Taming chickens may seem like an impossible task, but with the right techniques and a little bit of patience, even the most skittish chicken can become friendly and affectionate As a beginner chicken owner, learning how to tame chickens will make your flock much easier to care for and allow you to build stronger bonds with your birds
This complete guide will show you how to tame chickens step by step, from picking the right breeds to socializing chicks and continuing to bond with them as they get older. If you do these things, you’ll soon have lap chickens.
Choose the Right Breeds
The first step to taming chickens starts even before you bring home your flock. When selecting chicken breeds, opt for those known for their calm friendly personalities. Good starter breeds include
- Orpingtons
- Australorps
- Silkies
- Faverolles
- Plymouth Rocks
- Sussex
- Cochins
- Easter Eggers
- Brahmas
- Wyandottes
Avoid notoriously flighty breeds like Leghorns, Hamburgers, and Games. While any chicken can be tamed, you’re stacking the odds in your favor by choosing naturally docile breeds from the start. Do your research to select the friendliest breeds for beginners.
Socialize Chicks Early
Bonding with chickens starts from day one. Chicks are primed to imprint on their caretakers, so take advantage of this early socialization window.
Weeks 1-2
- Handle chicks gently and speak softly to get them used to human contact.
- Scoop chicks in your hand and bring them to your chin while purring or clucking.
- Take chicks out of the brooder for daily floor time. Let them explore while staying close to you.
- If chicks seem frightened, simply rest your hand in the brooder without touching to get them accustomed to it.
Weeks 3-7
- Continue daily handling and lap time.
- Start clicker training chicks to come when called using treats.
- Take chicks outside for short supervised grass time as weather permits.
Your chickens will be calmer and friendlier in the long run if they spend more time with each other in the first few weeks.
Bond with Older Chickens
If you’ve adopted older chickens who aren’t used to human contact, have patience. With time and effort, even adult chickens can become tame.
- Move slowly and let chickens come to you. Avoid chasing or grabbing them.
- Use high-value treats like mealworms to build positive associations.
- Hand feed treats and spends time near chickens while ignoring undesirable behaviors.
- Designate a special calling sound like clicking your tongue to bring chickens running. Reward with treats when they come.
- Pet chickens while feeding treats, working up to stroking their backs and eventually lifting them.
- Continue sessions daily until chickens are comfortable being handled.
It takes time to gain an untamed chicken’s trust. But with gentle persistence, you can tame even mature chickens.
Maintain Bonds into Adulthood
Once your chickens are tame, don’t become complacent. You’ll need to continually reinforce those positive bonds as your flock matures.
- Spend time with chickens daily, even if just sitting nearby while they forage.
- Hand feed treats often. Make sure all flock members get individual attention.
- Pick chickens up and handle them frequently so they stay comfortable being touched.
- Consider clicker training chickens to do fun tricks using food rewards.
- Pet, stroke and talk to chickens when holding or sitting with them.
Keeping adult chickens tame requires dedicating quality time daily. But it’s well worth it to have a flock of friendly, pet-like birds.
Troubleshoot Issues Taming Chickens
Not making progress taming your chickens? Here are some troubleshooting tips:
Chicken runs away: Move slower, avoid direct eye contact, and lure with treats.
Chicken seems scared: Back off and work at their pace, not yours. Build trust slowly.
Chicken pecks or scratches: Carry a squirt bottle and gently spray their beak while firmly saying “no.”
Chicken loses tameness: Consistently reinforce training and bond daily with food rewards and physical affection.
Only some chickens tame: Focus training on unsocialized individuals. Spend separate one-on-one time with timid chickens.
New chickens untamed: Quarantine and begin taming process individually before introducing to flock.
With the proper techniques and enough patience, even the wildest chicken can become a friendly pet. Follow this step-by-step guide for taming chickens and you’ll be rewarded with an affectionate, lap-loving flock. Raising tame chickens takes dedication, but the outcome is incredibly rewarding.
StepsMethod
- 1 Choose a breed of chickens known for being friendly. There are many kinds of chickens, and some are easier to handle and tame than others. Orpington, Black Australorp, Silke, Faverolle, Barred Rock, Sussex, Cochin, Easter Egger, Brahma, Wyandotte, and Buckeye are some of these breeds. [2] The Orpington breed is known to be especially friendly.
- 2: Spend time with the chicks the first week after you get them. Talk to them softly at first so they get used to your voice. Every day, gently pick them up and hold them so they get used to getting touched. [3] Don’t touch your chicks the day you bring them home. Allow them one or two days to get used to their new home and settle down. You can expect the chicks to run away when you reach into their pen to grab them. Move your hand slowly and whisper to them to let them know your hand is not a threat. Tip: You can train a chicken in a lot of the same ways you would train a dog or cat. A chicken might not like being petted and cuddled as much as a dog or cat does, but it is possible to train one to be very friendly and affectionate with you!
- 3 Feed the chicks treats from your hand. Use treats like mealworms, sunflower seeds, oats, and raisins. Lower your hand into the pen for the chicks and hold it there until they come up to eat. As with many animals, the fastest way to tame your chicks is to link food with you and your hands. Once the chicks are used to eating from your hand, you can gently stroke their heads and backs with your other hand’s index and middle fingers while they eat.
- 4. After a week, let the chicks run around in a closed-off area. Take the chicks out of their brooding pen and put them somewhere safe inside your home or outside where they can’t get out. Lay down on the ground with them and let them run and climb over you. [4] If you do this at home, make sure to cover the floors with an old sheet to keep them clean. Now is also a good time to feed your chicks by hand so they keep thinking of you when they want treats.
- 5. Spend time with the chicks, handle them, and feed them by hand as they get older. It doesn’t take long for chicks to become wild chickens if they don’t get to spend time with their parents every day. The chicks need two to three months to fully develop. During that time, keep petting, talking to, cuddling, and giving them treats so you can get the flock used to you. [5] The chicks may act more hyper when they are 3 to 7 weeks old and seem less interested in you. The best way to interact with them and keep them interested in you at this time is to feed them by hand.
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FAQ
How can you tame a chicken?
If they’re chicks, pick them up and spend some one-on-one time with them every day. Let them see your face and talk to them. They will get comfortable with you and even nap in your hands or on your lap. For older chickens, bring something to sit on and relax near their roaming area.
How do you get a chicken to trust you?
Just feed them their chicken feed. Sit calmly with them while you toss food their way. If you do this every day, they’ll get used to having you around, and one day they’ll eat from your hand. There will always be chickens out there who prefer you stay away from them.
How long does it take to tame chickens?
Chicks grow fast, and without constant bonding time they will easily revert to being wild chickens. The chicks need two to three months to fully develop. During that time, keep petting, talking to, cuddling, and giving them treats so you can get the flock used to you.
Are chickens easy to tame?
Despite what many people think, chickens can make delightful pets. They can become very tame, and learn quickly to enjoy sitting in people’s laps. They make really cute, contented crooning noises when cuddled. While setting up a backyard coop takes time and money, having your own hens is a worthwhile endeavour.