Solitary chicken - need advice

[Millie-Annie]

I have had my three new girls three weeks now, so they are 15 weeks old. They are still terrified of me. I go up several times a day, shaking my mealworm bag and talking to them, but they will not come out for the mealworms until I am safely out of the way. As soon as I go through the gate towards them, they run and hide in the coop. My friend over the road came to see them and was amazed. She said she has never seen such scared chickens.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I wouldn't worry, it does take time. I have a couple who scarper at the sight of me, even after a couple of years . Sometimes it's a breed/personality thing.

[Millie-Annie]

I hope not, I spent hours researching my breeds because I wanted friendly chickens.

[mollyripkim]

You may find that they settle down when they come into lay.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Ah, yes, that's true, I'd forgotten that .

[good_egg]

We have our super friendly Buffy who basically turned into a tart when she came into lay and will squat for you walking near the run! She wasn't a complete scaredy before that but took a while. Connie was always a scaredy until she had bumblefoot and we had to catch her twice a day - now she squats quite easily and loves a cuddle. Go figure! Perhaps try a different treat - mine aren't that fussed about mealworms or corn but were easily tamed in small stages with garvo kippenmix (sp?) and will jump up on knees to get at the small squares of cheese called chedds! Good luck.

[mollyripkim]

ANH, sounds like a couple of yours have forgotten that too.

[Sandychick]

Sounds a bit weird, but try sitting on the ground as it is less intimidating to nervous hens . This is what I have been doing with mine. They haven't been out of the WIR yet and were totally terrified of me every time I got in. I found if I sat still on the floor, after a while they carried on as if I'm not there. The next day I put some meal worms a safe distance from me, and they plucked up the courage to eat them. Next stage was to do a trail of mealworms up to my feet - they get further along the trail each day. After 8 days, 2 of the 3 will now jump all over me to get the mealwoms Still some work to do with Polly, but she is getting much braver.

[Plum]

That's funny that's exactly what I was going to post

 

They also get very greedy when laying so the mealworms enticing will work. Only give them from your hand or your clothes so they get bored with them............ what am I saying I don't know a chicken that doesn't kill for a mealworm

[PoachedPlease]

Try dangling a bunch of grapes near them to hand feed, it's that time of year again. My vine gets stripped and they will chase me down the garden if they see a bunch in my hand!

 

Xx

[Millie-Annie]

Thanks for the tips. I will give them a go

[Lavenders_Blue]

I think sometimes it's just personality. I have two super friendly hens and one who, after a year of owning her, has only just stopped squawking and flapping in a melodramatic fashion when I go in the run She was even brave enough to peck me on the bum the other day!