HELP aggressive chicken

[skwump]

Another stupid question I'm afraid..

 

I've now had my girls (all hybrids) for 5 days and was wondering what to expect. My husband and I both work full time, so, sadly, we are not able to spend as much time with the chickens as I would like. I have managed to spend time with them for 4 of the past 5 days though. (I admit I've taken annual leave and rushed home early just to see them!)

 

I give them treats when I'm around in the afternoon, but they are still very nervous of me and wont come too close. (They certainly aren't eating out of my hand or anything!). They dont put themselves to bed yet (they seem to have trouble negociating the cube ladder, and after slipping around a bit, they tend to give up and settle under the house instead). So every evening I have to catch them to put them in the house. I'm good with animals and dont flap around or make sudden movements or anything, but they still run away and avoid getting caught at all costs!

 

So.... is this normal? And how long will it take before they trust me and (hopefully!!!) let me cuddle them? Is there anythign I can do to help them settle down and get used to me?

 

Thank you!

[heth1986]

Don't panic!

 

I've had my hibrid girls for just over a week now and they're still settling in and getting used to me even thought I've spent LOADS of time with them. Mine have, today, started eating out of my hand but I have just spent the last 2.5 hours in the garden, shivering, coaxing them over with a load of meal worms! Every chicken is her own so it will take some longer than others to learn who you are and where they get their cuddles but I'm sure they'll come round and with the days getting longer you'll have more and more time to spend with them.

 

As far as the cube goes I can't really comment as mine are in a wooden coop but I'd imagine that they'll soon get used to the ladder and find their way up. If they're really struggling with the ladder you could maybe try some chicken wire wrapped around the ladder and attached into place to help them along their way? I'm sure they'll get the hang of it though.

 

Patience really is a virtue when it comes to chucks, they'll come round!

[Margaret]

Have you tried putting a pot or log at the bottom of the ladder as sometimes it can be quite a long way off the ground.

Or they may be like mine and have never used the ladder, they just flap/jump up

Also whenthe light starts to fade open up the pop hole and hold a torch into the entrance, they should follow the light, does take a while for some girlies to get the hang of it though.

You are doing everything fine, the more time you spend with them the calmer they will become, but thats not easy this time of year if you work.

I work full time in London, so dont see much of my Girlies this time of the year, but with the lighter evenings comming it will be much easier to enjoy them.

Hope this helps.

[skwump]

Thanks for the replies. It sounds like, given time, they will calm down, master the ladder, and become more cuddleable. (yay!)

I was also wondering at what point I should let them have time out of the run? I think the omlet info said 5 days, but the lady we bought them from said 2 weeks. What would you recommend?

[Margaret]

All according how long you can wait

Most people dont last the 5 days, but you need to be confident that you can get the back into their run.

A good way to train hens is to walk down to their house shaking their treats in the same container, ever day that way they recognise nice stuff and will follow you to get at them.

[skwump]

Thats a great idea! thanks Margaret. I'll give that a try.

[Egluntyne]

They won't be particularly friendly until they come into lay. Their changing hormones make them more amenable.

[heth1986]

I let mine out too soon and it all went wrong I've left them shut in for the past 6 days and have started letting them FR for an hour before bedtime under close supervision. Seems to be working, i'm taking lots of treats out too so they're quickly learning what the shakey box sound means!

 

They'll get better by the day and, like Egluntyne said, you'll notice a big difference when they come into lay (only one of mine has and you can certainly tell the difference!).

 

Have fun with them and like always, we'll be expecting pictures!

[skwump]

Thanks for all the really useful advice. I will give it a try. I also didn't realise they would become more cuddly when they start to lay. can't wait!

[LolaLayla]

They are easier to catch when they start to crouch down and you get a better chance to lift them. My older two soon learned that a human equals treats and if I shout "girls" they will come running The neighbours do think I am bonkers though All will go well and soon you will know all about things you didn't even know existed and will bore your friends silly with your chicken observations. That is why this is such a good forum for advice and for chicken chat

[heth1986]

will bore your friends silly with your chicken observations

 

My poor OH gets the brunt the minute he walks in from work... guess what the girls did today? they made the cutest little noise when I took them some treats! i think Wendy enjoys cuddles really. I've had another idea for their run... perhaps we ought to get them this super duper new feed? i wonder if they'll like this as a toy? You wouldn't believe their little faces when they see you've got meal worms!..... So, how was your day?

 

Bless him, I must do his head in

[LolaLayla]

will bore your friends silly with your chicken observations

 

My poor OH gets the brunt the minute he walks in from work... guess what the girls did today? they made the cutest little noise when I took them some treats! i think Wendy enjoys cuddles really. I've had another idea for their run... perhaps we ought to get them this super duper new feed? i wonder if they'll like this as a toy? You wouldn't believe their little faces when they see you've got meal worms!..... So, how was your day?

 

Bless him, I must do his head in

This is only the start When my OH is away and phones he usually hears about the girls exploits before anything else

[dance in the dark]

I think there is an element of truth in them being calmer once they come into lay, but as has already been mentioned, there is also the benefit of crouching, and when they do, if you pick them up, hold them on their side and make them feel generally secure them they should be fine. What type of hybrids do you have? Because I have heard that white stars and columbine/skylines can be a bit more skittish intially because of their leghorn blood, I have never kept those hybrids though so I can't comment. Either way, persevere, don't startle them, let them come to you. I have found that anything grape based (fresh grapes, currants, raisens etc.) will normally get relectuant girls eating out of your hand eventually.

 

As for the ladder issue, they may have got the hang of it by now, and I don't have a cube, but I have heard of some people fashioning some kind of ramp over the top of the ladder, as I think it's a bit easier for them to negotiate.