Tame Chickens - Young Old English are Surprisingly Tame

The most tame chickens I have right now are a group of eight Old English, they're just growing up and love to fly up on my shoulders when I let them range outside their run. Some of them will be going to the fair later this month, hopefully they'll do well. The hatchery sent a great variety and all of them are very healthy, not to mention beautiful.

This week will be busy, bathing and closely examining each of my entries. The fair required early sign-up, so will have to stick with the breeds I listed. So far, everybody looks pretty good. Can't wait to exhibit them and spend some time with other chicken enthusiasts. Of course, I'm missing those giant ice cream treats I can't help indulging in every year, too. Can't beat fair food!

Mille Fleur Pair Looking Good

In my last order of baby chicks is a pair of the Mille Fleur breed. I named them Pierre and Monique. They're a little more than four weeks old now and are looking good as per the Standard. Their wings and tail feathers, as well as the feathers on their feet look great -- they'll do well in competition by the looks of it.


Will keep up on the taming process and maybe show them at the Feather Fanciers show this next summer. Last year I went and observed, but didn't compete.

These last couple of weeks, two people asked me about taming chickens. It was at work, and we didn't have time to really get into it, so I referred them to an article. It's here  if you'd like to read it.

My neighbors tell me I have a knack for taming chickens, but it's not hard to do. Just spend time with them, pick them up to check them like the judges do, and feed them well. It's kind of like any other pet, just show them you like them, and they'll reciprocate. No magic involved.

After I'd only been living up here for a few months, one of my hens went missing. I went looking for her, calling her name, "Hennie", over and over, but she didn't show up. Couple of weeks later I was outside when I heard something in the brush. Just in case, I called her again then saw her running toward me. She hopped up on my knee as I knelt down. That's how tame they can get when you've had them a few years.

Tame Chickens are Like Puppies

My (somewhat) new puppy follows me everywhere . . . back and forth as I feed and water my chickens, around the property as I dream up improvements to the 'ol homestead, and while I check on Goosey and Lucy, the geese and pet rabbit , Petal.

She's not alone, though. At any given time there are at least three hens and my rooster, Radio Flyer traipsing along just behind her. My neighbors get a good laugh, especially when I nearly fall on the little entourage as I forget something and do a sudden about-face.

They can't figure out how I get the chickens to become so tame, but I know it's the frequent handling, the offers of snacks, and the fact that I treat them as pets. Some people get chickens, keep themselves continuously separated from them by a fence, then wonder why they're flighty when they're taken to a show to be judged.

Chickens aren't the most intelligent of the animal kingdom, but they do seem to have an awareness and instinct about their environment and the humans and animals available to interact with. Once you gain their trust, it's almost impossible to keep them away from you. . . even when they're interfering with your productivity.

Giving your chickens just a little extra attention every day will turn them into loyal fun pets for years to come.  You've probably proven that yourself if you've been raising chickens very long.