Chicken bald back

[Millie-Annie]

I have a lovely friendly ex-batt who I have had 2 years at Christmas. In August I bought three 12-week old new girls, a Crested Cream Legbar, a Welsummer and an Orpington. They were terrified of me, and ran and hid whenever I approach. Slowly they have got a bit better and they will come to the door now when I go to let them out in the morning, instead of hiding until I have gone, but I still cannot get anywhere near them. They shriek and flap and run if I try and walk around them.

 

I have tried the sitting down and spreading food around me, talking to them, but they just act like the proverbial headless chicken

[Chickabee]

My cream legbar runs away from everything. I just got a wellsummer and I had read that they're not all that easy to befriend. Mine squawks and squeals if I try to pick her up. The place where I got her from though said they get better as they get older. Don't know much about orpingtons sadly.

[Millie-Annie]

My Welsummer almost hyperventilates when you pick her up, like we had to yesterday to clip her wings. The Orpington is the friendliest, she at least will come over to me, provided I stay behind the gate.

 

Looks like I will just have to be content admiring how beautiful they are then

[daxigirl]

Just keep presevering with them and titbits, the older bird will show them the way so entice her with food in the hand. My Tweets were broody raised and turned out to be flapping freaks if I went near the run but now they've started laying they're as lovely as can be and rather enjoy having a little cuddle.

 

Having said that Lisa-Marie will eat out of the hand with caution but detests me to even look at her in case I get any ideas. I had to take her beak ring off a couple of days ago so waited till she'd gone to bed and even then it was a bit of a chase round the with the door shut. She screamed the place down when I caught her, it wouldn't have been out of place in a horror film. I was waiting for the neighbours to call the police thinking there was a murder taking place.

[Millie-Annie]

Actually yesterday they were on the lawn as a treat. When I went out Ivy, my old ex-batt came running towards me and Octavia my Orpington did follow. The other two stuck together at the other end of the garden though

[jackian]

I have had my lovely Clover a miss Pepperpot for nearly 3 years and she has never let me pick her up without a struggle and screaming ..Over the years she has got closer but if I am any closer than 3 feet she is off .

It used to be quickly darting out of the way but as she has got older she sidles out of my way .

[Millie-Annie]

Now you see my Marigold was a Miss Pepperpot (aka a Suffolk Noir) and she was like a little dog. She would climb onto my lap to get at my food and she used to steal my bracelets and wander around with them dangling from her mouth. I still miss her so much

[Redwing]

They need regular handling to get used to it then they will get friendlier on the ground

 

Evenings when they have been roosting for a while are good as they are dozy

[mrsatroy]

Of my seven girls there are only 3 that I can get an occassional little rub of and the odd pick up. I have persisted in trying to make friends, tidbits, meal worms, yoghurt, all sorts but Hannah my bluebell, Henny Penny my gingernut and Bella my Light Sussex still scuttle away anytime I attempt any contact. That said when I am pottering about their enclosure they follow me around like I am the Pied Piper. I am always a bit jealous of those who have cuddly girls!

[chickanne]

Don't feel guilty that it is you. They have their own little personality and what you think is the same treatment results in totally different response.