[mikebucks]

Hi all, I am rather envious of fifitrix  and her chickens she has had for 10 days, whilst not envious of their current torment. My chickens are in an eglu and free range when I am in the garden but they have no interest in my digging or offers of food although they do eat out of my hand if they are inside the pen. I want to know when they can be expected to be friendly and "st on our lap" as fifitrixs' do? any answers anyone?

Mike

[Aunt Sally]

That all depends on the hens.  Some will never sit on anyones lap.  Mine won't

[GrannieAnnie]

Neither will mine, but they will fly onto my back while I'm bending over filling their feed tubes!!!!

[poultrygeist]

Hi Mike,
We have half a dozen of GrannieAnnie's Amberlinks which are about 24 weeks old now and they have no interest in anything wormy nor will they eat from our hands but I'm working on it.

I wouldn't even attempt to get one on me lap as they have a habit of pecking (very hard) anything within range in the hope that it's edible.
They seem to be calming down slowly but only one is laying so far. maybe they'll get more docile as the weeks go by.

What breed and age are yours ? Makes a big difference I think.

Rob

[Stree]

I am puzzled. I can pick up the Amberlinks I got from Grannie Annie last week with one hand. so two at once can be scooped up and be happy to be handled. They will come when called. They are magnetized to my spade and fork as soon as I touch them and eat worms and slugs etc voraciously as I work the soil. I can hold them out on my wrist at arms length. they will sit on my shoulder like a parrot......settle down on my lap.......its as if they have always been here.. They are a delight compared to the ones I inherited here that do not seem at all comfortable in human company and will cluck and run if you should just walk calmly past them.

[Aunt Sally]

I think we need pictures of those chooks Stree  

[poultrygeist]

I think it's me to be honest Stree.

I've had many a laugh about it with Annie and I think they just see me as someone who brings in the greens and collects the eggs and has knees just crying out to be pecked.

Because they're in a closed run, we don't spend as much time with them. When the weather and time allows I plan to extend the run so we can sit in with them a bit. I'm enough to scare anyone in my work clothes !

Rob

[Bodger]

That all depends on the hens.  Some will never sit on anyones lap.  Mine won't

They havent forgiven you for keeping them in an Eglu yet.    

[GrannieAnnie]

Isn't it strange?  Both Rob and Strees chooks came from my 300, but you'd think they came from different planets!!!!! lol

[mikebucks]

I suppose they are still quite young at around 16-18 weeks. They are buff and light sussex, they do eat out of our hands with the buff sussex more confident than the light. I suppose I will have to give it time and wait and see. I think they like the eglu because they run into it when they have had enough outside time.

[Aunt Sally]

That all depends on the hens.  Some will never sit on anyones lap.  Mine won't

They havent forgiven you for keeping them in an Eglu yet.    

Are you asking for a slap Bodger       (best not you might like it   :roll: )

It's Egluingham Palace , they love it  

[Bodger]

I was laughing, because you obviously missed my post the first time you did your rounds.    

[mikebucks]

Actually Bodger I think they quite like the eglu and it is fox proof so I can leave them in the run all night if I don't want to go out when its dark and scary! I would post some pics but dont know how!

[Aunt Sally]

I was laughing, because you obviously missed my post the first time you did your rounds.    

You're a very naughty Bodger  

Posting pictures is easy Mike.  Have a look in this Held topic ans scroll down to "Posting pictures in a thread"

[mikebucks]

My chicks, nice and safe in their run .


But still only babies!

Mike