FRIDAY, MARCH 14,2014
How to Train a Chicken
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| Tilly and I |
We have a mixed flock in a many ways. Not only do we have different
breeds, we are blessed with multiple personalities as well as some very
lovable chickens and others who could care less. Two of our chickens,
Autumn and Dolly; were purchased when they were 4 months old. The
others we raised from the beginning as day old chicks. Over time, Dolly
has become incredibly lovable and Autumn is never interested in human
contact. She is entirely content with her chicken family. They meet
all her needs. Tilly and Sunshine enjoy being handled as well as
Feathers and Fifi. Dottie Speckles enjoys sitting on my lap but is
always in a hurry to get somewhere. As soon as she sits, she is off
onto the next adventure.
As expected, it is easier to train day old chicks. Spending time with
them from the beginning, handling them frequently, observing them and
teaching them how to roost, drink and eat are certainly bonding
experiences. The baby chicks imprint on you as their parent. As the
chicks grow, so does the bond. It is only natural that a loving
relationship develops between the chicks and their human family.
However, this does not mean that you cannot teach an old bird new
tricks.
I am a firm believer that personalities cannot be changed. Therefore,
even an unaware chicken may be a snuggler and not even realize it! It
is up to you to "activate" that part of your chicken's brain. If you
follow the techniques below on a regular daily basis, by the end of the
month, you should soon discover who enjoys human company more than the
others. There are four essential parts of creating the right
environment for training your flock.
Set the Mood/Ambiance
Set the Mood/Ambiance
1. Get comfortable. Have a seat where you can sit and spend
some time, at least 20 minutes with your flock. It can be a plastic
chair, a couple bales of hay, whatever you prefer. Just somewhere you
can sit and be still. Do not move around. Do not make large sudden
movements.
2. Quiet times. Be sure you are in the coop during quieter
times. Not first thing in the morning, when the chickens find they need
to frantically inspect the run for any new bugs that have arrived since
they went to bed. I find it is best in the late afternoon. Be sure
there is nothing around the coop that could be potentially scary for the
flock. Put the dog inside. Turn off noisy machinery, radios and the
like. Create a zen-like atmosphere for their training.
3. Treats: I suggest grapes and raisins. Only share these
treats with the chickens when you are ready to sit down in the coop. At
no other times should they receive these treats. Condition the flock
to know that these are special and only available when you are present.
You'll see, soon enough, they will practically throw themselves at you
to get one of these sweet treats!
4. Talk it up. Talk to them like they are newborn babies. Let
them get used to your voice. Repeat certain phrases and words to them.
This helps their brains connect your words with their feeling safe and
getting treats.
Begin to Train you Chickens
1. Enter your coop and take a seat. Keep the treats in a small cup in
your lap. Gently call the flock over one by one. If they are at first
hesitant, drop a few raisins close to your feet and remain still and
quiet. Once they come over to investigate, gently speak to them. Drop a
couple more. Then put a couple in your hand and place it low by their
heads. See if any will take it from your hand. Keep doing this
everyday if possible. After a few days, the flock should recognize what
you are doing and come to expect your visits.
2. Once they are comfortable eating out of your hand, during the next
time they eat out of your hand, see if they will let you gently stroke
the feathers on their backs. Keep doing this for a few days.
3.. Once the flock is comfortable eating out of your hand and being
petted at the same time, place a couple raisins or grapes on your lap
and wait. Don't be surprised if some of them jump up and eat. Pet
their feathers on their backs. Keep doing this until they are
comfortable.
4. Finally, after they are comfortable on your lap, try to pick up one
of the chickens. With your hands wrapped around their wings and your
thumbs over the tops of the wings, gently guide them to your lap and
reward them with a grape or raisin.
It does take time and dedication on your part, but yes, you can train
new and old chickens to discover and enjoy time with their human
family. After the chickens become familiar with you, then you can
introduce other family members and train the chickens to like them using
the same steps that you did. With a lot of time and patience, you will
soon discover at least one snuggler in your flock.
As always after handling your chickens, be sure to change your
clothing and wash your hands thoroughly. Also wash your face, if you
were lucky enough to get some chicken hugs!
Photo Credit: 4Jphotography
Photo Credit: 4Jphotography
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I WAS DOING ALL these things...and then IT happened.
The WHOLE family (Honey and the grands) all wanted to help feed the chicks. Well, the next thing you know I'm feeding them grasshoppers, that they'd otherwise catch on their own if they could be let out (another story)...anyway. When I step into that chicken coop-- with a shopping bag full of grass hoppers caught by The Husband and the grands... it's a feeding frenzy.
Have you ever seen the 'handlers' feed the sharks at the aquarium?
It's like that.
Only way less dangerous,for me!
I think I'm back to square one.
I think I can still feed them the hoppers, but I need another system so that feeding them one at a time would be a treat! They love the hoppers. (I personally think they are gross)
Thanks for posting this. Loved it.
(sorry to hi-jack your comments.)
Pat
No seriously, catching them is a pain, it is cheap and easy to breed your own, though!
You will find they are better than dogs!
We had about 24 eggs in our incubator and only one egg hatched. (power failure for five hours on about day three is what we assume killed the rest.).
The egg that did hatch, hatched three days early and was unable to stand/walk more than two steps without falling over, then she couldn't get back up by herself, so we'd have to check on her every 15 minutes or so and usually stand her back up. Thus, I named her/or him, Sidewinder.:)
Sidewinder is about a week and half to two weeks old now, walks and runs like a pro, and follows me around like a puppy, when I set on the floor (we still have her inside for the time being with slightly older chicks that we bought from a friend) she jumps/climbs into my lamp.
This is going to be one spoiled chicken (Rhode Island Red)...lol. We think she may actually be a he, but we aren't sure at all.
I think we
I have raised my babies since they were born, but discovered that they are still weary and jumpy, and some are more accustomed to me than others. But I still have no snugglers or any who know their names (yet!). I will definitely try this :)
But a quick question-- does this only work with hens or will it work with roosters too? I've heard from others that most roosters are very mean/territorial, and I don't want my rooster to be that way. I've already grown attached to him but he doesn't seem to care much for me. :c
My chickens are quite friendly, and will happily sit in my hands to be stroked, or eat from my fingers (I find dandelion greens are a big winner) although I got them as pullets, and they have only been with me for a little while. Even my rooster, who had a reputation for being ornery (which is why he was free) has taken a shine to me, and will come sit with me when he escapes his pen. It's a lot easier to catch him now than it used to be!
The thing is, they are still livestock. I do intend to eat them when they are all laid out, and I think that it is unnecessary to be cruel, or to treat them like inanimate objects simply to dissociate them from me. A kind home, friendly treatment, and gentleness are in my view necessary right from the time we buy a new chick until the time they get into the errrrr.... hot tub.... Henry (the rooster) will probably get to live out a natural life cycle, as he is already a monster, and will be pretty tough. He's a great marshal and protector, though, which is why we need him. Tons of eagles, raccoons, mink, rats, and ravens here on the gulf islands!
I do not harbour illusions, though. For instance, how many of you on here will go out and buy chicken at the store, but would never dream of eating your own hens? I would rather eat an animal that I know has been treated with kindness, dignity and respect all its days than some poor bird raised in a tiny, filthy space, and subjected to terribly cruel treatment.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that although backyard chickens are fun, productive, interesting, and even cute, do not forget that they ARE livestock, not really pets. Train them, eat their eggs, treat them well, but remember that they too are a part of the food chain, and you are at the top!
I'm sure this post may not receive rave reviews, but it seems to be the one idea missing from this blog... Otherwise, great place to read up, thanks!
Thank you!
Oh by the way, I discovered your blog from a post you did on Community Chickens about DE. Great post there too. I am now following, Liking, Subscribing to your blog!
Thanks,
Izzie