Omlet cube and run

[witzend]

I keep reading about chickens that sit on laps/watch tv etc - what's the best way of training them to do this? Is it simply lots of cuddles with mealworms as treats?

 

Mine are, of course, still little but they're not 'relaxed' when I pick them up and put them on my knee.............I give them lots of strokes/tickles and they feed from my hand etc.............but they can't wait to get down again!!

 

Is there a point/age, when they become more comfortable with sitting on knees?

 

Are there parts of chickens that they particularly like to be stroked/tickled etc to help them relax?

[Space Chick]

Chickens are independent souls, some will naturally like a cuddle, some won't.

 

However, I find that sitting down with them with treats in a Tupperware makes those bolder girls more likely to jump up.

 

In saying that though, I have a few girls that will jump up for a cuddle whether I have treats or not

[Lavenders_Blue]

My girls were all different. Bella is the boldest of the flock and discovered the joys of hopping onto my lap for a snooze after about 6 months (yes - still quite a long time, I know). Dorothy joined in a few months later, probably just before I'd had them a year. Queenie has only just got brave enough in the last 1-2 months! And Rosie still finds it all terribly scary, and prefers to remain at ground level and peck my knees instead.

 

All of them HATE being touched or stroked. If they are up on my knee and I so much as move my hand towards them, let alone touch them, they are off as if they have been electrocuted!

[witzend]

I sit and treat mine on a chair in the WIR - I know they can flutter up that high cos they perch on the arms and back of it!!

 

I might try sitting on the patio door-step - it's much lower (assuming I can get up again ) and a couple of them have already hopped into the lounge!!

[KimmyCustard]

3 of mine hop up on my lap if they think treats are about, the other 2 act like I'm about to get the despatcher out! They make a fuss when I pick them up but I talk quietly to them and stroke their backs, 2 of them calm down almost straight away, the others are proper drama queens and swquark mostly all the time Had them almost 4 months so still new at this.......