BuryFCA1 Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 Me and my wife have got 4 hens this week and I cant get anywhere near them. I just want to pick them up so me and the hens can get familiar with each other and all they do is keep running away. I can understand that they want to learn to trust someone but how long does this take and does it get any easier to hold them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 A lot easier when they start crouching when coming into lay, but a lot of handleability is down to breed or strain. Start off opening up the coop at night and stroke them and pick them off the perches. Then entice them with corn or mealworm and I sit on ground and put trails up my legs so they get comfortable walking on me. Then I start touching their front and gradually they'll let me touch their wings and back without panicking and will jump up and not mind being picked up. I usually lose patience and just corner and pick them up. Then hold them until they are calm and put them down when they are calm. They remember calm when you go near them again, if you put them down flapping they remember flapping. Well that's my theory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 If you've only got them this week they're bound to be skittish so don't worry. They'll soon feel settled and if you make trips out into the garden to see them, little and often, with a few treats they'll become tame in no time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eve Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 i find hybrids are tame espeacilly when in lay. i have a columbine though and she very fast on feet cant get near her,she is a legbar cross so i knew she would be like this.but i get a lovely from her so it makes it worth it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 Hi, welcome to the forum. Agree with others, mine were scaredy cats at first, now I get mobbed in the garden and serious bocking at the back door if I don't come out. Give them time to settle and treats and they will learn to associate you with good things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 Mine depend on their mood. If crouching they are like teddybears and are always happy for me to pick them up and cuddle without any struggle and will snuggle up in my arms. However if they are busy FRing and dont want to be disturbed they run a mile - even if they are trying to mug me to get at food I'm carrying, if they are not in the mood to be picked up it wont happen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickanne Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 You just need bribes and patience. Begin by leading them where you want them to go with the treats.Don't try to pick them up until they recognise a treat cup. Sit on a low step and tempt them with favorite treats using the same feed cup each time. They are very greedy and will soon be on you lap! When you do want to practise picking them up, lead them into a small area like a shed or block off a corner of the patio with a table on its side. Then at least they don't get to run more than 2 steps before you catch 'em - they don't get a chance to associate running with escape. At this point give a treat every time you hold them and every time you put them down. You can do this 10 times in quick succession. It's not worth chasing a chicken - they win hands down every time in my garden! But they cannot resist the sight of a grape or a mealworm and therefore get caught every time PS this does mean you will need "chickenwear" - there have been some great threads about clothes people wear to go and let the chickens out in! The only thing that no one seems to come up with is how to train a chicken not to walk in it's own mess 2 seconds before it jumps up onto you! We have to warn visitors who sit out in the garden with us that a fluffy friend might land on their lap looking for treats.... Enjoy the next few weeks of bonding with your girlies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracyann Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Blackmail works everytime. Put some mixed corn in a container and shake it, they will get used to coming to you for treats! Takes a little while but they will get used to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmommasally Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 When we get new girls we pick them up through the eglu egg port in the morning and give them a cuddle before popping them in the run. We do this every day until they are integrated with the big girls and we have found that this has helped make them tamer and not mind being picked up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
