[stevefitz5]

Hi All

Ive got my hens this week and they are settling in with a bit of pecking mind you. Really chuffed with them. Me and my wife want to be able to handle our chickens but think we need to get them a bit tamer than what they are now as dont want to freak out to much.

As a newbie would appreciate any advice can get.

Thanks all

[nicky d]

i think many would agree that they only way to a chooks heart is food ,   mixed corn is a really favourite, a little handful late afternoon, start by putting it on the ground and then start offering it on your hand, treat also like grapes are a firm favourtie (in moderation mind you), also just going in and out of their run a few times a day doing things as poo picking will get them used to you.   Ive had my girls just over a week now and already one of them is getting very friendly and thats just by the use of food  , as soon as they relate you to food they will be your best friends.   nickyx

[ehs284]

Talk to them all the time. They get used to your voice and gain confidence in being close to you.
Ours are too tame and argue with us (especially about their rights to get into the house). They also give advice on whatever you're doing. Ocassionally they get fed up and go to annoy the people next door, they have also trained the post lady to bring them grapes - this they did by standing in front of the van and refusing to move until given a treat. Our advice - don't tame them; let them live in fear of you or you could end up like us!

[dizzylizzie]

Talk to them all the time. They get used to your voice and gain confidence in being close to you.
Ours are too tame and argue with us (especially about their rights to get into the house). They also give advice on whatever you're doing. Ocassionally they get fed up and go to annoy the people next door, they have also trained the post lady to bring them grapes - this they did by standing in front of the van and refusing to move until given a treat. Our advice - don't tame them; let them live in fear of you or you could end up like us!

thats just like my birds!

Dont worry, they wont take long, talk to them, let them see you, mealworms help. Just over a month ago i had some particulary scared ex-batts.....the ean and hid when i threw corn, they are now the first ones in the que when i shout my girls....dont worry, they are intelligent  amd inquistive.......their noisyness will get the better of them before long, that combined with their love of food and they will have you trained in no time

[Pretty Chick]

I think a good way to tame them is to offer yummy food from your hand so they can gain confidence in you. My chickens like fruit, veg, bread (preferably brown) and LOVE corn.
Make sure you don't give them too many treats though for they need to eat their pellets   

[stevefitz5]

thanks for all the tips. Do you regularly handle your hens? Also any tips on best way to do this for a newbie!!
Thanks again
 
steve

[nicky d]

I dont tend to handle them too much, when i need to do things like checking them over, i wait until they have gone to bed and have settled then i get them out, they are really very quiet when you handle them at night.   You will find though that before they start to lay they might start to squat whenever you walk up to them, thats an excellant time to pick them up.   nickyx

[Jeanette]

Once the girls have started to eat from your hand you can then move on to stroking them but do everything very slowly because if you frighten them it will be back to square one. One last thing spend plenty of time just talking to them.

[joyfull]

Like Nicky I don't handle mine very much (apart from Mrs Poot - but that is only because she flies onto my head when she sees me), If I need to check them or treat them with lice/mite spray I do it either late at night or early morning. Same when I rehome a bird I have to catch them before they come out of their coup otherwise I stand no chance (they free range and will fly up into the trees or in the farmers field).

[ehs284]

Ours get handled a lot. They are quite happy to be picked up and sit quietly. Sometimes they will run around to avoid being caught, but I think they just enjoy the fun. Mostly just pointing at them leads to them cowering down so you can stroke or pick them up. They've no diaphragm so don't squeeze them just support on breast bone if necessary. If you put your finger into their foot they will hold on. Sometimes they want you to pick them up - if they're injured or frightened, if they're trapped (they get into small spaces and cannot escape), or if they are being chased home after going walkabouts and prefer being carried to walking themselves.
There are videos on Youtube showing Eglu people catching chooks, but they make it look harder than it is.
There's no rule as to whether to handle them, but if you do anything which makes them more pets than egg suppliers then it will be harder to dispatch them should the need arise. HTH

[dizzylizzie]

I just grab mine, but they enjoy having a hug anyway. i handle mine alot, always have

[Flowerpower136]

I sit with mine (I have my own perch in the run), and often end up with a couple on my knee.

Once they get used to you, they just can't help themselves, they are so inquisitive and always try to steal my buttons, and my rings. I now make sure I have an apron wrapped round me cos you get funny looks in the shops when you've chicken footprints all down your front!

Gradually, as they get tamer give them a stroke, and try picking them up if it doesn't scare them.  Not all of them like it, but it's helpful when your've checking them over, if they don't kick and flap.