any tips on befriending hens lol

[farmerjon1988]

hi everyone

we have four hens and only one of them likes being handled

i was just wondedering if anyone has any tips on getting the other hens to be a bit more friendly?

when i open the backdoor they all run over but the other three keep the distance where daisy-mae comes right over to see what ive got lol and if i feed them out of my hand daisy-mae has no probs eatting then olivia will come and have a look and a peck but she is wary and the other two stay where they are

ive tryed talking to them and giving them treats and ive also tryed standing in the garden for a while holding daisy and fusing her but the others ent interested

is there anything i can do? or are they best left alone..?

thanks for looking

 

[Anonymous]

I think it just takes time to earn their trust. The more time you spend with them, the more they will get used to you. We got 4 new Pekins from a guy who kept them out on a field and these obviously are not as tame as birds which have been raised in someones garden, picked up from young by their kids etc. However, we have now had them about 3 months and they are now alot more friendly, easily eating out of our hands and don't mind being picked up. Try to tempt them with their favorite food, a little corn, especially in this cold weather they love.

 

[Blue]

and mealworms ... if you're not too squeamish 03 then you can "dangle" the treat so they get all excited!

 

[mightymohan]

the way you handle them makes a big difference too. even the wildest of hens are very quiet when handled the right way. but food is definately a good way to bribe them and time!

 

[dorinda]

Time and patience is the most important thing - some birds just take longer to be confident with you - - it will happen with time - don't worry

 

[darkbrowneggs]

I think live mealworms will certainly get their interest in you as a food provider.

Talk to them as you are feeding I call chuck chuck chuck like a cockerel calling his hens

Don't have ad lib feeders but scatter by hand - firstly a little way from you then closer as they get braver til its round your feet again talking / calling them as you do it

After dark lift them off their perches quietly, then put them back down, but each day hold and handle them a little longer.

All the best
Sue 17

 

[elmwood]

Hi, Excellent advice above.....

I have a mixture of 4 friendly & 1 hostile hen-to the point when she is eventually gotten hold off she carries on as if I'm about to despatch her. Even whilst stroking her on her perch, before bedtime, she still calls out loudly. I do say goodnight to each of them. 07

Mealworms are my vice, they run like billy-ho. I do talk, cluck, and now when I shout "girlies" they all come running. heres a link to a vid we took of them running, this was the early days, and so made us laugh. You should see all 5 running now, its like the Pekin Olympics......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocVSf02y2YQ

(Lots more mad videos of our girls on there too)

Sitting with them, quietly and calmy with some corn or mealworms in your hands may bring some good results. It will take time to gain their trust, but extremely worthwhile. You could try quartered green grapes, mine jump great heights to grab a grape from my hands.

Last summer, sitting on their bench, (yes they have their own slatted bench) each one of them came and perched on my lap, the hostile one felt she was clearly missing out and promptly flew up to sit next to me. I always feel however, that I take a step backward with her, because she has the most problems with her feet, and has to be regularly man handled for inspection.

Enjoy,

 

[darkbrowneggs]

I take a step backward with her, because she has the most problems with her feet, and has to be regularly man handled for inspection.

Hi Elmwood

Keep a few live mealworms, and after you have checked her feet continue to hold her and hand feed a few mealworms. - Might be worth a try

Sue

 

[elmwood]

Hi Sue,

Thankyou- She does normally get a treat but have never tried live mealworms, only dried- can only imagine the frenzy :lol:

To be honest she is an enigma....she is away with the fairies most of the time, but then other times she is on the ball, and my son calls her "ninja" chicken. She fools us into the thinking poor nutmeg most days then others she totally take us by surprise with her flying and cunning foraging skills.

 

[darkbrowneggs]

Yes - they really LOVE live mealworms.

I used to get them over the internet for the robins in the winter, but my 2 families of jackdaws latched on to the idea, and it is too expensive to feed mealworms to Jackdaws.

All the best
Sue