A stupid question??

Ok, I'm new to chickens, so I have what may be a really stupid question...........here goes.......are chickens like people in that - there are nice people and there are mean people? AND....if so, is there a way to "teach" them to be nicer? OR.....is bad behavior learned from bad experience, like people.....
I am anxious to hear people's thoughts on this....

I think there are nice ones and then some tough ones. I dont know about teaching them to be nicer, but if there is a way, it would have to be extra attention.

:) That is so cute.

I can say this much, when my babies arrived and they were two days old, there were 2 out of 25 that would make frequent eye contact with me. They were just BABIES. They still like me best today. Call it intelligence or personality or whatever.

It's also the hormones of the roosters I would guess... that make them act so.

I think it's in how God puts them together too.

As far as training a chicken, I really can't say. I remember TF used to say that when her little roosters would act bad, she would carry them under her arm while she did chores, to prove that she was the "Mama Chicken". So apparently she thinks you can change some behavior in them. She's the chicken expert, she should know.

I think what makes a chicken successful as a chicken--may sometimes differ from what makes it successful as a pet.

But I do think there are smart chickens, dim ones, gentle ones, aggressive ones.

I try to take them as they come...unless someone is getting hurt.

I definitely think that all chickens come with their own attitudes, intelligence level , etc.... You can work to socialize them better, but if they are picking on another chicken, you may not have much luck in curbing that.

I'm still relatively new to chickens, as well and agree that TF would have great opinions on this topic.

Thanks so much for your answers. I guess I wasn't expecting the aggressive behavior I am getting from some of the girls. I don't have any roosters. I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to help with "bad behavior".....too bad there isn't a "chicken whisperer". :)
I'll just have to keep my eye on the bullies. Thanks again, Teresa

teresa83,

Without a rooster to maintain order, your hens will continue to fight I believe. Some hens will even begin to crow.

Shouldn't you consider adopting a rooster to give it a good home?

If not, hens make nice noodle soup.

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