beckyfitz Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Our girls have been with us a week and have settled in nicely. We have just started letting them roam the garden & whilst my youngest loves them while they are in the run, he is terrified of them if they approach him! I'm also trying to get close enough to pick them up - is it too soon, as they don't seem to like me to come too near them unless its beak first which isn't ideal for picking them up. Any ideas on a strategy for handling them a bit more & how to get the little one less frightened of them will be gratefully received. Thanks, Becky XX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemychooks Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Hi beckyfitz, I would suggest trying to stroke them first when it starts getting dark because they are alot more docile then and gradually build it up to handling them. It won't take long. Hmmm, not too sure what to suggest for your toddler, someone might be along with more advice soon. Oh, and welcome to the forum ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debratugwell Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Our girls have been with us a week and have settled in nicely. We have just started letting them roam the garden & whilst my youngest loves them while they are in the run, he is terrified of them if they approach him!I'm also trying to get close enough to pick them up - is it too soon, as they don't seem to like me to come too near them unless its beak first which isn't ideal for picking them up. Any ideas on a strategy for handling them a bit more & how to get the little one less frightened of them will be gratefully received. Thanks, Becky XX We've had ours since April and I have a 3 and a half year old. The first couple of weeks they were very "pecky" - not in a malicious way just very nosy and consequently daughter did get a few pecked fingers which made her cry. However I kept telling her they weren't doing it on purpose it was just what chickens do. She has now got used to them and avoids being pecked 9 times out of 10. I think you need to give them a few weeks to settle down and then get them to take bits out of your hands. We still find one of ours a nightmare to catch but the other two are now a doddle and daughter is better at catching them than me. She even takes them on the trampoline with her which is a great sight for sore eyes and worringly so they seem to enjoy it too!!!!!!!!! I'm sure it will all come together in the near future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 ours were very pecky at 1st, thought our fingers were food and went to eat everything that moved whether it was food or not!! now they've started laying though they're calming down a bit and rather than rush towards us trying to eat our toes when out in the garden, they aren't too bothered by us wandering around with them. Also getting easier to pick up now they're laying as the crouch when we go to stroke them so can be easily lifted up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 A good Idea is to let little ones wear some heavy duty gardening gloves - oversized ones if need be. So that they can build up their confidence and hand feed without their fingers getting hurt. That's how I started off - now I wear no gloves and pick them up for cuddles and love stroking their backs! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 I let smallest boy feed them from their treat tray (an old roasting tin ) that way he doesn't have to put his fingers near any beaks, they peck away quite happily and he strokes them with his other hand. It took a good few weeks for ours to get really friendly, we've had ours since Fathers Day and I can now barely look into the garden without seeing one of my three children carrying a chicken to the slide, onto the swing, into a newly made den and the chickens don't seem to mind at all! If yours aren't laying yet they get much easier to catch once they start laying as they stop dead and crouch down when you make a grab. That said, our Leghorn STILL won't be caught, our Calder Ranger is the friendliest followed by our black rocks. Good luck with your small person, he'll love them once he gets the hang of them then you'll be like me, forever yelling out the door "will you put the chicken down!!!" Mrs Bertie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 I'm not much help. Mine (middle child-age 2) just went charging in and grabbed them (gently) and stroked them whenever he wanted. I don't think hes ever been pecked. They were a bit wary of him the first time but I think quickly learned he was a friend. Maybe like other animals they can sense fear which is why they are brilliant with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 Our girls have been very good with Ethan (aged 3 1/2) except when he went outside commando from the waist downwards. Moral of the story? Make sure your little one is always modestly dressed when around chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 My nephew (and next door neighbour) was 19 months went my chooks arrived. They were VERY pecky for first few weeks and pecked everything (fingers when you opened the run, toe nails, stiching on shoes etc.). My nephew did get his fingers pecked and was so scared of them we had to carry him round the garden. Once they'd settled in, my chickens now don't peck at all (except one of them who only likes my shiny watch). They don't peck when I open the run anymore or peck toes and they are very good. Three months down the line and it's not just the chickens that have changed...... My scared, shy nephew is now a "CHICKEN CHASER". He strokes them, runs after them and they now run away. We also found him last week aiming a heavy football at a chicken and had to stop him. So I would say just give it time. (We do watch him when the chickens are free ranging just to make sure he doesn't crouch down to eye level just in case they do decide he is tasty after all). PS. learning to catch chickens takes time too. I was like a comedy character pacing round the garden trying to catch them. No problems after a month though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 "will you put the chicken down!!!" My twin! My neighbours think it's hilarious when they hear the shout go up ... Yesterday I caught Daniel riding around on his bike with Pom tucked under arm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beckyfitz Posted August 9, 2007 Author Share Posted August 9, 2007 Thanks all. I guess it will just a take a little time for everyone to get used to each other! Becky X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 HI my soon to be 18 onth old was like that and sometime's still is! my 5 year old have loved the from the day dot! Ive unavertably taught her to shoos them away! they used to steel her bisuit from her! your lil one wil get used to them, I also took one to my lil boys nursary and about half of them jumped u and ran! just do it step by step stroke the hen then maybe feed the hen!? good luck xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
