New hens not going into Eglu Go Up

[L Marques]

I have had my pekin bantams now for about 3 or 4 weeks but they wont let me stroke them or pick them up they will eat off my hand but the minute I make a move they back off. I heard they can be very friendly and sit on your lap and all that, but mine are very wild still.

Any sugestions?

Thank you

Edited October 1, 2012 by Guest

[Olly]

It can take time, and you may find they get more approachable as they come into lay - if yours are quite young still, then they may be a bit flighty.

 

The best thing to do is wait until they are sleepy, and then handle them - once it's dark and they have gone into roost, you should be able to take them out one by one, stroke them and hold them. They will gradually get more used to being handled this way.

[Mrs_B]

Although a lot of breeds can have a great reputation for being handled, chickens do have individual personalities so sometimes you may never get a bird that likes being picked up or stroked.

 

I've had my chooks since end of June and still my Sussex is very suspicious of me and the Amber doesn't mind being picked up but gets bored very quickly so prefers not to be cuddled. I have been giving them medication via syringe for the last 2 weeks, so I don't think this has helped because they all absolutely despised it!

 

My Columbine hates being followed and picked up but as soon as she is being handled she is lovely and calm and loves a stroke (and she wouldn't come a few feet of me for weeks!)

 

The White Star was probably my most flighty and is my little crazy bird (who always seems like she's on Red Bull or something!) but she loves standing on the bed in the bedroom having her feathers blow dried after getting a wash after having a dirty bottom

 

Hope you are able bond with your girls soon

 

x

[good_egg]

They certainly are a lot easier to pick up when they come into lay! As none of mine do the obliging crouch thing yet we don't seem to be able to catch them so everything is on their terms. That said two of them will happily hop up onto knees or bench to eat, while the other two eat out of our hands and tolerate stroking while doing so. Buffy actually now just hops up ont he seat to say hello and then hops down again! We started with them eating out of hands, then progressed to putting little piles of food on legs, then lap etc. Basically bribery and reward! Good luck.

[HennyPenny59]

Mine are all reasonably easy to pick up, but when they were actually in my arms, they were struggling and keen to go back on the ground ... Then, by accident I found that they all liked to have their feet on my hand, arm or lap, gripping it like it was a perch, and then they were happy to stay in my arms .. It must make them feel safe.

[mrsatroy]

I have had my 4 girls for about 6 weeks now - and Rosie my Blackrock is the only one that I can get a quick stroke of. If she sees my hand she crouches and I mange a lttle stoke but then she's off. The other 3 scatter as soon as a hand approaches, with Imelda, my light Sussex bening the most wary. They will eat out of my hand and will follwo me around when I am in their area. Not sure if I will ever get a cuddle!

[Plum]

Contrary aren't they. Mine scatter if I put a hand out but if I have a treat most will leap on me and let me stroke them.

 

Try sitting on the ground with your legs out (when it stops raining ) and hold the treats so they have to climb over your legs to get to it. Don't try and touch them yet. Gradually move treats nearer you and over time they'll comfortably stand on you relaxed and tolerate a stroke cuddle etc.,

 

The other way is to keep picking them up when they crouch whether they like it or not and wait until they are calm before putting them down and I've found if you give them some corn after a bit they'll not jump off and stay and talk to you - hasn't worked with all of them. My Coral Nick is a head case and will never be picked up willingly