrow, they will be a little more confined. I think I still have a lot to learn and the chooks are way ahead of me already. Have you clipped their wings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted April 25, 2011 Share Posted April 25, 2011 They'll start to come to you soon - our established two did - mealworms tend to work quite well! The two new ones are just starting their learning journey - Spoon is already munching out of our hands but Egg is a little more timid (but then she's the one that thinks that she can go to bed on the windowsill) - she'll get there soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 - I extended their run using netting today and they have flown over three times! It's been a bit like 'Chicken Run'! Tomorrow, they will be a little more confined. I think I still have a lot to learn and the chooks are way ahead of me already. Have you clipped their wings? Make sure that you only clip one wing when clipping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouldercroft Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 I kept my girls in the and run for a week but I used to sit close by and chat to them - apparently they have good visual sound recognition skills so they got used to seeing and hearing me (that's my excuse for talking to my chickens and I'm sticking to it). After a few days I started giving them afternoon treats in the suet hanger but I was still in close contact - then I stepped it up to feeding them from my hand. And now...they are a bunch of over-familiar marauding crazy chickens who won't leave me alone and come running to me from across the garden. It's very sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted April 27, 2011 Share Posted April 27, 2011 I agree with bouldercroft; there is nothing so good as chatting to your chooks (for them and you) except, perhaps mealworms. They just adore these. If you rattle a mealworm pot at the same time as calling them, they'll get to know you double quick even if they are out and about free ranging. (Though they should really spend a bit of time in their house and run before seeing the wide world). By the way one of my Silkies (Dixie) is a bearded lady too. I hadn't seen one before and she is just so fluffy that I find it hard not to make her my favourite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryKate Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 Thank you for all the responses - Marleen and Clodagh have settled down really well now - they FR quite a bit but run back to their run in unison whenever a large bird (or helicopter) flies overhead. Really funny to watch - Clodagh couldn't stop and missed the doorway, crashing into the mesh (only her dignity damaged!) I did clip their wings (only the one side) and that has certainly helped. Clodagh is much more confident and will follow me round now, but Marleen is still not so sure. Lots of fun over the last week, all very time consumingly diverting but no eggs yet!! Will post pictures when I work out how to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
