7 Tips For Calmer Tamer Chickens
Here on the homestead the fall season rolls on. Harvest is in full swing as are our preservation efforts. While our area is still enjoying mild daytime temperatures, the evenings are cool and the mornings begin with frost instead of dew. The flock is still able to graze in the backyard thanks to mild weather on most days.
Having a tame and calm flock is a joyful experience. There are few things more peaceful than sitting on your back porch with a happy hen in your lap. How do you tame chickens and what things can you do to contribute to an overall calm demeanor in your flock? I’m going to share the tips that have worked for me.
Hand taming and training animals is a deeply personal and individual experience. There are some animals and chickens that because of previous abuse, poor breeding, injuries or illness, or poor individual disposition just simply are not good candidates for hand taming and training. Patience, time, and consistency are the primary tools for taming chickens but there are individual chickens that for whatever reason will not be a good match for this form of training. Your individual observations and your level of personal dedication will both play a vital role in the success of your taming efforts.
Build your flock with friendly breeds. Some breeds of chicken have been developed to be more docile and easier to tame than others. If hand taming is a goal for your flock, choose breeds that have a predisposition to be friendly and docile. Even if your chickens are not a particularly docile breed, they can still be receptive to calmness and taming training, it may just take some additional time and patience.
Be willing to commit consistent time to training your flock. The results you see in my flock are from daily interaction. Without exception I spend time with my flock everyday even if it is only a few minutes while maintaining their area. Consistency is important to earning the trust of your chickens and to building a positive report with them. If your training efforts are inconsistent, it will be harder to build and maintain those positive connections with your flock.
Patience is absolutely key. Hand taming chickens or any animals is not an instant endeavor. Again, the success I have shared with my flock has come from daily effort. There are also days when it is important to use your best judgement and just try again tomorrow if either your flock’s demeanor, stress levels, or your mental space is not conducive to your success. There is no rushing progress and connection and it has to be earned through consistency and positivity, not forced.
Relate to your flock in calm consistent ways through your body language. If you enter the area where your flock is, be mindful to move slowly and calmly and speak to them low, comforting tones. Screaming, flailing, throwing objects or your arms around all translates to a threat to your chickens, especially your roosters if you have any, and they will respond accordingly. If you’re entering their area to maintain it, try doing so later in the day in the late afternoon or closer to the time your flock begins to roost to experience your flock at it’s calmest. If you don’t have any desire to build a connection with your flock you can simply maintain their area at night once they’ve roosted and avoid any potential conflicts in entirety. There are also coop and run designs that be maintained externally that you never have to walk inside of if that is your preference. Do not attempt to snatch, grab, or physically dominate your chickens. This form of behavior only encourages aggression and defensiveness and in addition to potentially injuring your chickens creates an atmosphere where your flock may come to fear your presence. Earn your flock’s trust and confidence through kindness, patience, and consistency for a lifetime of positive results.
Get on their level. If you’re unable to sit on the ground or on a low stool due to mobility limitations even sitting calmly in a comfortable lawn chair in the area where your chickens are creates an opportunity for connection. If you sit calmly in your seat long enough eventually the more curious and brave members of your flock will begin to approach you. Reinforce this behavior in a positive way with their favorite treats. If you’re able to, you can crouch down and your chickens are more likely to approach you rather than if you were standing and looming over them. If you’re willing to you can also sit on a clean coop or run floor on a tarp or old towel and allow your flock to approach you.
Use treats to promote behavior you like to see in your flock. Reward the calm members of your flock and those willing to be near you with plenty of treats. If you use the same treat bowl repeatedly your flock will learn to associate the container with treats and will begin to approach you every time they see the bowl or container. You can begin by placing the treat bowl on the ground and slowly move the bowl closer to you over time. Eventually, you will be able to feed some of your flock members right from your hand. If you’re allowing small children to feed chickens or you have especially sensitive skin, make sure to wear a dedicated pair of utility gloves when feeding chickens by hand. Overanxious and eager members can sometimes bite and pinch accidentally in their efforts to get at those treats.
Supporting the general health of your flock will reinforce your taming efforts. If your chickens have plenty of space, sanitary living conditions, and plenty of chicken food and water these conditions when combined with solid, patient, positively motivated training efforts will help set you and your flock up for success. Unsanitary conditions cause stress, disease, and illnesses in chickens. Inadequate space leads to a stressed flock plagued by negative behaviors like lashing out at you and each other. Inadequate chicken food and water leaves chickens malnourished, dehydrated, stressed, and ravenous to the point of being aggressive toward you and other flock members. If your flock is well cared for and healthy your efforts to tame them will be even more successful. Stressed, unhealthy, injured, starving, or ill chickens are not able to be tamed because all of their energy is spent trying to survive. Practice responsible chicken care and your efforts will help you build a safe, healthy, happy flock.
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Chuck and the Chicks 