Solving Omlet Smart Auto Door Timing Issues with Alexa Routines

[James H]

I am starting to get worried about the smallest bantam I have - Nell.

She keeps her distance when I come near her and will hardly ever eat from my hand. when I went to pick blinky up Nell flapped her wings and made a noise, I am getting worried and wondering if she will ever get tame. I have had her for 10 weeks now and i got all three bantams from the same pen on the same day at the same farm. Blinky runs to me whenever I come in the garden (expecting a treat!!) but nell always hangs back

any suggestions from anyone??

[theherd123]

Once she has gone to bed take her out of the eglu and stroke her for a while - she will be sleepy and calm and therefore easier to pet

[rachel19]

Two of mine still dont like coming anywhere near me really after over a year - it took months to get them to take food from my hand which they will now do but will run if i move The other 3 are very friendly and always under my feet......i think some will always be more wary than others

[James H]

Once she has gone to bed take her out of the eglu and stroke her for a while - she will be sleepy and calm and therefore easier to pet

just before I typed up this topic I tried to do so and she flapped her feather and squaked only when I picked blinky up, it was darker than twilight when i tried - about 15 minutes ago

[Snowy]

She might be better once she starts laying - they do get a bit tamer then.

[Chocobo]

One of mine was never really comfortable with being held, and would squark and flap if you tried, but we discovered after having her for about 10 weeks that she was actually a cockeral, which could account for it. My other two originals have got a lot better as they got older, and the two i got at point of lay are already letting themselves be held a bit

[Classy Chick]

I learn something every time I come on the forum! I wondered why Sam is far less friendly and willing to be touched or handled than Ella - I know they have only been here since Thursday but they are noticeably different in this. Ella laid her first egg on Saturday but Sam is probably a few weeks off - which could explain her frosty behaviour. It will be interesting to see whether she calms down a bit once she starts laying.

 

Do your chooks bask in the sun, stretch their legs & wings out? I thought that Ella had taken a funny turn earlier but seemed alright - I never thought they sunbathed!

[xScrunchee]

Do your chooks bask in the sun, stretch their legs & wings out? I thought that Ella had taken a funny turn earlier but seemed alright - I never thought they sunbathed!

 

They are hysterical aren't they?

[James H]

sunny weather......in South East England?? I`ll give you a ring when it happens!

[arowland17]

ours are different in tame-ness - Buttercup is the boss, but runs (fast) if we attempt to pick her up, while Nugget is fine being picked up if we don't hang about, she's so naughty eating my peppers (which barely have any leaves left now) that every couple of minutes she gets picked up and carted up the other end of the garden so she's used to it now! Can't catch Buttercup to do the same though but we'll keep trying! they did both get noticeably tamer once they started laying, if only because they crouch if approached which makes grabbing them easier!!

[Richard]

Doris was very tame and no problem to pick up. Evil Georgie will feed from my hand but goes spare if I pick her up - and she is now three and a half years old and has been handled a lot. Trimming her wings is a right performance.

 

Of the new girls, Daisy will already feed from my hand, as will Trinny and Suzannah (but not so readily). The Buff Sussex won't come anywhere near me and are really skittish. Mind you, they are only 15 weeks and are getting less nervy as the days go by.

 

Arrietty, who is easy to catch and pick up as she can't move quickly, is really funny - she refuses to eat from my hand, even when I have her on my knee! She turns her beak up at raisins - unknown for a chicken here!

 

James - I would back up previous posts which suggested waiting until after dark. I would suggest you leave them until a good half an hour after they have settled down (for my girls, at this time of year, they go to bed at about 8, so I would leave it until 8.30 or even 9). Then gently lift one out of your Eglu, one hand under the bird and the other pinning the wings down so that they can't flap. Then pet her for a while before putting her back.

 

That is what I would do - it might not be right, but there are people more expert than me who will correct me if its wrong. The only thing I would say is that it seems to me that you might find that Nell is always more nervy than Blinky - not all hens are the same (just like people) and she may never be as happy being handled etc.